This site is part of a unit of study for 7th grade students of
Gallagher Middle School
Smithfield, RI
Some pages were designed by our students as part of a unit of study.  It contains a variety of information about the geography as well as the science related to the continent of Australia.

 As you can see, Australia is a country as well as a continent.  It is divided into 6 states in much the same way as the U.S.
Each area has it's own unique culture.

~   Australia's Beginning   ~
Approximately 250 million years ago there was one major continent called Pangaea. Before the continents moved, the animals and plants were able to mix with one another.
When this super continent broke up Australia became isolated from the other continents by the oceans. The animals in Australia evolved on their own to be very different from animals on other continents.  Over 90% of the animals in Australia are not found on any other continent in the world!
 

Click on the koala to learn about Australia's Animals

Click here to learn about the Aborigines, the first Australian inhabitants.

to learn about the Great Barrier Reef