Aspects of Australia! December’s Map Challenge

Wonders of AUSTRALIA in your classroom

Kangaroos, rainforest, coral reefs, boomerangs.   Uluru, native Aboriginal people, deserts and plains.  Great populated cities and vast spaces empty of humans.  And EMUS and WALLABIES!   All of these things come to mind when we think of the continent of AUSTRALIA which is also a country!

When you use our AUSTRALIA activity map in your classroom, use our FREE MAP CHALLENGE digital file as a workshop.  This free file can be used with your whiteboard or projector.   It will take you and your students  through the labeling of this map in detail!

When you start out, the black and white map is blank. When you are done, it is a colorful work of cartographic art! Every student will create a unique completed version of the map.

Do your students know about OCEANIA and Australia’s relationship to this area of Earth?   Many use the term OCEANIA to refer to the region that includes Australia as well as the island countries that surround it.  View our digital MAP CHALLENGE with your Smart board or projector: it offers information about this area and activities about the surrounding islands. 

In addition, your students will learn about the varied topography of the continent.   The file includes special activities about deserts, plains, coastlines, and rain forests.   And students will be prompted to write about them.  The Great Barrier Reef is one of Earth’s most notable features!  The Great Dividing Range is especially impressive because much of its area has been untouched by modern civilization.  It offers beautiful views of the natural world.  

How can we forget ULURU (shown in our opening photo and below)?   This large rock over 1,000 feet tall, over a mile wide, and over 2 miles long.  It is thought that Uluru is over 600 million years old! 

Students also have a chance to learn about another large neighboring island named Tasmania!  (Did you know that TASMANIA’s nickname is “Tassie”?)

Add in some information about coral reefs and endangered animals, namely Numbats and Wombats!.   There are many things to learn as the map activities are  completed .   The specialties of Australian foods are presented!  Do your students know about the sweet treat called Fairy Bread?  Leisure activities that are unique to this large island continent are included.

Plenty of reading and writing exercises are part of the file as well.  Literacy and writing are emphasized in our MAP CHALLENGES.

FREE for you and your students!

We hope you and your students enjoy this new file, which is free for you to use with your smart board or projector. Don’t neglect our other two MAP CHALLENGES that appeared in October and November: BASIC MAP SKILLS and NORTH AMERICA.   And the new year is showing the free file for our TREASURE MAP!  These files will be viewable for the whole school year, so take advantage of them in your classes.