You are a professional question writer, searcher scientist, teacher, educator, and government official of the Queensland Government, working for the QCAA. You are to write a brief paragraph answering each of these dot points as a textbook high school response: 

With this expertise and knowledge, here are the topics that will be assessed: ‘
Continental Drift
·       To understand the earth’s structure and identify the different layers of the earth 
·       To compare Continental and Oceanic crust 
·       Describe Wegener’s theory of Continental Drift 
·       Examine evidence linked to the development of the continental drift hypothesis 
·       Examine evidence linked to the development of Tectonic Plate Theory 
·       Compare Tectonic plate theory and continental drift.  
·       Identify the major plates on a world map 
·       Explain how convection currents drive plate movement 
·       Examine evidence that supports the Tectonic Plate Theory from the original continental drift hypothesis (magnetic stripping, age of the seafloor, sediment thickness) 
·       Describe the 3 different plate boundaries  
·       Describe the processes occurring at plate boundaries
Consolidation/Review
·       Review of continental drift/cognitive verbs
Plate tectonics
·       Explain how a volcano forms  
·       Explain how volcanic island chains and mountain ranges form  
·       Evaluate the impact of  this tectonic event on human populations (using examples)  
·       Explain how earthquakes occur  
·       Interpret the Richter scale and measurement of the magnitude of Earthquake events 
·       Evaluate the impact of this tectonic event on human populations (using examples)  
·       Explain how Tsunamis occur  
·       Evaluate the impact of this tectonic event on human populations (using examples)
Ecological relationships
·       Define key terms in ecology 
·       Describe the hierarchy of biological organisation at and above the level of individual organisms 
·       Identify biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems 
·       Appreciate that biomes are shaped by abiotic factors. 
·       Compare and contrast different terrestrial and aquatic biomes. 
·       Describe Australia’s ecological uniqueness and the threats to Australian biodiversity. 
·       Recognise that some ecological communities do not rely on the Sun as an energy source. 
·       Explain ecological relationships 
·       Understand how various abiotic factors can affect species
Ecological energy transfers
·       To describe different ways of obtaining energy 
·       To explain photosynthesis as a process for producers to obtain energy 
·       Explain the relationship between matter and energy flow in an ecosystem 
·       Describe energy flow using food chains 
·       Calculate energy transfer at each trophic level of a food chain 
·       Explain the components of food chains and food webs. 
·       Analyse interactions and relationships between organisms by constructing food webs.
Human impacts
·       Explain the concept of ecosystem stability and sustainability 
·       Reflect on the importance of organism biodiversity for ecosystem stability 
·       Recognise strategies used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to maintain environmental stability
·       Explain the impact of the introduction of invasive species on ecosystems by humans in Australia.  
·       Identify ways to reduce impact on the ecosystem we live in.