Question

Australia’s Geography & Trade Choice Board
Objective
Describe how Australia’s location, climate, and natural resources impact trade and
affect where people live.
Directions
1. Review the nine options in the grid below.
2. Choose three (3) activities to complete. Your choices must connect to form a
straight line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal).
3. The Middle Square is REQUIRED.
4. Use your textbook, atlas, or provided notes to ensure your facts are accurate.
5. You have 3 class days to complete all three tasks. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS. WILL
RECEIVE A ZERO IF NOT RECEIVED BY FRIDAY AT END OF YOUR CLASS PERIOD.
The Choice Board Grid
1. The Real Estate Agent 2. The Trade Map 3. The Postcard Home
Create a "For Sale" flyer for a
home in a coastal city (like
Sydney). Explain why people
want to live there based on the
Climate.
Draw a map of Australia
showing 3 Natural
Resources and draw
arrows pointing toward
trade partners in Asia.
Write a postcard from the
"Outback." Describe the
harsh Climate and explain
why so few people live there.
4. The Resource Infographic 5. THE BIG "WHY"
(Required)
6. The Weather Reporter
Create a chart linking 3
resources (Gold, Coal, Iron Ore)
to how they are traded and
which coastal ports are used.
Write a paragraph
explaining why 90% of
Australians live on the
coast rather than the dry
interior (Outback).
Record a 1-minute video for
a news forecast comparing
the Tropical North to the
Temperate Southeast.
7. The Master Mapper 8. The Port City Profile 9. The Survival Guide
Label all 6 features on the
provided blank map. Use blue
for water and brown/green for
land features. Draw a Compass
Rose in the corner.
Pick a major port (like
Brisbane). List what
resources go out and why
the Location makes it a
good place to live.
Create a "Quick Guide" for a
new business. Explain how
Australia's Location makes it
easy to trade with
China/Japan.
Grading Rubric
Criteria Proficient (20-16) Developing (15 – 10) Beginning (9-0) Score
Content
Accuracy
All facts about
climate, location,
and resources are
correct.
1-2 minor factual
errors regarding
geography.
Multiple errors;
shows lack of
understanding.
/20
Connection
to Trade
Clearly explains
how resources
get from Australia
to other
countries.
Mentions trade but
doesn't explain how
location helps.
Trade is not
mentioned or is
incorrect.
/20
Population
Logic
Explains why
people prefer the
coast over the
interior.
Identifies where
people live but not the
"why."
Does not address
population density.
/20
Choice &
Completion
Three tasks
completed in a
row, including the
middle square.
Three tasks
completed, but not in
a row.
Fewer than three
tasks completed.
/20
Effort &
Clarity
Work is neat,
organized, and
easy to read.
Work is mostly legible
but appears rushed.
Work is difficult to
read or unfinished.
/20
TOTAL
SCORE
/100

Answer 1

Good — here’s a clear plan so you can finish this Choice Board on time and get a high score.

Which line to pick
You must include square 5, so your straight-line options are:
- Row 2: 4 → 5 → 6 (Resource Infographic, THE BIG "WHY", Weather Reporter)
- Column 2: 2 → 5 → 8 (Trade Map, THE BIG "WHY", Port City Profile) — recommended
- Diagonal TL→BR: 1 → 5 → 9 (Real Estate Agent, THE BIG "WHY", Survival Guide)
- Diagonal BL→TR: 7 → 5 → 3 (Master Mapper, THE BIG "WHY", Postcard Home)

I recommend Column 2 (2 → 5 → 8) because it uses maps and short writing — clear, factual, and easy to make neat and accurate. Below are ready-to-use pieces for each of those three tasks plus a short checklist to meet the rubric.

