Curriculum Statement for Geography

GEOGRAPHY

Subject Leader - Miss D Lythe

dly@pewsey-vale.wilts.sch.uk

Geography

The Geography Department at Pewsey Vale School is dynamic and forward thinking, striving to develop the minds and potential of both students and staff. Independent thinking on relevant up to date issues is encouraged raising awareness of other people’s attitude and values that are connected to current events around the world.

We aim to develop moral and social ways of thinking whilst making informed decisions so students can become confident, independent individuals in the future. Through using a wide range of teaching and learning strategies that challenge and stimulate the students we hope to create a happy and purposeful atmosphere where every individual is recognised, appreciated and respected. Fundamentally, the Geography Department aims to raise student’s awareness of worldwide challenges and our responsibilities as global citizens.

Year 7

In year 7 we aim to stimulate an interest in and a sense of wonder about places. We build upon students’ own experiences to investigate places at all scales, from the personal to the global. We aim to inspire students to become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and responsibilities to other people, the environment and to the sustainability of the planet. Lessons aim to inspire debates and trigger discussions on current events to boost the student’s interest in the subject.

Year 8

In Year 8 we aim to continue to make sense of our complex and dynamically changing world. We aim to encourage questioning, investigation and critical thinking through geographical enquiry. Geography inspires students to become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and responsibilities to other people, the environment and to the sustainability of the planet. The lessons aim to inspire debates and trigger discussions on current events to boost the student’s interest in the subject.

Year 9

In Year 9 students continue to develop their thoughts and understanding of our complex and dynamically changing world. Particular focus is paid to geographical questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people’s lives now and in the future. The lessons aim to inspire debates and trigger discussions on current events to boost the student’s interest in the subject.

Assessment

Assessment will take place at the end of each topic. Students will be assessed against Key Stage three assessment matrices for Geography. Geography teachers will award grades and interim levels to students for individual pieces of work. During the course of their study these levels can go up and down as students explore new concepts and case studies.

Assessment Matrices

Click for access to Assessment Matrices

Equipment

At the start of the academic year students will be given an A4 class book and a glossary book free of charge. If these are lost, they must then purchase a replacement for a small fee from the Geography Department. All students are expected to bring in basic equipment: pens, pencil, sharpener, and eraser. Additional equipment which is useful are scissors, glue and colouring pencils.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Each year group will go on a fieldtrip at some point throughout the year. This is so that students can experience Geography in the field and gain an understanding of how their learning can be applied to the real world.

Suggested Extension Activities

To read between two and four BBC news articles each week that are related to geography. Research key words in the article to understand their meaning and create a glossary.Use the School Library to read national broadsheet newspapers on topics of interest, and ask the advice of our School Librarian about how to research items of interest more fully.Enjoy travel, including school trips, family holidays or outings and meeting people from different countries.

GCSE Geography

Examination Board: EDEXCEL A

Specification: Geography A

Specification link:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Geography-A/2016/specification-and-sample-assessments/Geography_A_Issue3%20GCSE%20(9-1)%20Specification.pdf

Overview

The Edexcel A Geography GCSE course provides a qualification that is engaging and relevant to today’s geographers. It enables students to explore the world, the challenges it faces and their own place in it. It aims to enhance a geographical view of the world through an appreciation of the differences and similarities in people’s views of the world and its environments, societies and cultures. This will appeal to students interested in both human and physical geography with geographical skills relevant to ‘real life’ embedded throughout the course.

Year 10

Year 11

Geography Resources

On starting the course in Y10 students will be expected to contribute £15, which will cover the cost of their e-textbooks. This gives each student a digital log on so they can access the two textbooks we use online, allowing them to complete homework and tests. Students will also be given the option to pay a further £50 to purchase three paper textbooks which the student can then use in and out of the classroom.

At the start of the academic year students will be given an A4 class book and a glossary book free of charge. If these are lost, they must then purchase a replacement for a small fee from the Geography department. Each student will need 3 x A4 lever arch files (one for each paper), ideally with tabs to separate each topic and poly pockets to help them organise their work. The department will provide folders, tabs and poly pockets for a small charge for students if they wish. All students are expected to bring in basic equipment: pens, pencil, sharpener, and eraser. Additional equipment, which is useful are scissors, glue and colouring pencils.

Assessment

Students are regularly assessed using the exam board assessment objectives, and termly targets. Assessments are reported to parents/carers at intervals during the academic year. The experience of fieldwork helps students to develop new geographical insights into the two contrasting environments required for this qualification and to apply their geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to these environments. One environment must be chosen from a river landscape or a coastal landscape and one from a central/inner urban area or rural settlement. Fieldwork must be outside the classroom and school/college grounds. Pewsey Vale School offers a 5 day residential so that all aspects of fieldwork can be covered. We feel this best prepares the geography students for the fieldwork questions in the Paper 3 exam.

Home Learning

All homework for GCSE Geography will be set on a weekly basis. This is recorded in the student’s planners and will be logged on the electronic homework system. This is so students have access to worksheets and any necessary information.

Useful resources

http://www.juicygeography.co.uk/

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/examspecs/zsytxsg

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

http://www.georesources.co.uk/indexgcse.htm

http://www.geography-site.co.uk/

http://www.geographyinthenews.rgs.org/

http://www.gatm.org.uk/

http://sayersjohn.blogspot.co.uk/

Books, Articles and other Resources:

Enjoy relevant television programmes/channels, such as National Geographic, documentaries by Simon Reeves, Iain Stewart, or celebrity travellers, wildlife films and documentaries e.g. David Attenborough.