Ratcliffe-College-Key-Stage-3-Handbook-2016-2017

Geography
What you will study:
The study of Geography within Years 7, 8 and 9 covers a wide variety of topics
to build up important subject skills and understanding. The topics studied are
concerned with both physical and human environments, at a local, national and
international scale. The way in which people interact with the natural and built
environments around them is critical, and Geography also helps students build up
an awareness of sustainability and global citizenship.
Year 7
In Year 7 pupils are introduced to the study of Physical, Human and
Environmental Geography. This is built upon by developing a range of foundation
skills necessary to understand the world in which we live. These topics include:
The study of places at a local, national and international scale, including
continents, countries and cities.
Developing skills to locate places using maps and atlases, to develop map
reading and designing techniques.
The study of urban and rural settlements that humans live in and how
these settlements are changing.
The study of the weather and climate of Britain, recording the weather
and understanding the causes of different weather conditions.
Year 8
The topics included within Year 8 are designed to build upon the geographical
skills and understanding developed in Year 7 and a diverse range of topics are
studied. These include:
Landscape studies and the action of rivers on the landscape are looked at
in detail, along with how people interact with and use rivers.
The study of economic activity including different types of industry,
developing an understanding of why different industries require different
locations and the impacts that industry has.
The physical and human geography of India (developing a sense of place).
Major world issues, including the causes, effects and responses to climate
change, issues surrounding the availability of food and water and the
problem of global poverty. This unit has an ethical focus on our place in
the world and how we can be responsible global citizens.
A review of key geographical skills, including the use of maps and
techniques such as producing sketch diagrams and maps, to provide a
specific reinforcement of skills developed through the first two years of
study.
Year 9
In Year 9 the topics studied continue to develop geographical skills and
understanding, and help prepare pupils who might wish to follow the subject as a
GCSE option. The topics include:
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