Geography
Geography in Year 7
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Purpose of the year |
The scheme of work for Year 7 is centered around local, regional and the national Geography of Wales. Pupils have opportunities to explore a variety of geographical studies of Wales, both physical and human geography. There are many opportunities to extend numeracy and literacy skills and opportunities for fieldwork. |
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Term 1 |
Term 2 |
Term 3 |
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What students will learn |
The first topic is a transition booklet for pupils, which they begin during their transition visit to the school in the Summer term. Pupils complete maps of Wales, the UK, the continents and oceans of the world followed by a longitude and latitude task.
The following topic in Year 7 is investigating Environmental Issues in Wales, focusing on literacy skills. Pupils are given the opportunity to use skimming and scanning reading skills. They also have to produce an extended piece of writing about a chosen environmental issue in the form of a newspaper article, which encourages a balanced argument.
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Following this, pupils develop their mapskills. They have an opportunity to apply their mapskills during an outdoor visit to the local park where they attempt a mapskills treasure hunt. Pupils also receive a visit from a local employee of Ordnance Survey, who talks about his job with the company. Once all pupils have learned the mapksills, there is an opportunity to explore the Sirhowy Ironworks and produce a booklet on a fictional trail using mapksills. A small group of pupils are also visit the trail for their studies. |
The next topic is focusing on Industry in Wales. This is accompanied by a joint trip to Blaenavon Ironworks and Big Pit museum with the History Department. There is an opportunity for a small group of pupils to make a local visit to Tredegar Town centre for a tourism trail.
The remaining topic is focusing on transport in Wales and in particular the by-pass road in Tredegar. All pupils have the opportunity to conduct a traffic survey. This is assessed for the National Numeracy Framework as a rich task.
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Key assessments |
The article is a literacy assessment rich task for the National Literacy Framework. As part of this topic, smaller classes are taken to visit a wind turbine at a local factory.
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Pupils are assessed on their mapksills through a Year 7 exam.
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There is work assessed for the National Numeracy Framework in this topic as a rich task.
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Key vocabulary: 15 essential words for students to be able to spell, explain and use |
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Skills |
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Additional Resources |
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How can parents help?
Practice mapskills with your son/daughter for their mapskills exam
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Extra-curricular opportunities & visits
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Homework expectations
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Geography in Year 8
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The scheme of work for Year 8 involves studies of places from the European Union and the wider world. There are some excellent opportunities to study both human and physical geography through a variety of places. Pupils build upon their investigative skills from Year 7 with particular focus on natural disasters and the relationship of people with place. There are opportunities to conduct fieldwork and extend literacy and numeracy skills. |
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Term 1 |
Term 2 |
Term 3 |
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What students will learn |
The first topic is a Numeracy Framework rich task on Development. Pupils have to use mathematical skills to investigate and compare development data for 10 countries around the world to establish the most and least developed countries.
The following topic is investigating flooding in Bangladesh. Pupils start by some mapwork then they study the causes of flooding, then investigate the causes, effects and solutions of flooding in Bangladesh.
The topic of rivers provides opportunities for pupils to explore the river processes involved in the formation of river landforms along the journey of a river from source to mouth. There is an opportunity for a small group of pupils to visit a local river to conduct river studies. All pupils can access the virtual fieldtrip of their local river, the River Sirhowy. |
Pupils study the environment following this, particularly global warming and the alternative energies. Following this, pupils investigate the European Union followed by studying the differences between North and South Italy. This includes mapwork on the European Union, Europe and Italy to start. Pupils study how and where volcanoes and earthquakes happen? They also investigate the effects and solutions to managing volcanoes and earthquakes. This can occur through a variety of case studies, but is mainly centered on Italy.
Pupils then study China as a NIC. Investigations involve looking at the physical and human aspects of the countries and also the changes that have also taken place in recent years. |
The last topic in Year 8 is weather & climate. Pupils study rainfall and temperature patterns in the UK. Pupils also learn how weather is measured and have an opportunity to observe weather around the school grounds.
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Key assessments |
Numeracy Framework rich task on Development
Flooding in Bangladesh is an extended piece of writing as an Literacy Framework rich task. |
All pupils are assessed through an exam on their understanding of rivers.
This forms a Literacy Framework rich task as pupils produce an extended piece of writing about what they have learned. |
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Key vocabulary: 15 essential words for students to be able to spell, explain and use |
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Skills |
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Additional Resources |
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How parents can help?
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Extra-curricular opportunities & visits
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Homework expectations
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Geography in Years 9, 10 and 11
Click below to read about the course breakdown and course outline:
Years 9, 10 & 11 Geography: Course Breakdown
Years 9 10, &11 Geography Course Outline