Geography
Subject Leader : Ms Naomi Alford - n.alford@lavington.wilts.sch.uk
Year 7
What are we studying?
Term 1
What is geography?
Students are introduced to the three areas of geography.
Map Skills
Pupils undertake work covering a range of skills using a variety of resources.
Term 2
Our Diverse Society
This unit explores the students’ connections to other places and gradually extends outwards – from school to local area to national and international scales.
Term 3
Weather
How do we measure and forecast the weather?
Term 4
Climate – What are the factors that influence climate?
Term 5
Africa
Investigating contrasting landscapes and cultures.
Term 6
The Urban Landscape
In this unit students investigate the impact that people have upon the natural environment and consider the issues through examples taken from the rich world and the poor world. We begin by studying the structure of a typical British city then move on to look at sustainable living. Students explore how the future may look in terms of our homes and the way in which we go about our daily lives.
How are we assessed?
- Questioning students during class activities to check knowledge, understanding and skills.
- A variety of Assessment for Learning tasks.
- Homework tasks.
- Some testing.
- Plenary activities.
How are we grouped?
Pupils are grouped according to their end of KS2 data. These groups are not set by the geography Department.
What home learning tasks are students expected to do?
- Pupils will undertake activities at home that will complement and extend the work done in class.
- Learn key geographical vocabulary.
- Creative writing.
- Model making.
- Investigation.
What can parents do to help?
Parental support is encouraged at all times and would typically include:
- Taking an active interest in the areas of study
- Checking your son/daughter’s exercise book.
- Watching geographical television programmes and films with your son /daughter.
- Encouraging your son/daughter to read books, newspapers or internet articles relevant to the area of study.
- Helping your son/daughter to prepare for tests and to complete tasks on time.
Year 8
What are we studying?
Term 1
Rivers -A journey from source to mouth.
Term 2
Coping with floods
Students investigate the reasons for flooding, the consequences and the solutions at different scales.
Term 3
Our warming planet
Term 4
Fantastic Places
Students investigate how ice shapes the landscape.
Term 5
China - A rising global superpower
Term 6
Threatened Ecosystems - Tropical Rainforests
(ASIA and SOUTH AMERICA – to include economic activity and the use of natural resources)
How are students assessed?
- Questioning students during class activities to check knowledge, understanding and skills.
- A variety of Assessment for Learning tasks.
- Homework tasks.
- Some testing.
- Plenary activities.
How are students grouped?
Pupils are grouped according to their end of KS2 data. These groups are not set by the geography Department.
What home learning are we expected to do?
- Pupils will undertake activities at home that will complement and extend the work done in class.
- Learn key geographical vocabulary.
- Creative writing.
- Model making.
- Investigation.
How can parents help?
Parental support is encouraged at all times and would typically include:
- Taking an active interest in the areas of study
- Checking your son/daughter’s exercise book.
- Watching geographical television programmes and films with your son /daughter.
- Encouraging your son/daughter to read books, newspapers or internet articles relevant to the area of study.
- Helping your son/daughter to prepare for tests and to complete tasks on time.
Year 9
What are we studying?
Term 1
Our Raging Planet
Volcanoes and Earthquakes
Term 2
Russia
The landscape and the people.
Term 3
Rich and Poor
Investigating the factors that influence the development gap.
Term 4
Is Trade Fair?
An investigation into the role of transnational corporations (TNCs) and the impact of Fairtrtade.
Term 5
A New India
Students investigate how changing human processes are influencing the transformation of India.
Term 6
The Coastal Landscape
A study of the physical processes and human activities that shape the coastline.
How are we assessed?
- Questioning students during class activities to check knowledge, understanding and skills.
- A variety of Assessment for Learning tasks.
- Homework tasks.
- Some testing.
- Plenary activities.
How are we grouped?
Pupils are grouped according to their end of KS2 data. These groups are not set by the geography Department.
What homework are we expected to do?
- Pupils will undertake activities at home that will complement and extend the work done in class.
- Learn key geographical vocabulary.
- Creative writing.
- Model making.
- Investigation.
What can parents do to help?
Parental support is encouraged at all times and would typically include:
- Taking an active interest in the areas of study
- Checking your son/daughter’s exercise book.
- Watching geographical television programmes and films with your son /daughter.
- Encouraging your son/daughter to read books, newspapers or internet articles relevant to the area of study.
- Helping your son/daughter to prepare for tests and to complete tasks on time.
Years 10 and 11
What are we studying?
We are following AQA (Linear)
Students will explore case studies from the United Kingdom, higher income countries, newly emerging economies and lower income countries. Topics of study include climate change, poverty, deprivation, global shifts in economic power and the challenge of sustainable resource use. Students will also be encouraged to understand their role in society, by considering different viewpoints, values and attitudes.
Subject content
Living with the physical environment - 35% of GCSE
- ·Section A: The natural challenge of natural hazards.
- ·Section B: physical landscapes in the UK.
- ·Section C: the living world.
- ·Geographical skills.
How it’s assessed
Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
88 marks (including 3 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology).
Challenges in the human environment—35% of GCSE
- ·Section A: Urban issues and challenges.
- ·Section B: The changing economic world.
- ·Section C: The challenge of resource management.
- ·Geographical skills.
How it’s assessed
Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
88 marks (including 3 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology).
Geographical applications—30% of GCSE
- ·Section A: Issue evaluation.
- ·Section B: Fieldwork (two geographical enquiries, each of which must include the use of primary data , collected as part of a fieldwork exercise).
- ·Geographical skills.
How it’s assessed
Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
76 marks (including 6 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology).
How are we grouped?
Students are placed in classes based on their option block choices. Some classes are mixed ability and some are streamed based on students’ target grades.
What home learning are we expected to do?
Home learning is set weekly and should take between 60-90 minutes to complete. In addition to this, students are expected to work independently. This would include keeping up with geographical issues as they are reported in the news and reading around their class notes.
What can parents do to help?
Geography is all around us. Seize every opportunity to discuss with your child what is happening in the environment, whether it is a local issue or something that has caught the attention of the global media. We are fortunate enough to live in a country where we have access to high quality documentaries. These serve as an excellent tool for independent study and discussion at home.
