Writer: Craig Blacklock.
Time Frame: six to seven lessons.
Released May 2007
Important: Teachers should check the NZQA website for the current Assessment Specifications at each year level.
Note: This DVD is most suited to teaching for the Geo 1.1: AS90202 Examine Extreme Natural Events and the Human Response achievement standard (see below).
This DVD can be used in teaching for the following Geography achievement standards:
Geo 1.1: AS90202 Examine Extreme Natural Events and the Human Response
A study of an extreme natural event in New Zealand, selected from earthquakes, landslips, volcanic eruptions, coastal erosion or floods.
Focusing Questions
- What is an extreme natural event?
- What processes produce the extreme natural event? How often does the extreme natural event occur?
- What sequence of events occurs in the extreme natural event?
- What physical changes to the land does the extreme natural event produce?
- How does the extreme natural event affect people?
- How can people increase or decrease the likelihood or effects of the extreme natural event?
Geo 2.1: AS90331 Explain a Natural Landscape
This common topic draws attention to variations in natural processes and landscapes, and involves a general treatment of landform development and evolution.
Focusing Questions
- What are the elements that make up a natural landscape?
- Why do natural landscapes vary from place to place? In what ways do particular processes give rise to particular landforms? In what ways do particular climates give rise to particular natural landscapes?
- How do natural landscapes evolve through time?
- In what ways does human activity affect natural landscapes?
Geo 3.1: AS90701 Analyse a Geographic Environment
A study of a geographic environment in New Zealand focusing upon interacting natural processes.
Focusing Questions
- What are the elements and interaction involved in each process?
- Why are local spatial variations found in these processes?
- How have these processes affected the distribution of the phenomena in this particular environment?
- How does each process operate within this setting?
- How do the processes illustrate interaction among natural phenomena?
- To what extent have these natural processes been modified by human action?
Social Studies Curriculum Links
The video footage in Earthquakes and Tsunami makes a number of links to the New Zealand Social Studies Curriculum at Level 5 (Years 9 & 10). The following areas are suggested links:
Strands
Place & Environment
Why particular places and environments are significant for people.
Time, Continuity & Change
How past events have influenced relationships within and between groups of people and continue to influence them.
How the ideas and actions of individuals and groups that have shaped the lives and experiences of people are viewed through time.
Processes
Inquiry
Social Decision Making
Settings
New Zealand
The Pacific
Perspectives
Current Issues
The Future
Essential Learning About New Zealand Society
Major events in New Zealand’s History.
The location and significance of important natural and cultural features of the landscape.
The physical environment of New Zealand and how people interact with the landscape.
Current events and issues within New Zealand.
Resources
Outline
This unit has been developed with the purpose of providing a suggested framework for covering course content with particular emphasis on using the New Zealand Film Archive’s DVDs. The lesson structure is intended as a guideline only. Teachers should tailor their lessons to their students and use their own established resources in conjunction with this DVD during these lessons.
- Lesson 1: Introduction to EQ & Tsunami
- Lesson 2: Hawkes Bay Earthquake 1931
- Lesson 3: Wairarapa, Inangahua & Edgecumbe EQs
- Lesson 4: More Recent Seismic Activity
- Lesson 5: Wellington Case Study
- Lesson 6: December 2004 – The Boxing Day Tsunami
Themes
While teachers will be tailoring their lessons around their chosen achievement standard, there are four broad geographic themes common to all levels that can be studied in greater or lesser depth:
- What are the natural and cultural processes that cause earthquakes and tsunami?
- Whar are there patterns created by earthquakes and tsunami?
- How do earthquakes and tsunami affect people and the land?
- How can people prepare for earthquakes and tsunami?
Key Content
This unit was devised to offer teachers a framework for using the New Zealand Film Archive’s DVDs. It also assumes the teacher will have access to supporting materials and other resources such as text books, the internet or guest speakers for example. Ideally, a field work component would also support student learning in this unit.
Relevant Film Archive Footage
This is really the heart of the unit. It is intended to act as a guide for the classroom teacher, indicating relevant footage on the DVDs that could be used in the classroom to illustrate a point or create a discussion or debate. There are a number of suggested discussion starters for teachers to use.
Assessment Options
- A formative essay based assessment task suitable for NCEA Geography Levels 1, 2 or 3.
- A poster design task suitable for year 9 or 10 Social Studies.
Useful Links
GNS (Geological and Nuclear Sciences)
Quake Trackers
Geo Net
Te Ara - The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand
Any Questions
Sources of Information
Ministry of Education 1990 Syllabus for Schools: Geography Forms 5-7.
Learning Media: Wellington.
NZQA Website
