Geography

“The study of Geography is about more than just memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world.” (Barack Obama)

Brief outline of Subject

The Geography department seeks to guide and inspire all learners to achieve in geography through an engaging and challenging curriculum. A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human environments. By incorporating geographical skills, current issues and varying scale from local to global we are able to enthuse the young people we teach and develop a wide range of valuable transferable skills. The curriculum is based on the National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 Geography in terms of both content and concepts

Geography Content in Year 7

Year 7 curriculum rationale: In year 7, Geography is taught to all students and involves studying a range of physical and human topics. Topics are centred around local and national scale geography with the UK making up the core backbone of the year 7 topics. Pupils focus on their local area and develop an understanding of the United Kingdom.  In the final topic of the year pupils begin to explore wider world geography by studying the continent of Europe. All topics are designed to include current in the news topics, issues and geographical skills.

Unit 1 –  The world and Me

Investigating geographical skills, the world and their local area.

Students will study the following:

• Baseline assessment to establish prior knowledge
• World mapping of continents and oceans
• Grid references – Using local maps
• Scale – Using Local area maps
• Contours and relief using OS maps
• Field sketch of the local area
• Geographic Information System (GIS) Skills

Unit 2 – The United Kingdom

Introducing pupils to the UK – Their island home.

Students will study the following:

• UK characteristics – mapping physical features
• Population and diversity of the UK
• Tourism
• London case study
• National parks
• Lake District case study
• UK Government

Unit 3 –  Challenges and opportunities in the UK

Investigating current UK challenges to their life and management of these

Students will study the following:

• Water challenges and management
• Waste challenges and management
• Energy challenges and management
• Air pollution challenges and management
• Manchester – opportunities/challenges in a UK city
• Salford Quays regeneration

Unit 4 – UK Weather and Climate

Investigating UK weather and climate and its impact.

Students will study the following:

• UK weather vs climate
• Measuring weather
• Water Cycle and Types of rainfall
• Air pressure, masses and climate zones
• Factors affecting climate
• Climate Graphs
• Microclimates – measuring weather/fieldwork study
• UK extreme weather case studies

Unit 5 –  Europe and Russia

Investigating Europe, it’s physical features and geopolitical issues.

Students will study the following:

• Countries in Europe
• Physical features of Europe
• Human geography of Europe
• Difference between the EU and Europe
• European tourism
• Migration in Europe
• Geopolitics of Europe
• Russia’s role in Europe
• The future of Europe

Unit 6 –  UK Coastlines

Investigating coastal features and landforms within the UK.

Students will study the following:

• Coastal processes and waves
• Erosion, transportation and deposition
• Erosional landforms of the UK
• Depositional landforms of the UK
• Managing coastlines – Fylde Coast (GIS skills)
• Challenges on the Fylde coast
• Regeneration in Morecambe

Fieldwork

Fieldwork opportunities will be offered during year 7 to support learning in the classroom. Field sketch, microclimate study, weather diary, environmental quality survey.

Assessment

Extended writing tasks, oracy assessments, knowledge checks and summative assessments will be used to support assessment for learning. Summative assessments will include a mixture of multiple choice, short answer questions and extended answer questions.

Mr A Palmer – Academic Leader of Geography

Geography – Year 8

“Geography is a living, breathing subject, constantly adapting itself to change. It is dynamic and relevant. For me geography is a great adventure with a purpose.” (Michael Palin)

Brief outline of Subject

The Geography department seeks to guide and inspire all learners to achieve in geography through an engaging and challenging curriculum. A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human environments. By incorporating geographical skills, current issues and varying scale from local to global we are able to enthuse the young people we teach and develop a wide range of valuable transferable skills. The curriculum is based on the National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 Geography in terms of both content and concepts.

Geography Content in Year 8

Year 8 curriculum rationale: In year 8, Geography is taught to all students and involves studying a range of physical and human topics. Topics build upon the UK based learning in year 7 and broaden out into the wider world. Topics are linked to countries/continents where applicable with real life case studies and examples to support topic learning and application. Topics become more technical in challenge.

Unit 1 –  Dangerous Earth

Investigating tectonic hazards of earthquakes, volcanoes and Tsunamis.

Students will study the following:

• Earth’s structure
• Tectonic plate theory
• Plate boundaries
• Earthquakes and Tsunamis
• Tsunami case study
• Volcanoes formation and types
• Benefits and Hazards of living in volcanic areas
• Volcano case study – La Palma (GIS skills)

Unit 2 – Ecosystems of South America

Investigating ecosystems with South America case study examples.

