First Nations Geography of Australia | Island Country & the Torres Strait | HASS

First Nations Geography of Australia | Island Country & the Torres Strait | HASS

Explore the diverse island landscapes of the Torres Strait with this ready-to-use Geography lesson for Grades 6–8.
Students move beyond viewing the Torres Strait only as a marine environment to investigate the islands themselves as distinct geographic and cultural landscapes. They compare island types, landforms, soils, vegetation, freshwater, and environmental conditions while exploring publicly shared examples of Torres Strait Islander land-based knowledge and practices.

Students also investigate how different island environments support different relationships with Country and consider the particular challenges that climate change and sea-level rise pose for low-lying islands.
The lesson culminates in a collaborative Island Landscape Profile where students synthesize geographic research, cultural connections, environmental knowledge, and evidence from authoritative sources.

What’s Included
- Teacher Directions for 1–2 class periods
- Student overview + mini research questions
- Island Landscape Profile group activity
- Authoritative research resources
- 3 student research, analysis & planning pages
- Color + black-and-white student pages

Students Will
- Compare different Torres Strait island landscapes
- Investigate coral cays, volcanic islands, and other island environments
- Examine landforms, elevation, soil, vegetation, and freshwater
- Explore publicly shared traditional land-based knowledge
- Connect environmental conditions with gardening and land-management practices
- Recognize the geographic and cultural diversity among Torres Strait islands
- Investigate connections between people, Country, and particular landscapes
- Examine the vulnerability of low-lying islands to climate change and sea-level rise
- Gather and evaluate evidence from authoritative sources
- Create and present an Island Landscape Profile

Perfect For
- Australian Geography & HASS
- First Nations Geography
- Landscapes & Landforms
- Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
- Country & Place
- Island Geography
- Environmental Geography
- Geography inquiry & research
- Collaborative learning

Australian Curriculum / ACARA Disclaimer
This is an independently created educational resource designed to support classroom instruction and has been developed with reference to relevant Australian Curriculum: Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) / Geography content and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority.
This resource is not affiliated with, endorsed by, approved by, or officially connected to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), the Australian Curriculum, AIATSIS, or any state or territory education authority. References to curriculum terminology, organizations, frameworks, or content are provided for educational, research, and alignment purposes only.