Download year 9 curriculum geography

YEAR 9 CURRICULUM
GEOGRAPHY
You will sit 2 formal assessments over the course of the year.
In the 2 weeks before each assessment your focus is to revise carefully and thoroughly.
The guide below tells you what you will cover for each assessment.
5-6: this refers to the topics we would like you to secure to reach grades 5-6 at GCSE
7-9 this refers to the topics we would like you to master to achieve grades 7-9 at GCSE
Resources you should use:
Your exercise book has detailed notes on every lesson
and a key word dictionary
Lessons are available for students to view on the
student shared area
BBC Bitesize KS3 Geography site
Textbook – Nelson Key Geography – Interactions
ISBN - 978-1408523186
Things that will help with your revision:
- RAG rate – I know this Green, I have some
understanding Amber, I don’t understand this Red
- Create revision cards or mind maps prioritising things
you don’t understand first
-Use the lessons on the student shared area to check
anything you did not understand
-Ask teacher for help at break or lunchtime
Topics
The topics have been chosen to give students an introduction into geography and to
prepare them with the knowledge, skills and understanding to learn about the people,
places and world around us and also for GCSE geography.
 Topic 1 – International Development
 Topic 2 – Plate Tectonics
 Topic 3 – Environmental Regions
 Topic 4 – Resources and the Environment
Assessment 1, Mid-Year Exam
Things I need to be able to do
Grade 5-6
International Development
Use a World map and an atlas to locate places
Describe the global distribution of areas with a high population density
Identify those areas where high population densities and rapid population growth are causing problems
List some of the problems that can result from overpopulation in a country like India
Understand the link between the employment structure of a country and its level of development
Identify the most and least developed countries based on employment structures
Understand that trade is important because it helps countries to share resources and earn money
Describe the differences between the nature and value of exports of richer and poorer countries
Complete maps to show GNP, population increase and the % employed in primary jobs for different world
regions
Describe the global distribution of richer and poorer regions
Plate Tectonics
Describe how volcanic eruptions happen at plate boundaries
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Explain how the movement of plates causes earthquakes
Draw a diagram to show what happens when the Nazca plate meets the South American plate
Explain what volcanoes are
Describe the difference between active, dormant and extinct volcanoes
Draw a labelled photo sketch of a volcano
Draw a diagram to show the main features of a volcano and explain what happens when the volcano erupts
Explain the term natural hazard
Describe what happens when a volcano erupts
List the problems caused by an eruption such as those of Mount Etna or Eyjafjallajokull
Describe the short and long term effects of an earthquake
Describe and explain the human and physical effects of the Indian ocean tsunami
Understand that it is impossible to prevent earthquakes from happening
Identify signs that suggest an earthquake might be about to happen
Explain how buildings can be protected from the effects of earthquakes
International Development
Grade 7-9
Compare the reasons for the differences in population growth in India and China
Explain why countries that depend on one export commodity can have problems
Explain the difference between economic and social indicators of development
Explain why some countries which are overpopulated can still have sufficient resources for their population
Plate Tectonics
Prioritise the most effective responses to a natural disaster like an earthquake
Make use of some detailed case study information to illustrate a more generalised study of an earthquake
Explain the relationship between the different levels of the Richter scale
Compare the difference in the responses to earthquakes in Japan compared with the less developed countries
around the Indian Ocean
Explain why less developed countries usually experience more damage from an earthquake or volcano than
developed countries
Explain the importance of the ‘Three Ps’ – prediction, protection and preparation
Assessment 2: End of Year Exam
Everything from Assessment 1 AND…
Things I need to be able to do
Grade 5-6
Environmental Regions
Explain the difference between weather and climate
Name four factors that affect climate
Draw diagrams to show how different factors affect climate
Interpret a climate graph
Describe Britain’s climate
Name other places in the world that have a British-type climate
Understand that other parts of the world have very different climates
Describe the global distribution of tropical rainforests and Mediterranean ecosystems
Give examples of how ecosystems can be damaged by human activities
Describe the equatorial climate and pattern of weather
Describe the location of places with an equatorial climate
Describe the differences between an equatorial climate and Britain’s climate
Describe the main features of a tropical rainforest
Understand that the tropical rainforest is an important resource that has more trees and wildlife than
anywhere else on earth
Describe how plants have adapted to the equatorial climate
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Interpret a climate graph
Name different parts of the world that have a Mediterranean climate
Name different plants found in the Mediterranean
Describe how Mediterranean vegetation has to adapt to the hot, dry summers and warm, wet winters
List ways in which the vegetation in the Mediterranean has been affected by human activities
Describe the main features of a hot desert climate
Describe and name the locations of places with a hot desert climate
Name the main features of desert vegetation and wildlife
Describe the clothing that is necessary to cope with the high sunshine levels and high temperatures in a hot
desert
Describe the main features of a polar climate
Recognise the two types of polar regions
Resources and the Environment
Understand that if resources are misused, they can be used up or cause pollution
Understand that sustainable development means protecting resources for future use and limiting damage to
the environment
Record how you use resources and contribute to environmental pollution and congestion
Describe the different types of environment that need special protection
Identify the different types of environment that are looked after by government bodies and those that are
protection by voluntary conservation groups
Explain why some species have become endangered
Give reasons why endangered species need protection
Name different types of pollution caused by industry
Understand that cleaning up the results of pollution is expensive, difficult and can take a long time
List the impacts quarrying can have on the landscape, people and wildlife
List the benefits that quarrying can bring
Describe how a disused quarry can be restored
Give examples of natural resources
Describe the differences between renewable and non-renewable energy sources
Classify energy resources as renewable or non-renewable
Understand that coal, oil and natural gas are the cheapest ways to produce electricity
List the effects that a coal-fired power station has on the local and global environment
Understand how resources may be conserved by reducing consumption, increasing energy efficiency and
recycling
Recognise the length of time it takes to produce a depth of soil suitable for plant production
Understand the role of the Brazilian government and international companies in causing deforestation of the
tropical rainforests
Describe the negative and positive effects of deforestation on indigenous peoples
Grade 7-9
Environmental Regions
Explain what an ecosystem is and how the elements of an ecosystem are linked
Explain why Mediterranean summers are hot and dry, and winters are warm and wet
Explain how the desert vegetation gives protection from desert conditions
Explain the factors responsible for temperature and rainfall pattern experiences in hot deserts
Explain how wildlife and vegetation is adapted to polar conditions
Explain the threats to the polar regions of global climate change
Resources and the Environment
Explain how education can help to reduce pollution
Explain why some industries do not want to spend money reducing pollution
Recognise that attempts to improve damaged landscapes can be successful, but can be expensive and take a
long time
Decide whether it is more important to haver cheaper electricity or to protect the environment
Explain how sustainable development helps to protect natural resources for the future
Explain how weathering is important in the formation of soil
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Explain the human and physical causes of soil erosion
Recognise that there are local and global effects of widespread deforestation
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