Mapping the Edge
Understanding coastal processes
Complete unit of work to teach
years 5-6 and 7-10.
A free coastal erosion & management unit
Coastlines are constantly shifting — carved by waves, reshaped by storms, and influenced by human decisions. Mapping the Edge gives your students a front-row seat to one of Australia’s most pressing environmental challenges: coastal erosion and sustainable coastal management.
Designed for both years 5-6 and 7-10, and mapped to Science, Geography, Digital Technologies, Mathematics and English, this ready-to-teach unit blends real-world data, GIS tools, and optional drone technology to build powerful STEM and environmental literacy.
What students explore
How natural and human activities reshape coastlines
Real aerial datasets showing erosion processes
How GIS and drone mapping support coastal management
Considerations of different coastal protection strategies
How to interpret, analyse and communicate complex data
Real-world STEM in action solving a genuine problem
What teachers get
- Ready-to-use lesson sequence, flexible to adapt to your needs
- Digital mapping activities using ArcGIS and GeoNadir
- Coastal management podcast and guided worksheets
- Optional hands-on erosion experiment
- Editable assessment rubrics for Years 5-6 and 7-10
- Curriculum mapping fully aligned with V9.0
Supported by research
The development of Mapping the Edge has been proudly supported by Australia’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
This resource draws on current research and real geospatial datasets to ensure students engage with authentic, evidence-based learning about coastal change and management. NCRIS-supported platforms and research communities have enabled access to high-quality environmental data that underpins the activities in this unit.
We acknowledge and thank NCRIS for their contribution to advancing STEM education and helping teachers bring real-world science and geospatial technology into the classroom.
BONUS: Free drone mapping course
presented by
Want to deepen your confidence with drone mapping and aerial data?
To support Mapping the Edge, teachers can also access a free, live online Drone Mapping Course from GeoNadir, one of Australia’s leading drone data storage and analysis platforms.
This optional course helps you:
Understand the fundamentals of drone mapping and photogrammetry
Learn how aerial imagery is captured, processed and analysed
Build confidence using real-world geospatial datasets in the classroom
Strengthen links between coastal erosion, GIS and spatial data analysis
No prior drone experience is required, and the course pairs perfectly with Mapping the Edge — whether you’re teaching with drones or using existing datasets.
When you download the Mapping the Edge resource, a link to register for this free, live online course will be sent to you via email.
Download your free resources here
Dive a little deeper!
Getting Started With Drones in Your Classroom
The ultimate teachers’ guide to get started with drones. Read about the six steps to launching a successful drone and geospatial program, and obtain compelling arguments why teaching with drones is invaluable for your school.
She Maps Product & Pricing Guide
All our products and prices in one place. Find out more about all our resources, see how our classroom materials align with the Australian Curriculum, and which products are the most suitable for your school.
