HOLY CROSS COLLEGE
Geography
Curriculum Overview - Key Stage 3
Year 8
Term 1 - Mapping Skills
L1. What is geography? Physical, Human and Environmental.
L2. Planet Earth, Continents and Oceans.
L3. Our Continent, Europe.
L4. The British Isles.
L5. Finding my way, Direction.
L6. How far, Distance.
L7. How big, Scale.
L8. GPS, Longitude/Latitude, Grid Reference
L9. How tall, Height.
L10. Map Symbols.
Major Focus. Managing Information.
Lesser Focus. Thinking, problem solving and decision making.
Term 2 - Weather & Climate
L1. Distinguish between Weather and Climate.
L2. What are the Weather Elements?
L3. What are the Weather Instruments?
L4. How can we record, use and display Weather data?
L5. What are synoptic charts?
L6. What is extreme Weather?
L7. What are Hurricanes?
Major Focus. Being creative.
Lesser Focus. Managing information.
Term 3 - Our Home
Ireland.
L1. What is my identity?
L2. Where do I live?
L3. What’s in a surname?
L4. What are the counties in Northern Ireland?
L5. Do I know the major towns and cities?
L6. What are the provinces in Ireland?
L7. Where can I visit in Ireland?
L8. Cahoot end of topic quiz..
Major Focus. Managing Information.
Lesser Focus. Thinking, problem solving and decision making.
Being creative.
Staff
Mr Peter Mc Court (HOD)
Mrs Clare Bradley
Mrs Sharon Patterson
Mr Fergal Mc Crory
Mr Colm O Neill
Mrs Clare Kelly
Mr Damien Mc Hugh
Mr Stephen Mc Cann
Mr Jarlath Sharkey
Year 9
Term 1 - Rivers and Coasts
Water Cycle
Drainage Basins; Source, Tributary, Confluence, Mouth, Watershed.
River features –V-Shaped Valley, Waterfall, Meander, Ox Bow Lakes, Floodplain (Levée, Delta).
Sustainable Management of Rivers.
Flooding.
Coastal Features
Waves, Wave cut platform, Cave, Arch, Stack, Beach, Spit.
Sustainable Management of Coasts
Major Focus. Managing information.
Lesser Focus.. Thinking, problem solving and decision making.
Mapping Skills – Review
Term 2 - Population
Birth Rate, Death Rate, Natural
Increase/Decrease.
Population Structure. – Pyramids, Dependency.
Migration.
Urbanisation
In MEDCs and LEDCs.
Urbanisation (Push and Pull factors).
Counter Urbanisation.
Sustainable Urban Planning in MEDCs.
Shanty Towns in LEDCs.
Major Focus. Managing information.
Lesser Focus. Thinking, problem solving and decision making.
Mapping Skills - Review
Term 3 - Project Work
Geography Field Trip.
Geology/Rocks.
Different types of rock – Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic.
Landscapes of rocks e.g. Granite, Limestone, Chalk.
Use of rocks.
Quarrying, Pros and Cons.
Major Focus. Thinking, problem solving and decision making..
Lesser Focus. Self management.
Mapping Skills - Review
.
Year 10
Term 1 - Our Restless World
Plate Tectonics.
Plate Margins – Constructive, Destructive, Conservative.
Volcanoes – structure, types.
The effects of an eruption with case study.
Earthquakes – where and how they happen.
Magnitude, Focus, Epicentre, Shockwaves.
The effect of an Earthquake with case study.
Major Focus. Managing information.
Lesser Focus. Working with others.
Mapping Skills – Review.
Term 2 - Development.
Development Indicators.
Development Gap
Fair Trade.
Technology in Africa.
Globalisation.
Role of NGO’s.
Aid.
Debt.
Sustainable Development.
ICT Task, On Line Collaboration.
Major Focus. Managing information.
Lesser Focus. Working with others
Mapping Skills – Review..
Term 3 - Managing our Resources
Renewable/Non-renewable.
Carbon Footprint.
Increasing Demand.
Managing Waste.
Sustainable Tourism.
Climate Change
Difference between Global Warming and Green House Effect.
Causes of Climate Change.
Dealing with Climate Change.
Major Focus. Thinking, problem solving and decision making.
Lesser Focus. Being creative
Mapping Skills – Review.