Welcome and Workshop Purpose

The planning group for this workshop conducted an analysis of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the National Council for Social Studies Standards, and the National Geography Standards to find curriculum connections in which Australian content is appropriate. This recognizes that the social studies curriculum is already very full and that integration and fusion is a more feasible implementation policy than attempts to "add on" Australian studies.

The planning group identified four core topics:

• Migration
• Natural Hazards
• Global Interdependency
• People, Resources, Environments, and Society.

These subject areas address the needs of teachers in multiple grade levels, particularly in courses that feature contemporary world cultures (Texas 6th grade), World History and World Geography Studies, and US History.

Other ways that educators may introduce information about Australia are through topics such as:

Comparisons between Australia and Texas and the US	Discovery and Exploration: Australia and the US	First peoples in Australia and the US
Australia and the US: Friends in War and Peace	Mapping to study Australia	Ecotourism
Australian Literature	Introduction of alien species and consequences on environments in the US and Australia	Westward movement: Settlement history, boom-bust cycles, gold mining
Exploration across the continent and frontier myths	Globalization: Australia in the world system	Water rights issues: Sydney's quest for water cf. LA's
Historical links: WWI, WWII, and Vietnam	Icons in Australia and the US	Seasons and Time Zones

To download a PDF file with an assortment of resources and activities related to Australia, click here.

To download an instrument in PDF format that helps students to understand the environmental challenges common to both Australia and the US, click here.