Geography - Year 9

Geography Overview

Term 1: Dynamic Coasts

Students learn about coastal processes, landform and management. Students learn how and why our coastline changing. In addition, they learn to empathise with different interest groups faced with a rapidly retreating coastline.

  1. Students will complete a structured question paper.
Erosion

The wearing away of land by water.

Prevailing Wind

The main wind direction experienced by an area.

Fetch

The distance the wind has travelled over water.

Swash

The water that moves up a beach after the breaking of a wave.

Backwash

The water that travels back down the beach after the breaking of a wave.

Longshore Drift

The movement of sediment along a beach. The direction of movement depends on the direction of the prevailing wind.

Concordant Coastline

A coastline that is made out of one rock type. The coastline will erode at the same rate.

Discordant Coastline

A coastline that is made of alternating layers of hard and soft rock. Soft rock will erode faster than hard rock causing bays and headlands to form.

Hydraulic Action

A form of erosion where water forces air out of cracks. Cracks widen over time and the cliff starts to break down.

Abrasion

A type of erosion where rocks are picked up by the sea and thrown at the cliff face. This smooths the cliff face down over time and wears it away.

Attrition

A type of erosion where sediment carried by the sea is thrown into each other. Sediment becomes smaller, smoother and rounder.

Solution

A type of erosion where sediment is dissolved by salts and chemicals in the water.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural
Develop the individual:

Understanding of how we need to work together for a better future.

Create a supportive community:

Knowledge of the world around them and the issues that they face now and potentially int he future.

Term 2: The Rise & Rise Of China

Students study China as a place that is experiencing rapid change, an emerging super power; an example of the dynamic nature of Geography. They consider the similarities and differences between the UK and China, and how and why these may change in the future. They investigate the key concepts of interdependence and sustainability. China exemplifies how economics and politics interact, nationally and internationally.

  1. Students will complete a piece of research and extended writing, which focuses on the development of China.
Densely Populated

An area with a large amount of people in it, e.g. East China.

Sparsely Populated

An area with few people in it, e.g. West China.

HIC

A high income country, e.g. The UK.

LIC

A low income country, e.g. Bangladesh.

GDP

Gross Domestic Product - The total value of everything produced by all the people and companies in the country.

Population Distribution

The spread of people across the world or an area.

BRICS

Five countries with rapidly growing economies. They include: Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa.

Development

The process by which a country changes and improves over time.

Sustainability

Meeting the needs of today's generation without harming the needs of future generations.

Interdependence

Occurs between countries when they rely on each other in some way.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural
Develop the individual:

Knowledge of the world around them and the issues that they face now and potentially int he future.

Create a supportive community:

Understanding of how we need to work together for a better future.

Term 3: The Restless Planet

In this unit students will learn about the patterns and processes associated with volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunami. They compare the impact and response to of this types of activity on High and Low Income Countries. The focus of this unit is describing patterns and processes and explaining the complexities of tectonic activity.

  1. Students will complete a piece of extended writing with an opportunity for independent research – Explain why the effects of earthquakes are often greater in Low Income Countries.
Crust

The outermost layer of the earth. This is the layer that we live on.

Mantle

The layer between the crust and the outer core. The mantle is the thickest layer.

Outer Core

The third layer of the earth. The liquid outer core is found between the mantle and inner core.

Inner Core

The innermost, sold layer of the earth. The inner core is made or iron and nickel.

Richter Scale

The scale used to measure the power of earthquakes. The scale ranges from 0-10.

Convection Currents

The cyclical movement of the semi-molten material in the mantle. The heat from the centre of the Earth causes the material to rise and powers the currents. Convection currents cause tectonic movement.

Constructive Plate Margin

Occurs when two plates move away from each other. Earthquakes and volcanoes are found here.

Destructive Plate Margin

Occurs when two plates move towards each other. Earthquakes and volcanoes are found here.

Conservative Plate Margin

Occurs when two plates slide past each other. The strongest earthquakes are found here.

