KS3 Geography
Course Introduction
Geography should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. The teaching of Geography 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 processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.
Pupil Objectives
Pupils will extend their knowledge of the world’s major countries and their physical and human features.
They will learn how geographical processes interact to create distinctive human and physical landscapes that change over time. In doing so, they should become aware of increasingly complex geographical systems in the world around them.
They will develop greater competence in using geographical knowledge, approaches and concepts [such as models and theories] and geographical skills in analysing and interpreting different data sources.
Pupils will be taught:
Locational knowledge: extend their locational knowledge and deepen their spatial awareness of the world’s countries using maps of the world to focus on Africa, Russia, Asia (including China and India), and the Middle East, focusing on their environmental regions, including polar and hot deserts, key physical and human characteristics, countries and major cities.
Place Knowledge: understand geographical similarities, differences and links between places through the study of human and physical geography of a region within Africa, and of a region within Asia.
Human and physical geography: understand, through the use of detailed place-based exemplars at a variety of scales, the key processes in:
Physical geography relating to: geological timescales and plate tectonics; rocks, weathering and soils; weather and climate, including the change in climate from the Ice Age to the present; and glaciation, hydrology and coasts; human geography relating to: population and urbanisation; international development; economic activity in the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors; and the use of natural resources; understand how human and physical processes interact to influence, and change landscapes, environments and the climate; and how human activity relies on effective functioning of natural systems.
Geographical Skills and fieldwork: build on their knowledge of globes, maps and atlases and apply and develop this knowledge routinely in the classroom and in the field; interpret Ordnance Survey maps in the classroom and the field, including using grid references and scale, topographical and other thematic mapping, and aerial and satellite photographs; use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to view, analyse and interpret places and data; use fieldwork in contrasting locations to collect, analyse and draw conclusions from geographical data, using multiple sources of increasingly complex information.
Course Content
Year 7
Autumn 1: Introduction to Geography
Autumn 2: Geographical Skills
Spring 1: Fantastic Places
Spring 2: Tectonic Hazards
Summer 1: Water Systems
Summer 2: Population
Year 8
Autumn 1: Geological time scales and the Earth
Autumn 2: Rocks weathering and soils
Spring 1: Settlement Processes
Spring 2: Weather and Climate
Summer 1: Glaciation and Polar regions
Summer 2: Tourism
Year 9
Autumn 1: Development Issues
Autumn 2: Economic Activity
Spring 1: Comparing Places
Spring 2: Coastal Processes
Summer 1: Conflicts and Challenge
Summer 2: Sustainability for the Planet
Assessment
The students will be levelled at the end of each unit of work. This will be completed in line with the school policy. Feedback will be given to the students verbally and via the VLE during the units. At the end of each unit the students will complete an assessment and this will be levelled and written feedback and targets for the students will be produced.
What it leads to in KS4
The Geography department offer two courses at KS4:-
GCSE Geography – The Geography course gives pupils the opportunity to understand more about the world, the challenges it faces and their place within it. This GCSE course will deepen understanding of geographical processes, illuminate the impact of change and of complex people-environment interactions, highlight the dynamic links and interrelationships between places and environments at different scales, and develop students’ competence in using a wide range of geographical investigative skills and approaches. Geography enables young people to become globally and environmentally informed and thoughtful, enquiring citizens.
GCSE Leisure and Tourism – The Leisure and Tourism course gives pupils the opportunity to actively engage in the study of leisure and tourism and to develop as effective and independent learners, and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds. To understand the nature of the leisure and tourism industry and develop an understanding of the contribution that leisure and tourism makes to society and the economy.