Students will study the following:

• Ecosystems – Local and global
• South America ecosystems
• Plant and animal adaptations
• Rainforest ecosystem – Amazon Rainforest
• Protection and Management of the rainforest
• Cold environment – Patagonia
• Cold environment threats and opportunities

Unit 3 – Population and China

Investigating population issues with links to China.

Students will study the following:

• World population growth and distribution
• Demographic transition model/population pyramids
• Population of the future
• China’s population
• Issues and management – One Child Policy
• Beijing – China’s Capital
• Life in China

Unit 4 –  Glacial landscapes

Investigating glacial landscapes with case study examples

Students will study the following:

• Formation of glaciers
• Movement of glaciers
• Erosional features
• Depositional features
• Glaciation in the UK
• Climate change and glaciers
• OS Map skills

Unit 5 – Global Issues

Investigating current geographical global issues.

Students will study the following:

• Identifying current global issues
• Climate change evidence
• Climate change causes
• Climate change impact on Maldives
• Climate change impact on Coral Reefs
• Managing climate change
• Wildfires around the world

Unit 6 –  Fieldwork and Skills

Investigation of upper course landforms and tourism in Malham.

Students will study the following:

• One day field excursion to Malham Cove
• Fieldwork – data collection
• Methodology
• Data analysis – graphical skills
• Conclusion of fieldwork
• Evaluation of methods and analysis

Fieldwork

Fieldwork opportunities will be offered during year 8 to support learning in the classroom. Virtual fieldtrips (GIS skills) and an upland landscapes fieldtrip (Malham) will be offered during year 8.

Assessment

Extended writing tasks, oracy, knowledge checks and summative assessments will be used to support assessment for learning. Summative assessments will include a mixture of multiple choice, short answer questions and extended answer questions.

Mr A Palmer – Academic Leader of Geography

Geography – Year 9

“I wish the world was twice as big – and half of it was still unexplored.” (David Attenborough)

Brief outline of Subject

The Geography department seeks to guide and inspire all learners to achieve in geography through an engaging and challenging curriculum. A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human environments. By incorporating geographical skills, current issues and varying scale from local to global we are able to enthuse the young people we teach and develop a wide range of valuable transferable skills. The curriculum is based on the National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 Geography in terms of both content and concepts.

Geography Content in Year 9

Year 9 curriculum rationale: In year 9, Geography is taught to all students and involves studying a range of physical and human topics. Topics build upon the widen world learning in year 8 and deepen in technical depth in preparation for GCSE. Topics are linked to countries/continents where applicable with real life case studies and examples to support topic learning and application.

Unit 1 –  Urbanisation and India

Investigating urbanisation impacts with use of India as a case study.

Students will study the following:

• Urbanisation world patterns
• Megacities world patterns
• India – human and physical features
• Mumbai and Dharavi – issues and solutions
• Sustainable urban living
• Case study – Masdar City

Unit 2 – Development and Africa

Investigating human development with a focus on the continent of Africa.

Students will study the following:

• Development global trends
• Development gap
• Closing the development gap
• African countries/ misconceptions
• Sahara Desert – Great Green Wall
• Conflict and development
• Horn of Africa

Unit 3 – UK Landscapes

Investigating UK rivers and coastlines

Students will study the following:

• UK upland and lowland areas
• Coastal processes
• Coastal landforms (Dorset Coast)
• Coastal management strategies (Holderness coast)
• River valley changes and processes
• River landforms (River Severn)
• River management strategies (Boscastle)

Unit 4 – Resource Management

Investigating managing resources of food, water and energy.

Students will study the following:

• Changing demand for resources in the UK
• The issues and solutions for food, water and energy management in the UK
• Water demands across the world
• Water supply issues and insecurities
• Strategies to increase water supply

Unit 5 –  Fieldwork and skills

Investigating regeneration of Blackburn (local area) as a fieldwork and skills piece.

Students will study the following:

• Fieldwork – data collection
• Methods write up
• Data analysis – graph skills
• Conclusion and evaluation write up.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork opportunities will be offered during year 9 to support learning in the classroom. This will be in the form of virtual fieldtrips on Google Earth and fieldtrips in the local area.

