Grade Descriptors

Examples

TERM 1

Content

Living with the physical environment

The challenge of natural hazards- Tectonics, weather hazards and climate change.

This unit is concerned with the dynamic nature of physical processes and systems, and human interaction with them in a variety of places and at a range of scales. The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the tectonic, geomorphological, biological and meteorological processes and features in different environments, and the need for management strategies governed by sustainability and consideration of the direct and indirect effects of human interaction with the Earth and the atmosphere.

 

Skills

Cartography

Maps in association with photographs: • be able to compare maps • sketch maps: draw, label, understand and interpret • photographs: use and interpret ground, aerial and satellite photographs • describe human and physical landscapes (landforms, natural vegetation, land-use and settlement) and geographical phenomena from photographs • draw sketches from photographs • label and annotate diagrams, maps, graphs, sketches and photographs.

Interpret and extract information from different types of maps, graphs and charts, including population pyramids, choropleth maps, flow-line maps, dispersion graphs.

 

Numerical Skills

understand and correctly use proportion and ratio, magnitude and frequency.

 

TERM 2

Content

Living with the physical environment

Ecosystems- Tropical rainforest and Hot Desert

This unit is concerned with the dynamic nature of physical processes and systems, and human interaction with them in a variety of places and at a range of scales. The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the tectonic, geomorphological, biological and meteorological processes and features in different environments, and the need for management strategies governed by sustainability and consideration of the direct and indirect effects of human interaction with the Earth and the atmosphere.

Challenges in the human environment

Urban issues and challenges-

This unit is concerned with human processes, systems and outcomes and how these change both spatially and temporally. They are studied in a variety of places and at a range of scales and must include places in various states of development, such as higher income countries (HICs), lower income countries (LICs) and newly emerging economies (NEEs). The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the factors that produce a diverse variety of human environments; the dynamic nature of these environments that change over time and place; the need for sustainable management; and the areas of current and future challenge and opportunity for these environments.

 

Skills

Cartographic skills

Atlas maps: • use and understand coordinates – latitude and longitude • recognise and describe distributions and patterns of both human and physical features • maps based on global and other scales may be used and students may be asked to identify and describe significant features of the physical and human landscape on them, eg population distribution, population movements, transport networks, settlement layout, relief and drainage • analyse the inter-relationship between physical and human factors on maps and establish associations between observed patterns on thematic maps.

Graphical skills

Complete a variety of graphs and maps – choropleth, isoline, dot maps, desire lines, proportional symbols and flow lines • plot information on graphs when axes and scales are provided • interpret and extract information from different types of maps, graphs and charts, including population pyramids, choropleth maps, flow-line maps, dispersion graphs.

 

TERM 3

Content

Challenges in the human environment

Resource management-food, water and energy

The significance of food, water and energy to economic and social well-being. An overview of global inequalities in the supply and consumption of resources. The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the factors that produce a diverse variety of human environments; the dynamic nature of these environments that change over time and place; the need for sustainable management; and the areas of current and future challenge and opportunity for these environments.

 

Geographical fieldwork

The Geographical applications unit is designed to be synoptic in that students will be required to draw together knowledge, understanding and skills from the full course of study. It is an opportunity for students to show their breadth of understanding and an evaluative appreciation of the interrelationships between different aspects of geographical study.

 

Skills

Students will be expected to:  apply knowledge and understanding to interpret, analyse and evaluate information and issues related to geographical enquiry. To select, adapt and use a variety of skills and techniques to investigate questions and issues and communicate findings in relation to geographical enquiry.  Formulate enquiry and argument Students should demonstrate the ability to: • identify questions and sequences of enquiry • write descriptively, analytically and critically • communicate their ideas effectively • develop an extended written argument • draw well-evidenced and informed conclusions about geographical questions and issues.

Statistical skills

Use of qualitative and quantitative data from both primary and secondary sources to obtain, illustrate, communicate, interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical information. Examples of types of data: • maps • fieldwork data • geo-spatial data presented in a geographical information system (GIS) framework • satellite imagery • written and digital sources • visual and graphical sources • numerical and statistical information.