Geography
Geography
“Without geography, you’re nowhere” Jimmy Buffet
Overview
Key Stage 3
The teaching of Geography is delivered by the Humanities department and each child will expect to receive two lessons each week at Key Stage 3 as part of their normal timetable of 30 lessons. A modular approach is taken in Geography with important numeracy, literacy and graphicacy skills developed alongside contextual knowledge and understanding. Each module carries an assessment normally in the form of a test, timed essay, presentation or project. Homestudy is set regularly to consolidate and develop knowledge, understanding and skills including research-based tasks and independent enquiry.
Geography
Year 7
Autumn
Term
Map Skills
Settlements
Spring
Term
Rivers, Coasts and Flooding
Summer
Term
Case study: Australia
Year 8
Autumn
Term
Population, Trade and Development
Spring
Term
Case study: Brazil
Summer
Term
Weather and Climate
Year 9
Autumn
Term
Natural Hazards
Spring
Term
People and the Environment
Summer
Term
Globalisation: Sport and Fashion
Globalisation: Tourism
Visits
A range of day trips are offered to enable students to experience and deepen their understanding of what they have studied, as well as, encouraging an interest in the subject.
Year 7
Local fieldwork study (Bradgate Park)*
Year 9
Iceland 4-day residential trip
*used as an alternative to a medieval castle visit
Curriculum
The learning of Geography develops an understanding and appreciation of global issues along with a focus on relevant case studies both near and far, from Australia to India and from China to Brazil. The programme of study is delivered in a way that develops important geographical skills initially before expanding the breadth and depth of content from focusing on the United Kingdom to then investigating worldwide case studies and then global topics of interest around the world.
Outcomes
The Geography programme of study facilitates a better understanding and appreciation of the stimulating world in which we live, and the past and present impacts made by people to the planet. Gartree’s mission is to develop “global citizens” that have a profound awareness of the world around them to make conscientious, informed contributions to the wider world in which we live based on respect, tolerance and mutual appreciation of diversity and cultural differences.
Subject-based skills
Students are required to develop a range of valuable skills throughout their course of study. These skills may be assessed across any of the examined components in each of the three Humanities subjects.
Atlas and map skills
recognise and describe distributions and patterns of both human and physical features at
a range of scales using a variety of maps and atlasesdraw, label, annotate, understand and interpret sketch maps
recognise and describe patterns of vegetation, land use and communications
infrastructure, as well as other patterns of human and physical landscapesdescribe and identify the site, situation and shape of settlements
Graphical skills
label and annotate and interpret different diagrams, maps, graphs, sketches and
photographsuse and interpret aerial, oblique, ground and satellite photographs from a range of
different landscapesuse maps in association with photographs and sketches and understand links to directions
Data and information research skills
use online census sources to obtain population and local geo-demographic information
Investigative skills
identify questions or issues for investigation, develop a hypothesis and/or key questions
consider appropriate sampling procedures (systematic vs random vs stratified) and sample size
consider health and safety and undertake risk assessment
select data collection methods and equipment to ensure accuracy and reliability, develop recording sheets for measurements and observation
use of ICT to manage, collate, process and present information, use of hand-drawn
graphical skills to present information in a suitable waywrite descriptively, analytically and critically about findings
develop extended written arguments, drawing well evidenced and informed conclusions about geographical questions and issues
Cartographic skills
use and understand gradient, contour and spot height on OS maps and other isoline maps
interpret cross sections and transects
use and understand coordinates, scale and distance
describe and interpret geo-spatial data presented in a GIS framework
Graphical skills
select and construct appropriate graphs and charts to present data, using appropriate scales and including bar charts, pie charts, pictograms, line charts, histograms with equal class intervals
interpret and extract information from different types of graphs and charts including any of the above and others relevant to the topic
interpret population pyramids, choropleth maps and flow-line map
Numerical skills
demonstrate an understanding of number, area and scale and the quantitative
relationships between unitsdesign fieldwork data collection sheets and collect data with an understanding of accuracy, sample size and procedures, control groups and reliability
understand and correctly use proportion and ratio, magnitude and frequency
draw informed conclusions from numerical data
Statistical skills
use appropriate measures of central tendency, spread and cumulative frequency (median, mean, range, quartiles and inter-quartile range, mode and modal class)
calculate percentage increase or decrease and understand the use of percentiles
describe relationships in bivariate data: sketch trend lines through scatter plots; draw estimated lines of best fit; make predictions; interpolate and extrapolate trends
be able to identify weaknesses in selective statistical presentation of data
Key Stage 4
How the course is assessed: 100% final examination
Exam board: Edexcel B Geography (1GB0)
Course overview: The qualification has a straightforward structure with three components. The specification content is framed by geographical enquiry questions that encourage an investigative approach to each of the key ideas. As part of this enquiry process, students are encouraged to use integrated geographical skills, including appropriate mathematics and statistics, in order to explore geographical questions and issues. Students are encouraged to make geographical decisions by applying their knowledge, understanding and skills to real-life 21stcentury people and environment issues:
Hazardous Earth
Development Dynamics
Challenges of an Urbanised World
The UK’s Evolving Physical Landscape
The UK’s Evolving Human Landscape
People and the Biosphere
Forests Under Threat
Consuming Energy Resources
You can expect to:
develop your knowledge and understanding of place, process and interaction through global and UK issues.
explore geographical concepts through two fieldwork trips.
study key contemporary geographical issues that are relevant and insightful.
develop and extend competence in a range of skills including those used in fieldwork, in using maps and in computer software such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
Where does it lead? The study of Geography stimulates an interest in and a sense of wonder about places, people and the environment. It helps young people make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world and how society, the economy and environment combine to bring about change. It explains where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected, and examines natural resources and their sustainable use.
At University level, Geography graduates become some of the most sought-after graduates by employers due to the holistic overview the subject offers on many of the world's current issues – at a global scale and locally. The Russell Group of Universities and key employers recognise Geography as one of the key 'facilitating' subjects for entry to degree level study. Geography provides a platform for career paths into town planning, architecture, environmental management, travel and tourism, plus teaching.