Assessment

Extended writing tasks, knowledge checks and summative assessments will be used to support assessment for learning. Summative assessments will include a mixture of multiple choice, short answer questions and extended answer questions.

Mr A Palmer – Academic Leader of Geography

Geography – Year 10

“Geography is a living, breathing subject, consistently adapting itself to change, It is dynamic and relevant. For me geography is a great adventure with a purpose.” (Michael Palin)

Brief outline of Subject

The Geography department seeks to guide and inspire all learners to achieve in geography through an engaging and challenging curriculum. A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human environments. By incorporating geographical skills, current issues and varying scale from local to global we are able to enthuse the young people we teach and develop a wide range of valuable transferable skills.

Geography Content in Year 10

Pupils follow the AQA GCSE Specification. Building on both skills and knowledge from KS3, pupils follow the GCSE content below. For more detail on this course or content please see the AQA GCSE Geography website https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035

Unit 1 – The Challenge of Natural Hazards

Investigating tectonic hazards, weather hazards and climate change.

Pupils will study the following:

• Tectonic plate boundaries
• HIC and LIC earthquake case studies
• Reducing the risk of tectonic hazards
• Global atmospheric circulation
• Tropical storms
• A case study of a tropical storm
• Climate change
• UK extreme weather

Unit 2 – Economic World

Investigating the changing economies in Nigeria and the UK

Pupils will study the following:

• Measuring development
• Causes of the development
• Strategies to close the development gap
• A case study of LIC/NEE case study (Nigeria)
• The changing economic structure of the UK

Unit 3 – The Living World

Investigating the challenges of development in ecosystems around the world

Pupils will study the following:

• Global biomes
• Characteristics of tropical rainforests
• Case study of tropical rainforests (Borneo)
• Characteristics of cold environments
• Case study of a cold environment (Svalbard)

Unit 4 – Physical Fieldwork and skills

Investigating the River Darwen and how it is impacted by human management.

Students will study the following:

• Fieldwork – data collection
• Methods write up
• Data analysis – graph skills
• Conclusion and evaluation write up.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork opportunities will be offered during year 10 to support learning in the classroom. This will be in the form of virtual fieldtrips on Google Earth and fieldtrips in the local area. Year 10 includes one compulsory fieldwork that is part of their GCSE course.

Assessment

Exam skills lessons, mock paper and exams will be used to support assessment for learning. Summative assessments will include a mixture of multiple choice, short answer questions and extended answer questions.

Mr A. Palmer – Academic Leader for Geography

Geography – Year 11

“Geography is a living, breathing subject, consistently adapting itself to change, It is dynamic and relevant. For me geography is a great adventure with a purpose.” (Michael Palin)

Brief outline of Subject

The Geography department seeks to guide and inspire all learners to achieve in geography through an engaging and challenging curriculum. A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human environments. By incorporating geographical skills, current issues and varying scale from local to global we are able to enthuse the young people we teach and develop a wide range of valuable transferable skills.

Geography Content in Year 11

Pupils follow the AQA GCSE Specification. Building on both skills and knowledge from KS3, pupils follow the GCSE content below. For more detail on this course or content please see the AQA GCSE Geography website https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035

Unit 1 – Physical Fieldwork and skills

Investigating the River Darwen and the impact of human management

Students will study the following:

• Fieldwork – data collection
• Methods write up
• Data analysis – graph skills
• Conclusion and evaluation write up.

Unit 2 – Urban Issues and Challenges

Investigating the challenges and opportunities in urban areas around the world.

Students will study the following:

• Urbanisation
• Megacities
• A Case study of an LIC/NEE city – Rio de Janeiro
• A case study of a major UK city – Liverpool
• Urban regeneration
• Sustainable urban living (Freiburg)

Unit 3 – The Challenges of Resource Management

Investigating managing resources of food, water and energy.

Students will study the following:

• Changing demand for resources in the UK
• The issues and solutions for food, water and energy management in the UK
• Water demands across the world
• Water supply issues and insecurities
• Strategies to increase water supply

Fieldwork

Fieldwork opportunities will be offered during year 11 to support learning in the classroom. This will be in the form of virtual fieldtrips on Google Earth and fieldtrips in the local area. Year 11 includes one compulsory fieldwork that is part of their GCSE course.

Assessment

Exam skills lessons, mock paper and exams will be used to support assessment for learning. Summative assessments will include a mixture of multiple choice, short answer questions and extended answer questions.

Mr A. Palmer – Academic Leader for Geography