Australia: your guide to the Land Down Under.* OBJECTIVE Students should understand * where Australia is, what the land is like, and how the geography affects how most Australians live. * WORD TO KNOW exiled: forced to live far from one's homeland, as punishment or for other reasons. * TEACHING STRATEGY Have students look at the list of Australian terms (p. 8). Point out that, although Australians and Americans both speak English, many of the words they use are different. Discuss: Why might that be? Are variations of English spoken in different parts of the U.S.? * BACKGROUND Australia's name comes from the word austral, meaning of or related to the Southern Hemisphere. Aborigines aborigines: see Australian aborigines. , the original inhabitants
The game is based loosely on the concepts from SameGame. , arrived tens of thousands of years ago, perhaps from Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, region of Asia (1990 est. pop. 442,500,000), c.1,740,000 sq mi (4,506,600 sq km), bounded roughly by the Indian subcontinent on the west, China on the north, and the Pacific Ocean on the east. . The first British settlement in Australia was a penal colony penal colony Distant or overseas settlement established to punish criminals with forced labour and isolation from society. Such colonies were developed mostly by the English, French, and Russians. , established in 1788 where Sydney now stands. After World War II, the government encouraged immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. , and since then the population has more than doubled. * CRITICAL THINKING RECALLING DETAILS: Why is Australia known as the Land Down Under? (Most of the continent/country is south of the equator.) COMPREHENSION: In what part of the country do most Australians live, and why? (On the east coast, where nearly all of the arable land In geography, arable land (from Latin arare, to plough) is an agricultural term, meaning land that can be used for growing crops. Of the earth's 148,000,000 km² (57 million square miles) of land, approximately 31,000,000 km² (12 million square miles) are is found. Much of the vast interior of the country is dry.) * ACTIVITY TOURIST TIME: Have students choose a place in Australia to "visit" (some examples: the Great Barrier Reef Great Barrier Reef, largest complex of coral reef in the world, c.1,250 mi (2,000 km) long, in the Coral Sea, forming a natural breakwater for the coast of Queensland, NE Australia. , Ayers Rock Ayers Rock Rock outcrop, southwestern Northern Territory, Australia. Called Uluru by the Australian Aborigines and located in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, it is 1,100 ft (335 m) high and may be the world's largest monolith. , Nambung National Park Nambung is a national park in Western Australia (Australia), 162 km northwest of Perth. It contains the Pinnacles Desert. See also
National Parks of Western Australia , Alice Springs Alice Springs, town (1991 pop. 20,448), Northern Territory, Australia. It lies in a pastoral area surrounded by desert near the center of the continent and is a stop on the Adelaide Darwin Railway. , Tasmania). Ask them to research it and provide a colorful description, as if writing a postcard to a friend back home. STANDARDS SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8 * People, places, and environments: How Australia's geography determines/influences where and how Australians live. * Culture: How Australia's culture (language, traditions, lifestyles) reflects the British/European roots of many of its people. RESOURCES * Darlington, Robert A., Australia (Nations of the World series, Raintree, 2000). Grades 5-9. * Heinrichs, Ann, Australia (Enchantment of the World series, Scholastic Library Publishing, 1999). Grades 6 & up. WEB SITES * Australia A
* Australian Newspapers & News Sites world-newspapers.com /australia.html It's a windy Sunday morning Sunday Morning may refer to:
Of the 20 million people in this dry and thirsty land, most live in cities along the east coast. They crowd the beaches, soaking up glorious sunshine. But some beachgoers occasionally find themselves floundering in the unpredictable ocean. That's when Tony and his fellow lifesavers spring into action, dashing into the surf to offer assistance. "I know how to rescue someone, but I've never had to do it," says Tony. "It's saving someone's life, so it's kind of a [good] deed." A Warm, Sunny Climate Australia is about the same size as the continental United States United States territory, including the adjacent territorial waters, located within North America between Canada and Mexico. Also called CONUS. but has a very different geography. Away from the coast, the country is parched parch v. parched, parch·ing, parch·es v.tr. 1. To make extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat: The midsummer sun parched the earth. (dry) and desolate. Farmers