Curriculum Journey
This is a map to show the learning journey in Geography from year 6 through to further education and possible careers.
Geography Curriculum 2022-2023.pdfOverview of the learning journey in Geography
Year 7
Students begin to look at the qualities required to be a good geographer. We look at the topic ‘where in the world am I’ which builds in our key text ‘factfulness’ by Hans Rosling to discuss up-to-date geographical thinking. This aims to develop the sense of place, locational knowledge and the concept of interconnectedness.
We continue to develop awe and wonder of our changing planet as we explore natural hazards around the world and look at how our world will change due to a growing global population. We shift our focus to address misconceptions of Africa and what life is like on the African continent.
Our final term explores the physical Geography in the UK, focusing on the rock and water cycle and the impact on our coastlines. We end year 7 looking at weather and climate and complete fieldwork to explore the key question; where is the best location to set up a picnic bench at the Colne Community School?
Year 8
Students build upon the key concepts developed in year 7, first looking at the physical and human characteristics of Brazil, focusing on the Amazon Rainforest and Rio de Janeiro. We then continue looking at extreme environments, focusing on how ice has shaped the world around us.
The spring term looks at students’ perceptions of a country’s development in our topic ‘uneven world’, with a key focus upon inequality and the causes and consequences of uneven development. We then move back to physical Geography, developing further knowledge on extreme weathers and their impact upon development.
Our summer term allows Year 8 to explore the importance of the Middle East, linking back to economic growth, its association to globalisation and addressing opportunities and challenges within the UK. This gives students the opportunity to develop their planning and executing fieldwork, building upon our links to a sustainable future within school.
Year 9
At the start of Year 9 students explore both human and physical geography and their interactions as we explore the topic of ‘Forbidden Geography’ in our autumn term. This topic’s journey focuses on how technology in Geography can be used to understand the world around us. Leading up to Christmas students will then consider the importance and significance of river systems globally. In the spring we move on to discuss the complex relationships between physical and human Geography in the countries of Asia before evaluating the key global issue of sustainability. Throughout the summer term we explore further global issues and investigate the impact of crime and conflict, both locally and globally.
Year 10
Students explore the topics of natural hazards, living world and physical landscapes in the UK. Initially, students will learn the mechanics behind plate boundaries and their links to tectonic hazards. This topic continues to learn about extreme weather and climate change. Next we switch to urban issues and challenges and look into comparing megacities; with a focus on how rapid urban development can present both opportunities and challenges. Our “Living World” topic explores the Malaysian Rainforest and the Thar Desert, which develops student’s knowledge on adaptations along with methods to evaluate sustainable options to manage these fragile environments. Finally, coastal landscapes in the summer term which links to our physical fieldwork of coastal management at Walton-on-the-Naze.
Year 11
We explore Paper 2’s key topics of economic development, focusing on wealth and how this can impact quality of life in contrasting locations. Nigeria and the UK are used as the case studies throughout this year and we link this to our human fieldwork. We finalise our topics with resource management and then rivers (paper 1) whilst interleaving revision strategies to assist students recall. We recall our Year 10 knowledge on tectonics, weather, Urbanisation, economy and UK landscapes whilst exploring key case studies linking to AQA GCSE. This highlights the inequalities of our global resources and how we can sustainably manage them. Our final focus looks at Paper 3’s pre-release and geographical skills which are embedded across all three papers. Our aim is for all students to leave Geography as a confident global citizen who is passionate about the world around them
Knowledge Organisers for GCSE
These are the knowledge organiser used by students in lessons to support the learning and retrieval of key information.