Download Structure of the Resources Achievement Criteria

Structure of the Resources
The following resources are designed to allow students of Achievement
Standard 91240 (Geography 2.1) to fully explain aspects of a large natural
environment, including the use of geographic terminology and concepts,
showing insight and integrating comprehensive supporting case study
evidence.
Aspects of a large natural environment are to include:
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
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The characteristics of a large natural environment
How the elements and processes of a large natural environment interact
How a large natural environment is formed and changes over time
How people interact with a large natural environment
How people’s perceptions of a large natural environment
Achievement Criteria
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Demonstrate geographic Demonstrate in-depth
understanding of large
geographic understanding
natural environment.
of a large natural
environment
Achievement with
Excellence
Demonstrate
comprehensive
geographic
understanding of a
large natural
environment
‘A large natural environment’ means a distinctive part of the Earth’s surface
defined by its common natural characteristics (eg. Mountain, desert, forest,
forest, river valley) that occurs at a national, regional, or continental scale. The
environment can be in New Zealand or overseas.
It is important that the natural environment be large in order to show:
 Natural characteristics (elements) of an environment – which include
landforms (relief), climate, soils, and vegetation
 Processes – which include climatic processes; tectonic and other internal
processes; erosion, transportation, deposition, and other surface
processes
 Interaction of people with the natural environment – which may include
cultural, economic, or political interaction.
Choice of a large natural environment
You are only required to study one large natural environment. The
environment you choose must be large enough to show the elements and
processes interact. We are studying:
 The ‘Tongariro Volcanic Environment’.
Introduction – Tongariro Volcanic Environment
The Large Natural Environment that will be covered in this resource is the
Tongariro Volcanic Environment.
The following characteristics which make it unique:
 It has distinctive natural landscapes: its patterns of hills, mountains,
plains, plants, rivers, rocks and climate are different from those of
surrounding areas.
 It also has distinctive cultural features: its settlement and land-use
patterns are, once again, unique.
The work of
nature (natural
processes)
GEOGRAPHIC
ENVIRONMENT
The work of
nature (cultural
processes)
 There are two large andesite volcanoes, Ruapehu (2,797m) and
Tongariro (1,968m). These volcanoes have several vents and have
built large, irregularly shaped composite cones. Mount Ngauruhoe
is a satellite cone on the southern flank of Mount Tongariro.
 North of Lake Rotoaira is three smaller, older andesite cones.
These lie across the NE – SW line of larger volcanoes.
 Hot springs and mud pools are found in thermal areas in the
northern part of the region.
 Materials carried by water, wind or mass movement have built
ring plains around the mountains.
Map showing the Tongariro Volcanic Environment – and
major natural features
Mount Pihanga is a 1325m volcanic
peak. In 1975 it was added to the
Tongariro National Park.
Mount Tongariro
is a 1978m
volcanic peak. It
has erupted more
than 70 times
since 1839.
Lake Rotoaira has a
surface area of
13km², and is up to
14m deep.
Mount Ngauruhoe
is a 2291m volcanic
peak. It has erupted
70 times since
1850.
Rangipo Desert is
harsh and has an
alpine climate.
Mount Ruapehu is a 2797m
volcanic peak. In the last 150
years it has erupted 40 times.