who make their living from crops, cattle, and sheep inhabit the land. It's hot most of the year. Temperatures regularly reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in summer, which goes from December to February. In the winter, it's still mostly warm; the thermometer rarely dips below 40 degrees, and then only in some southern areas. Tony is from the City of the Gold Coast, an area that looks a lot like Miami, Florida “Miami” redirects here. For the Native American tribe, see Miami tribe. Miami is a major city in southeastern Florida, in the United States. It is the county seat of Miami-Dade County. Miami is a gamma world city with an estimated population of 404,048. , with hundreds of high-rise buildings lining the shore. He lives in a house with his parents and two younger siblings, and rides a bus to school each morning. Unlike American students, most Australian kids wear uniforms to school. Classrooms and buildings are designed to let in breezes, with large verandas (porches) and shaded play areas. During breaks, most Aussie kids enjoy playing sports. Outside of school, rough-and-tumble team sports such as rugby and football capture the nation's attention. Cricket is also wildly popular. It is a bat-and-ball sport that has some similarities to baseball, but its matches can take up to five days. Despite their love of sports, not all Aussies are fit. Australia is the second most overweight country in the world--behind the U.S.--due to a growing appetite for fast food. A Rugged Existence Although the majority of Aussies settle along the coast, some live in the vast central part of the country called the bush, or the outback. Rikki Tiller, 16, and her brother, Casey, 11, live about an hour and a half from the nearest school. They study via distance education. Each morning, like hundreds of other kids across the country, Rikki and Casey gather their textbooks, then telephone their teacher and classmates Classmates can refer to either:
Life is tough for many bush families. Drought hits regularly, livestock prices have dropped in recent years, and the lure of the city draws many young people from home, leaving fewer people to tend to the land. For Rikki and Casey, life is a balance between farmwork and school-work. Their home is set on 130 acres of bush, named Deadwood Deadwood, city (1990 pop. 1,830), seat of Lawrence co., W S.Dak.; settled 1876 after discovery of gold. A Black Hills tourist center, it is also a trade hub for a lumbering, stock-raising, and mining region. , that their family has turned into a self-sufficient farm. The Tillers grow their own fruits and vegetables, and the chickens, cows, and pigs that they keep supply eggs, milk, and meat. "Before we start school, my brother and I do an hour's work on the property," Rikki says. "Mum stays inside and helps with our schoolwork, and Dad tends to the property. I think living in the city would be a lot different. I wouldn't have as many jobs to do. In the city, you can go and buy everything, but here we actually work for our food. So I think here is better." Once every two weeks, the family makes the long drive to the nearest city, Mackay, where Rikki and Casey play 10-pin bowling for fun. Occasionally, they go to the movies. At home, they listen to American and Australian pop music on the radio, surf the Internet, and e-mail friends who live hundreds of miles away. Even many Australians consider the Tillers' way of life fascinating. "It's normal for me," says Rikki. "But when I talk to people about it, they find it interesting and different. It's good to live in a different situation." Historic Roots Australia is a multicultural country--a place where people of all races and religions are welcome. More than 200 years ago, the British sent their convicts (prisoners) here as punishment. But the exiled wrongdoers thrived. As free settlers joined them, they founded a new nation. Australia still has strong ties to Great Britain. Elizabeth II is the head of state and is recognized as Queen of Australia. But many Australians would like to see their country break away from the United Kingdom. Long before the British arrived, people lived in Australia. The country's original inhabitants--the Aborigines (ab-uh-RIJH-uh-neez)--have been here for about 50,000 years. Aborigines are admired for their culture--including their long wooden flutes called didgeridoos (DIH-juh-ree-dooz), dot paintings, and boomerangs (used for hunting). But many Aborigines grow up in isolated areas where health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract and education are poor. Those who live in cities have higher rates of unemployment and alcoholism. Bigotry (prejudice) often hurts their chances to succeed. "G'day Mate!" In Australia, natural beauty abounds, from the coast to the mountains to the outback--where geological wonders like Ayers Rock can be found. Along the coast, there are colorful rain forests and reefs. Creatures unlike any others on Earth can be seen in the wild or in numerous wildlife parks. Kangaroos, koalas, and all manner of snakes, spiders, and other creepy-crawlies flourish here. If you visit, you are sure to find a friendly smile and greeting, "G'day mate, how's it going? No worries!" Your Turn WORD MATCH 1. didgeridoo A. prisoner 2. parched B. inland area 3. bigotry C. wooden flute 4. outback D. dry 5. convict E. prejudice ANSWERS 1. C 2. D 3. E 4. B 5. A THINK ABOUT IT Would you like to live in Australia? Why or why not? Speak Australian! Australians speak English, but use many unique words and expressions: bludger Bludger may refer to:
bush: the remote deserts and plains of central Australia. chook chook chicken. : a chicken. dinky-di: the genuine article, as in "dinky-di Aussie" (a genuine Australian). g'day: hello. mate: a term for a friend, but often used for just about anybody. outback: another name for bush. shonky shonky Adjective [-kier, -kiest] Austral & NZ informal unreliable or unsound : underhanded. throw a wobbly: get overly upset about something. Joel Dullroy in Australia Australia Australia is the only country that is also a continent. It is known as "the Land Down Under" because all of the continent is "under," or south of, the equator. English explorers claimed the land for Great Britain beginning in 1770. Australia became an independent country in 1901. FACTS TO KNOW AREA: 2,988,888 square miles, about the size of the continental U.S. POPULATION: 20.1 million. About 96% of the population has British or Irish ancestry; 3% are Asians; and 1% are Aborigines, the original inhabitants. LANGUAGES: English and Aboriginal. GOV'T: Parliamentary democracy. John Howard is Prime Minister. ECONOMY: Australia is one of the world's richest countries. Originally, Australia owed its wealth to farming and mining. Today, 69% of its income is from service industries, 28% from industry, and 3% from farming. PER CAPITA [Latin, By the heads or polls.] A term used in the Descent and Distribution of the estate of one who dies without a will. It means to share and share alike according to the number of individuals. GDP GDP (guanosine diphosphate): see guanine. *: $29,000. LITERACY: Males, 99%; females, 99%. LIFE EXPECTANCY Life Expectancy 1. The age until which a person is expected to live. 2. The remaining number of years an individual is expected to live, based on IRS issued life expectancy tables. : Males, 77 years; females, 83 years. QUESTIONS 1. What is the capital of Australia Noun 1. capital of Australia - the capital of Australia; located in southeastern Australia Australian capital, Canberra Australia, Commonwealth of Australia - a nation occupying the whole of the Australian continent; Aboriginal tribes are thought to have ? -- 2. Which color on the map stands for arable (farmable) land? -- 3. Which state capital is not on the mainland? -- 4. Most of Australia's deserts are located west of which line of longitude shown on the map? -- 5. Which state/territory would you visit to see the Great Barrier Reef? -- 6. Which city is located nearest to 34[degrees]S, 151[degrees]E? -- 7. Which city is closest to the Tropic of Capricorn Tropic of Capricorn, parallel of latitude at 23°30' south of the equator; it is the southern boundary of the tropics. This parallel marks the farthest point south at which the sun can be seen directly overhead at noon; south of the parallel the sun appears less ? -- 8. Which territorial capital is located nearest to the equator? -- 9. What is the distance in miles between Canberra and Melbourne? -- 10. Before Australia gained independence in 1901, it was a colony of which European country? -- ANSWERS 1. Canberra 2. green 3. Hobart, Tasmania 4. 140[degrees]E 5. Queensland 6. Sydney 7. Alice Springs 8. Darwin, Northwest Territory 9. about 300 miles 10. Great Britain/United Kingdom [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] QUICK QUIZ * Use a word from this list to correctly complete each sentence. Aborigines, Ayers Rock, British convicts, bush, Canberra, distance education, Elizabeth II, e-mail, Gold Coast, John Howard, Tony King, Northern Territory, shrub, Sydney, Rikki Tiller, Uluru, way-out education 11. The Prime Minister of Australia The office of Prime Minister of Australia is, in practice, the most powerful political office in the Commonwealth of Australia. The Prime Minister is the head of government of Australia and holds office on commission from the Governor-General. is --. 12. Australia's vast central area is called the outback or --. 13. Australia's head of state is -- 14. Children who live in the outback go to school by --. 15. Among Australia's first Europeans were --. ANSWERS 11. John Howard 12. bush 13. Elizabeth II 14. distance education 15. British convicts |
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