Geography

Welcome to the Geography curriculum page. At Hyde High School Geography is taught as a discrete subject within the Humanities department. The purpose of our KS3 curriculum is to give students knowledge of significant places including their physical and human environments, enabling them to understand how these interact with one another. A range of themes are explored, which enables pupils to discuss and develop their ideas through a number of key topics and questions ensuring students can work out how the world works and how it can and will change in the future. Our KS3 curriculum aims to provide a good foundation and smooth transition for those who opt at GCSE as well as developing a love and understanding of Geography.

KS3 Geography

Year 7

Year 7 Geography

During year 7, the following topics are covered:

Geographical skills
Settlement
Weather
Biomes: Focus on polar biomes.
Biomes: Focus on the hot desert biome
Exploring Africa

Geographical skills

Students learn the importance of maps and the skills we need to be able to interpret them effectively. Students cover grid references, using scale and contours as well as how we can use maps to represent data.

Settlement

Students learn about settlement both in the past and present. They look at the creation of megacities and sustainable cities for our future.

Weather

Students learn about varying weather conditions across the UK, how weather is measured and recorded, extreme weather and how this impacts human activity.

Biomes: Focus on the Polar Biome

Students will complete a study of the polar biome, its location and factors creating this climate type. They will study the flora, faun and abiotic features of polar region. The study will also cover the impact of human activity on their future.

Biomes: Focus on Hot Desert biome

Students will complete a study of the hot desert biome, its location and factors creating this climate type. They will study the flora, faun and abiotic features of polar region. The study will also cover the impact of human activity on their future. Due to previous learning students will be able to make clear comparisons between the polar and hot desert climate.

Exploring Africa

Students are taken on a journey across Africa looking at diversity across the continent including physical and human features. Students explore the development of countries within Africa and how this is measured.

Year 8

Year 8 Geography

During year 8, the following topics are covered:

Population
Industry and Globalisation
Geology
Resources
Conflict Diamonds

Population

Students will learn about world population growth and issues resulting from this growth such as an ageing population in the UK. The students will complete an in depth study on China and their controversial population control program. The unit will then end with migration and refugees.

Industry and Globalisation

Students learn about different industrial sectors with a focus on cotton farming, manufacturing, ‘Fast Fashion’ and the impact of Transnational Corporations. They then move onto a shopping enquiry with a focus on how the shopping hierarchy has changed and the impact of Covid on this. Finally students learn about the quaternary sector and the future of industry in the UK.

Geology

Students learn about the meaning of geology, rock formation and how both geology and glaciation are interlinked to create specific landscapes in the UK. Students will also learn about palaeontology and the geological timescale explaining significant extinction events in Earth’s history.

Resources

Students learn about both finite and renewable resources and their global importance. They will look at the social, economic and environmental impacts of specific resources around the world.

Conflict Diamonds

Students learn about the formation of diamonds and their location. They will then create a country study on Sierra Leone, looking at its development and the issue of conflict diamonds in the country.

Year 9

Year 9 Geography

During year 9, the following topics are covered:

The Development of Russia
The Growth of India
Hydrology
Coasts
Tectonic Hazards
Climate Change

The Development of Russia

Students complete a country focus on Russia and its development. They draw on their knowledge and understanding from previous topics to analyse how physical and human features of a country can impact the overall development.

The Growth of India

Students complete a country focus on India and its economic growth. They draw on their knowledge and understanding from previous topics to analyse how physical and human features of a country can impact the overall development.

Hydrology

Students learn about geomorphological processes and how they change our river landscapes. They study the cause, impact and management of flood events both in the UK and overseas.

Coasts

Students learn how coastal processes can shape our landscape in the UK. They will understand how particular landforms are created and how they will change over time. Students will also learn about the need for coastal management with a focus on the UK.

Climate Change

Students learn how our climate has changed throughout the quaternary period. They examine past causes of climate change, our evidence for it and how this has created cycles in our climate. We then progress further to look at present day causes of unprecedented changes to our climate, the impacts these are having or will have in the future and how we can change our lives to prevent further climate change and adapt to the changes that are already taking place.

Tectonic Hazards

Students learn about the physical process causing earthquakes and volcanoes describing their global distribution. They study the effects, responses and management of tectonic hazards in countries at contrasting levels of development.

Useful links to resources

BBC Bitesize

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Education Quizzes

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KS4 Geography

GCSE Geography

Two of the main advantages of studying Geography are that it enables people to make sense of the rapidly changing world in which we live as well as helping with many current exciting careers in sustainable Urban Redevelopment, Environmental Management, Hazard Management, sustainable Energy Supplies, plus a host of other opportunities.

Geography is a subject that both universities and employers value. This is due to the skills that you develop whilst studying the course, including; decision making, problem solving and handling data. On top of this it is considered very highly by all colleges and universities due to its academic status. Many people that choose to study Geography at GCSE are keen to continue onto A-Level, furthermore Geography is currently in the top five most popular degrees to study at University.

It would be impossible to study Geography without seeing other places in the world for yourself. Therefore, there will be opportunities to undertake field work in the UK, with enquiry based Geography being an essential aspect of the new GCSE. By carrying out fieldwork, students practise a range of skills, gain new geographical insights and begin to appreciate different perspectives on the world around them. For the new GCSE fieldwork must be undertaken on at least two occasions covering both the physical and human aspects of Geography.

The course studied in Year 10 and 11 is AQA GCSE Geography
This contains three summer examinations:

Paper 1: Living with the physical environment (35%)
Paper 2: Challenges of the human environment (35%)
Paper 3: Geographical applications (30%)

The syllabus covers a mixture of physical and human geography which are vital for understanding interdependence in today’s society. The physical geography topics include; Natural Hazards, Climate Change, Physical Landscapes and Ecosystems. The human geography aspects cover topics such as; Urban Issues and challenges, The Changing Economic World and Resource Management.

Course Specification

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Useful Links

GCSE Bitesize

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Geographypods

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Studywise

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Geography Google Drive

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