Standard Grade

Aims Of The Course

1.    To study the distribution of physical and human geography at a local, national and international level - places, people and natural features.
2.    To develop an awareness of human reaction to the environment around us and appreciate the changes that are constantly occurring.
3.    To develop a knowledge and awareness of other environments and communities in the world and an appreciation of other cultures.
4.    To develop a concern for conserving the earth at all levels for the benefit of themselves and others.

Course Content

The course consists of three interlinked study areas which demonstrate the importance of the relationships which exist in our environment.

(1)    Physical Geography
Topics include:    Mapping
            Weather
            Glaciation
            Rivers
            World Studies
(2)    Human Geography
Topic include:    Settlement
            Industry
            Farming and Rural Landscapes

(3)    International Issues
Topics include:    Population
            Trade and Aid
            Environmental Concerns

Teaching Approach

Teaching will be a mixture of formal class teaching, some group work and individual research tasks.  Resource based work will consist of unit workbooks, with the teacher acting as a resource manager, encouraging the pupils to research a wide range of resources to obtain information.  These will include books, videos, magazines, slides, CD Roms and measuring instruments for such topics as weather or landscape.  The core of each topic however will be taught formally with the main input coming from the Geography teacher.

There will be regular set homework and pupils will also be expected to complete assignments and carry out investigations in their own time.

Assessment Procedures

Pupils will be assessed by internal and external examination under two headings:

·    KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING – assesses what pupils know and understand about the key ideas.

·    ENQUIRY SKILLS – assesses if pupils can draw valid conclusions from a study of geographic data based on evidence gathered from research or fieldwork.  They will be expected to demonstrate a whole range of techniques for analysing information.

Regular assessment will be given at the end of each topic as well as an exam in May of S3 and a prelim in November of S4.

EXTERNAL EXAM –

All pupils will sit two papers, namely General level and either Foundation or Credit depending on their class work and practice exam performances.

Knowledge and Understanding is worth 40% of total mark and Enquiry Skills 60%.

Pupils achieving a Grade 2 or above in Knowledge and Understanding are encouraged to continue to a Higher course and beyond.  Pupils with Grades 3 and below are encouraged to take an Intermediate course.

Value Of The Course

Geography is a career subject in its own right in such fields as transport, civil engineering, planning, fishing and forestry, surveying, local government, agriculture, mapping and meteorology and of course teaching.  Some of these will need further education, but geography is also useful in teaching good communication skills and an awareness of the environment we live in.