HSC Geography › Human–Environment Interactions › 14.3

# Activity Materials — The Black Summer Fires (2019–20)

NSW Stage 6 Geography (2022) · Student worksheet · Case study
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this resource may contain names, images or references to people who have died.
Name: Class: Date:

## Activity 1 · The scale — a data snapshot

Acquiring geographical information · ~10 min
Fill in the key figures from the study page. Learn these — they anchor a case-study answer.

Measure | Figure
--- | ---
Total land burnt |
Animals killed / displaced |
Direct deaths |
Estimated cost |
CO₂ released |

## Activity 2 · Explain the causes

Applying geographical understanding · ~12 min
For each condition, explain how it contributed — and add the climate-change link.

Condition | How it contributed
--- | ---
Record drought (2019) |
Extreme heat |
Strong winds |
Climate change |

## Activity 3 · Locate the major fires

Using maps / case knowledge · ~10 min
Match each fire to its key feature.

Fire | Key feature
--- | ---
Gospers Mountain |
Currowan |
Mallacoota |

## Activity 4 · The fire–climate feedback

Interconnection · ~10 min
Complete the loop, then explain it in one sentence.

Climate change | → | ? | → | ? (~900 Mt CO₂) | → | ?
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
hotter, drier |  |  |  |  |  |

One-sentence explanation of the feedback loop:

## Activity 5 · Evaluate the response

Assessing management · ~15 min
List responses, then judge how effective the overall response was.

During the fires | After (recovery)
--- | ---

Judgement (how effective, and what should improve?):

## Activity 6 · Extended-response practice

Communicating geographical understanding · ~20 min
Plan (dot points), then write the introduction.

Question: “Using the Black Summer fires, analyse the causes, impacts and management of a contemporary hazard.”

Paragraph | Content (dot points)
--- | ---
Introduction |
Causes (+ climate link) |
Impacts (environment + people) |
Management & response |
Conclusion |

Reputable sources: Royal Commission (Natural Disasters) · WWF Australia · BoM Climate
Rose Bay Secondary College · HSC Geography · Human–Environment Interactions — Activities (14.3) · NESA Stage 6 (2022) · HSC 2026
Aligned to the NESA Geography Stage 6 Syllabus (2022); First Nations content handled per cultural protocols; model answers in the teacher lesson plan.