Task 2 — Trade Map (what to draw and label)
Instructions for your drawing:
- Base map: outline of Australia showing states/territories and major cities (Perth, Port Hedland area, Darwin, Adelaide, Brisbane, Newcastle/Sydney, Melbourne).
- Mark three natural resources in their main regions:
- Iron ore — Pilbara region, Western Australia (label “Iron ore (Pilbara)”).
- Coal — Bowen Basin/Gladstone (Queensland) and Hunter Valley/Newcastle (NSW) (label “Coal (QLD, NSW)”).
- Wheat/agricultural products or LNG — Western Plains (wheat in WA/SA) and/or gas fields in NW Shelf (label “LNG / Natural gas (NW Shelf)” or “Wheat (W Australia, SA)”).
- Draw arrows from each resource region to major trade partners in Asia:
- Iron ore (Pilbara) → big arrow to China (largest), also to Japan and South Korea.
- Coal (Newcastle/Gladstone) → arrows to Japan, South Korea, China.
- LNG / Natural gas (NW Shelf) → arrows to Japan and China.
- (Optional) Agricultural exports (wheat, beef, wool) → arrows to China, Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia.
- Label ports used:
- Port Hedland (Pilbara) — iron ore exports to China/Japan.
- Newcastle / Port of Newcastle — coal to Japan/S Korea.
- Gladstone — coal and LNG.
- Fremantle/Perth — grain, containers.
- Brisbane / Sydney / Melbourne — containers and agricultural exports.
- Add a short legend: Resource icons (pick colors), arrow = export route, dashed line = shipping routes.

Make it neat: use colored pencils (or digital color) for resources and arrows, draw a compass rose and label the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Task 5 — THE BIG "WHY" (required paragraph)
Write this paragraph exactly or adjust slightly to match your voice:

Why 90% of Australians live on the coast
About 90% of Australians live near the coast because coastal areas offer milder climates, more reliable water supplies, fertile land for farming, and easier access to trade and jobs. The temperate southeast and the tropical north have more rainfall, rivers, and soils suitable for cities and agriculture, while the interior (the Outback) is arid, hot, and often lacks freshwater and good soils. Coastal cities also grew around natural harbors and ports (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle) that make exporting resources (iron ore, coal, LNG, agricultural goods) to nearby trading partners in Asia faster and cheaper. The coast provides better schools, hospitals, transport networks, and more economic opportunities (ports, factories, tourism), so people prefer to live near the sea rather than in the remote, harsh interior.

(Task tip: keep this paragraph on your paper exactly as your answer for #5 so the teacher can find it easily.)

Task 8 — Port City Profile (example: Brisbane)
You can pick any major port; here is a ready-to-submit example for Brisbane:

Port City: Brisbane
- Main exports shipped out: coal (from Queensland mines), agricultural goods (beef, sugar), timber, and containerized manufactured goods.
- Why location makes it a good place to live:
- Brisbane sits on the east coast with a large river and a protected harbor, which makes shipping and trade efficient.
- It’s close to Queensland resource areas (mines and farmland), so transport costs to the port are low.
- The city has strong infrastructure — highways, rail, airports — linking resources to the port and people to jobs.
- The climate (warm subtropical) is milder than the Outback, and the city offers more services, schools, hospitals, and job opportunities, so many people choose to live there.

Grading checklist (use before you turn it in)
- Content accuracy: Check names/locations (Pilbara = WA iron ore; Newcastle/Gladstone = coal; NW Shelf = gas/LNG).
- Connection to trade: On the map, make arrows clear and label ports and partner countries (China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia).
- Population logic: Make sure your #5 paragraph mentions climate, water, soils, ports, and jobs.
- Choice & completion: Ensure you did 2 → 5 → 8 in a straight line and included the required middle paragraph.
- Effort & clarity: Keep handwriting neat or use typed text pasted on paper, color-code the map, and add small labels/legend.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a printable map layout you can copy by hand.
- Create a finished “For Sale” flyer or a one-minute script if you choose a different line.
Tell me which line you prefer or if you want the map image/layout to copy — I’ll make it for you.