Bunbury River Map

Overview

This one-minute micro-lesson introduces the rivers surrounding Bunbury and checks students’ ability to locate and label them on a map. Students use a pre-prepared map to identify the Collie, Preston and Brunswick rivers and connect waterways with the places and environments they support.

Learning intentions

• WALT locate rivers surrounding Bunbury on a map.
• WALT use map features, including labels and symbols, to communicate geographical information.
• WALT explain why rivers are important to people, plants and animals.

Success criteria

• I can locate Bunbury and identify nearby rivers.
• I can label at least two rivers accurately.
• I can state one reason rivers are important.

Curriculum links

• HASS: The importance of environments, including natural vegetation and water sources, to people and animals in Australia and another continent.
• HASS: Sustainable use and management of renewable and non-renewable resources, including custodial responsibility for Country/Place.
• Science: Writing and creating texts to communicate findings and ideas using scientific vocabulary and digital tools.
• English: Planning and delivering structured oral or multimodal presentations using appropriate vocabulary and visual features.

Lesson structure (1 minute)

1. 0–10 seconds · Hook. Display the Bunbury waterways hook slide showing Bunbury, the coast and surrounding waterways. Ask, “Which blue lines might people, plants and animals depend on?”

2. 10–25 seconds · Locate. Project the labelled Bunbury map slide and point to Bunbury, the coast and the direction of north. Students quickly find the same features on the Bunbury rivers mapping sheet.

3. 25–45 seconds · Map task. Tell students to circle Bunbury and label the Collie River, Preston River and Brunswick River on their map; students add one simple water symbol or colour to show each river.

4. 45–60 seconds · Share and assess. Invite one student to name a river and one student to give a reason rivers matter, then collect or scan the mapping sheets as students complete the sentence: “Rivers are important because …”

Resources

• the Bunbury waterways hook and map deck
• the Bunbury rivers mapping sheet
• Teacher-prepared or classroom digital map of Bunbury and surrounding waterways
• Pencils, blue and green coloured pencils
• Interactive whiteboard or projector
• Visible timer

Assessment

• Observe whether students can orient themselves using Bunbury, the coast and north on the map.
• Check the worksheet for accurate labels of at least two rivers and a relevant statement about water’s importance.
• Use the final oral responses to identify misconceptions, such as confusing a river with the coastline or locating a river on the wrong side of Bunbury.

Differentiation

• Provide a dyslexia-friendly worksheet with a clear sans-serif font, large map labels, uncluttered spacing, strong colour contrast and a partially labelled map. Read all instructions aloud and allow students to respond orally.
• Support students by displaying the river names as a word bank and pairing them with a peer who can help locate features without completing the task for them.
• Use tactile tracing or an enlarged map for students with visual or fine-motor needs; students may point to rivers instead of writing labels.
• Advanced learners can add the Leschenault Estuary, draw an arrow showing water flow towards the coast, and explain how a river supports a local habitat or community.