Year 5 · Geography · Geographical knowledge and understanding
How people change environments
Learners examine how people have changed Australian environments through farming, cities, dams and introduced species, and how environments can be protected.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Describe ways people have changed environments.
- Explain positive and negative effects of these changes.
- Suggest ways to manage environments sustainably.
Success looks like
- I can describe three ways people change environments.
- I can explain one positive and one negative effect of a change.
- I can suggest a way to reduce harm to an environment.
The big idea
People change environments to meet their needs for food, water, shelter and transport. Some changes are helpful to people but harmful to plants and animals.
Since 1788, large areas of native vegetation have been cleared for farming and towns. Land clearing can reduce biodiversity, cause erosion and, in some areas, lead to salty soils (dryland salinity).
Cities have grown outwards. Urban sprawl replaces bushland and farmland with houses and roads.
Rivers have been dammed and water diverted for farms and towns. This provides reliable water but changes river flows, affecting fish, wetlands and downstream communities.
Introduced species such as rabbits, foxes, cats, cane toads and many weeds have spread widely and harmed native animals and plants. Cane toads were introduced to Queensland in 1935.
People also work to protect environments through national parks, revegetation, wildlife corridors, feral animal control and water-saving. Conservation projects increasingly involve First Nations rangers and Traditional Owners managing land and sea Country.
Worked examples
Weighing up a change
A dam is built on a river. Give one positive and one negative effect.
- Positive: stores water for towns and farms during dry times.
- Negative: changes the river's natural flow, affecting fish and wetlands downstream.
Answer: Positive: reliable water supply. Negative: harm to river ecosystems downstream.
Suggesting a solution
Suggest how a farmer could reduce erosion on cleared land.
- Erosion happens when soil is unprotected.
- Planting trees and shrubs (windbreaks) holds soil and slows wind.
- Fencing creek banks keeps stock out and lets vegetation recover.
Answer: Plant windbreaks and revegetate creek banks.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
Which is an introduced species in Australia?
Cane toad — Cane toads were introduced in 1935.
What is biodiversity?
The variety of living things in an area — Biodiversity is the variety of life.
What is a negative effect of land clearing?
Loss of habitat and more erosion — Clearing removes habitat and exposes soil.
Which action helps conserve environments?
Planting native trees — Revegetation with native plants restores habitat.
What is urban sprawl?
A city spreading into surrounding countryside — Urban sprawl is the outward growth of cities.
In what year were cane toads introduced to Queensland?
1935 — They were introduced in 1935 to try to control cane beetles.
Protecting and caring for natural environments is called ____.
conservation — Conservation protects environments.
Removing native vegetation for farming or building is called land ____.
clearing — Land clearing removes native vegetation.
Watch out for
- Some think environments before 1788 were untouched wilderness. First Nations peoples actively managed land, for example with fire.
- Children may think every human change is bad. Many changes meet real needs; the goal is to manage them sustainably.
Tips for parents
- Look for old photos of your area at the local library or historical society and compare them with today.
- Join a local Landcare, Bushcare or Coastcare planting day.
- Look for local First Nations ranger or land management programs to learn how Traditional Owners care for Country in your region.
Go further
- Create a before-and-after poster for a place in your area.
- Research one introduced species and how it is being managed.
- Design a wildlife-friendly backyard or balcony.