Key Stage 3

Year 7 Geography: one session per week.

Autumn Term (September – December) – World Tour

Students will take a tour of the major continents of the world, as a general introduction to the study of Geography. This unit is designed to gradually introduce key skills and knowledge’s to build upon confidence and ability. A range of geographical ideas are touched upon to give a high impact and engaging introduction to the subject. Students will study both human and physical geography, incorporating a comprehensive introduction, ranging from China and the One Child Policy, glaciation, ecosystems and perception of cultures and place. Students will also be introduced to a range of key skills which are required at KS3, such as image analysis and map skills.

Spring Term (January – April) – Chocolate

Students will investigate the chocolate industry. They will build an understanding of the 4 main industries involved, detailing the processes at each stage. Students will look at the physical conditions required for the chocolate industry including climate data. Students will investigate the human impacts of the chocolate industry including themes of of development, human rights and fair trade.

Summer Term (May – July) –  Coasts and Oceans

Students will be investigate and study the physical and human processes of the formation, use and management of the coastal environment on a range of scales. Students will study the physical formation of coastal environments; from the impact of waves on the formation of beaches, to the creation of large features such as stacks, arches and bays through processes of erosion and deposition. Students will also investigate coastal environments on a much more global scale; with the study of the coral reef ecosystem. Students will develop an understanding of the impact people can have on the marine environment eg plastics.

Year 8 Geography: two sessions per week.

Autumn Term (September – November) – Zombie Apocalypse

Students will be re-introduced to the key skills through the event of a zombie apocalypse. Students will develop higher level key skills such as 6 figure grid references, scale and contours. Students will also discuss issues such as resource management migration.

Cross-curricular links: Maths:Scale

Autumn Term (November – January) – Extreme Weather

Students study extreme weather in the UK and internationally. Students study storm events and hurricanes.

Spring Term (January – April) – Ecosystems

Students develop an understanding of the structure of ecosystems, and how different sections link together. Students study the range of ecosystems which spread across the continent of North America. Students will study key themes within each ecosystem from human use and sustainability within the tropical rainforest, to animal adaptation in the Taiga ecosystem. Students will also further develop their geographical key skills through the creation and analysis of climate graphs and map skills.

Cross curricular links (science – food webs/chains and ecosystems. Technology – uses of the rainforest and sustainability. Mathematics – climate graphs)

Summer Term (May – July) – Journey through Asia

Students will develop an understanding of the term ‘Development’, and study the differences in development within the world today. Students will look comprehensively at the differences in development across the continent of Asia. Students will study how development can change across a country; showing how the East versus west of Russia can be drastically different. Students will study what life is like for people in LIC’S like Burma, and how this is changing for rapidly industrialising nations such as India. In contrast, students will then study life in an HIC, through the case study of Japan. Students will then apply this in an assessment piece to evaluate the level of development of the UK by comparison to a country of choice.

Year 9 Geography: two sessions per week.

Autumn Term (September – October) – Dangerous Geography

A re-introduction to Key Skills. Students study a range of key skills from choropleth mapping to description of patterns through the concept of dangerous features and events around the world e.g. sink holes and Ebola.

Autumn Term (October – December) – Tectonics

This unit will introduce students to basic tectonic theory. They will investigate and develop knowledge of the structure of the Earth, and how this has impacted on the physical landscape. Students will study the formation of shield and composite volcanoes, and how the eruption of these features can impact upon the physical and human landscape. Students will assess key tectonic theory, in the study of the eruption of Vesuvius, and analyse the accuracy of these events in the media. Students will also study the formation of earthquakes and tsunamis. They will gain an extensive understanding of the impacts of these events upon countries in rich and poor parts of the world.

Spring Term (January – April) – Geography of war

Students will develop an understanding of the links between Geography and warfare at a range of scales. Students will investigate the impact of the physical environment upon the act of war, and how warfare can shape and alter perceptions of place, nationality and identity. Students will study the causes of war, and analyse the complex issues through the example of the war in Darfur. Students will also study the effects of war, such as human rights violations and child soldiers. Students will have the opportunity to study key themes within a range of different war events such as the Falklands and Afghanistan.

Summer Term (May – June) – Tourism

Students will study the patterns and trends of tourism over the last 40 years. Students will investigate the different types of tourism, and the particular groups which are attracted to it, ranging from medical tourism, extreme tourism and media tourism. Students will study the social, economic and environmental impacts of mass tourism in Thailand (case study). Students will also investigate how the problems caused by mass tourism can be solved through effective and sustainable management.

Cross curricular Maths (higher ability students will complete spearmans rank)