This geography lesson sequence has been designed for students who attend a tour at the Western Treatment Plant, and those who complete the virtual tour as a form of fieldwork.
Teachers should select the lessons most suitable for their students.
Download the lesson plan
This lesson plan contains modules explicitly linked to the Victorian Curriculum.
Activities
Activity 1: Introduction to the Western Treatment Plant
Students will explore the function of the Western Treatment Plant in relation to the water cycle, and apply mapping skills (including transcribing location and BOLTSS) to locate the plant on a map of Melbourne.
Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours
Activity 2: GIS mapping activities
Students develop an understanding of how their home or school is connected to the Western Treatment Plant, through navigating and analysing a GIS map and explaining the spatial distribution of the sewerage network.
Duration: 40 minutes
Activity 3: Sewage treatment virtual tour
Students explore the virtual tour to gain an understanding of the sewage treatment process – including the main stages, the role of the Western Treatment Plant in the water cycle, and how water at the plant can be classified.
Duration: 1 hour
Activity 4: Going deeper into sewage treatment
Students gain a deeper understanding of one of the key stages of the sewage treatment process, working in groups to create a role play.
Duration: 1 hour
Activity 5: Sustainability
This activity focuses on recycled water, asking students to discuss the environmental benefits and ethical considerations of drinking it, as well as the link to water scarcity.
Duration: 1 hour
Victorian curriculum links
- VCGGK105: Classification of environmental resources and the forms that water takes as a resource
Geography > Geographical knowledge > Water in the world - VCGGK106: Ways that flows of water connect places as they move through the environment and the ways this affects places
Geography > Geographical knowledge > Water in the world - VCGGK108: Nature of water scarcity and the role of humans in creating and overcoming it, including studies drawn from Australia and West Asia and/or North Africa
Geography > Geographical knowledge > Water in the world - VCGGC099: Explain processes that influence the characteristics of places
Geography > Geographical concepts and skills > Place, space and interconnection - VCGGC101: Identify, analyse and explain interconnections within places and between places and identify and explain changes resulting from these interconnections
Geography > Geographical concepts and skills > Place, space and interconnection - VCGGC102: Collect and record relevant geographical data and information from useful primary and secondary sources, using ethical protocols
Geography > Geographical concepts and skills > Data and information - VCGGC104: Analyse maps and other geographical data and information using digital and spatial technologies as appropriate, to develop identifications, descriptions, explanations and conclusions that use geographical terminology
Geography > Geographical concepts and skills > Data and information
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Western Treatment Plant
Learn more about this world-class facility with our new virtual tour, with stunning 360-degree views you can access anytime, anywhere.