Subduction Zone

Occurs at a destructive plate margin when an a heavier, oceanic plate sinks underneath a light, continental plate. Volcanoes will often form on the boundary of a subduction zone.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural
Develop the individual:

Knowledge of the world around them and the issues that they face now and potentially int he future.

Create a supportive community:

Understanding of how we need to work together for a better future.

Term 4: Globalisation

Goods, companies, information, jobs and fashions are moving more and more easily around the world. The world is shrinking! Some say we live in a global ’village’. Students learn how they are linked to real people all over the world through the things they and their families buy. Students develop an understanding of the global nature of economic activity and development through a study of the global fashion industry. They look the benefits and problems globalisation may bring. They consider the moral, ethical and environmental issues associated with the global trade in consumer They finish the unit by considering how fair trade rules would help Less Developed Countries escape from poverty.

  1. Students will complete peer and sell-assessed work throughout the unit. At the end of the unit they will create a staged newspaper article on the topics studied.
Import

When goods are brought into a country from abroad for sale.

Export

When goods are sent abroad for sale.

Interdependence

Occurs between countries when they rely on each other in some way.

Globalisation

The process by which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected as a result of massively increased trade and cultural exchange.

TNC

Transnational Corporation - A company that operates in more that one country across the world.

Sweatshop

A factory or workshop, where manual workers are employed at very low wages for long hours and under poor conditions.

Outsourcing

A process by which TNCs send work to other countries so that it can be completed for a lower price.

WTO

World Trade Organisation - The only global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations.

WB

World Bank - An international financial institution that provides loans to countries of the world.

Fairtrade

Trade between companies in developed countries and producers in developing countries in which fair prices are paid to the producers.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural
Develop the individual:

Knowledge of the world around them and the issues that they face now and potentially int he future.

Create a supportive community:

Understanding of how we need to work together for a better future.

Term 5: My Footprint

Students are encouraged to link their lives to the global implications of climate change and think about the future. This unit removes the ’fear factor’ and ‘blame culture’ that surrounds the issue of climate change. Students need to be aware of the impact their decisions may have and the changes, as well as challenges, that they will face throughout their lives. A case study on Antarctica is included.

  1. Students will carry out presentations entitled, 'What can we do about climate change'?
Sustainability

Meeting the needs of today's generation without harming the needs of future generations.

Climate Change

A change in regional or global climate patterns.

Global Warming

The gradual increase in the Earth's average temperature.

Greenhouse Gas

A gas that contributes to global warming. Examples of greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

Drought

A period of time with below average rainfall.

Carbon Footprint

The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organisation, or community.

Emissions

The release of pollution into the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Effect

The trapping of the sun's heat in the Earth's atmosphere. This occurs due to a build up of greenhouse gases.

Renewable Energy

Energy sources that will not run out. Examples include solar, wind and water.

Non-Renewable Energy

Energy sources that will run out (they are finite). Examples include coal, oil and gas.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural
Develop the individual:

Knowledge of the world around them and the issues that they face now and potentially int he future.

Create a supportive community:

Understanding of how we need to work together for a better future.

Term 6: Mapping Festivals

This module allows students' to ‘brush up’ on their map skills through the contemporary topic of Music Festivals. By providing a thematic approach to the teaching of map skills, students are able to develop a variety of map skills as well as using maps to explore wider issues in relation to festivals, such as environmental impacts and flooding. Students can engage with maps at a wide range of scales and building on their map interpretation skills. This module also provides opportunities for decision making, group work and engagement with a variety of relevant, online resources.

  1. Students will be assessed using various AfL tasks throughout this unit.
Site

The actual position/location of something.

Situation

The position of something in relation to the surrounding human and physical features.

Landscape

All the visible features of an area of land.

Relief

The height and shape of land.

Distance

The length of the space between two points.

Urban

Towns or cities.

Rural

Countryside areas.

Direction

A course along which someone or something moves.

Contour Lines

Brown lines on an OS map that join areas of equal height.

Agricultural Land

Land that is used for different farming methods, e.g. growing crops or animal grazing.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural
Develop the individual:

Knowledge of the world around them and the issues that they face now and potentially int he future.

Create a supportive community:

Understanding of how we need to work together for a better future.