Geography
Go BackGeneral Aims
The aims of Geography in the context of the whole curriculum are to develop: pupils' knowledge and understanding of the world; pupils' geographical and other skills; their appreciation of peoples' beliefs, values and attitudes and their sense of place.
Specific Aims
The Geography department aims to:
- Pupils will acquire knowledge about locations and places.
- Pupils will be given opportunities to develop a variety of general skills, including intellectual, social, practical, communication and study skills. They will also have the opportunity to acquire specific geographical skills.
- Pupils will learn how the beliefs, values and attitudes held by people influence their decisions and will help them to understand and respect the cultures and way of life of people throughout the world.
- Pupils will learn to appreciate the diversity of landscapes which form the world and can recognise how landscapes derive their character from the interaction of physical and human processes.
Curriculum
KS3
All students study Geography in Key Stage 3. Years 8 and 9 have four, 50 minute periods fortnightly and Year 10 has five, 50 minute periods. Departmental policy is to ensure that as far as possible there is continuity of teaching, i.e. the same teacher maintains contact with a class through each Key Stage.
Year 8: The emphasis in Year 8 is on pupils acquiring basic geographical skills, learning key geographical facts and understanding simple concepts. They study Map work Settlement; Weather; Rocks and Economic Activity.
Year 9: World Development; Soils and Ecosystems; Tropical Rainforests; Population and Transport.
Year 10: The Earth's Structure; Plates and Earthquakes; Rocks and Weathering; Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources.
KS4
At Key Stage 4 Geography is an optional subject, with a large uptake by students. Northern Ireland CCEA Specification for GCSE Geography is studied. In Year 11 pupils study: the three themes of Settlement and Change; Population and Resources; Economic Change and Development. They also monitor and record weather data for the GCSE Coursework Report.
In Year 12 pupils study: the themes of Atmosphere and Human impact; Rivers; Ecosystems and Earth Structure. In addition they also complete the compulsory coursework report for the examination. Two written papers and a coursework report are completed for the final examination. Coursework is worth 20% of the final mark at GCSE.
AS
Module 1: Themes in Physical Geography
This module involves the study of processes and features in fluvial environments, ecosystems and the atmosphere. This module also requires study of the influence of natural processes on people and the environment.
Module 2: Themes in Human Geography
This module involves the study of population, settlements and development including the processes associated with these areas of the subject and their consequences for people and the natural environment.
Module 3: Techniques in Geography
This module involves the study and application of a range of geographical skills and techniques. Students are required to plan an investigation and to collect data from primary sources. They prepare for the examination a summary report describing their methodology. In addition they produce a table of data from fieldwork and may be asked to present, analyse, interpret and evaluate this data using a range of techniques.
A2
Physical Processes and Human Interactions:
Managing Fluvial and Coastal Environments: and Pollution and its Management.
Processes and Issues in Human Geography:
Impact of Population Change: and Issues in Ethnic Diversity.
Skills and Decision Making in Geography:
This module is in two sections. Section A requires students to have experience of fieldwork and the skills associated with it. Section B requires students to prepare for a decision making exercise. They will be asked to take on a role for answering part of the exercise and to examine conflicting values which may be apparent in the case study. They will be required to consider alternative choices and to make and justify recommendations.
Resources
There is central resource area within the department. All Geography Rooms are equipped with the following : Globes, wall maps, class sets of relevant text books for all pupils, a computer in each classroom with internet access, data projectors and Learning Resources which provide support materials for teachers and pupils.
