KS4 Geography

Curriculum Content

Paper 1. People and the Natural Environment
Section A: Geographical skills Cartographical (map work)

• Graphical
• Geographical enquiry
• ICT skills

Section B: Three areas will be selected from the following.

1. Tectonic Activity (Earthquakes and Volcanoes)
2. Rocks and Landscapes
3. River Landscapes
4. Glacial Landscapes
5. Coastal Landscapes
6. Weather and Climate
7. Ecosystems

Paper 2. People and the Human Environment
Three areas from the following will be selected

1. Population or
2. Settlement
3. Agriculture or
4. Industry
5. Managing Resources or
6. Development.

Coursework
This will involve the taking part in fieldwork to collect data and then the production of a geographical project.

Teaching Methods

A variety of methods will be adopted which will include written work, maps, photographs, group work, simulations, ICT, video and fieldwork. Fieldwork is compulsory and it may be necessary to request a small charge for it. The examination papers and coursework will test your knowledge, skills and understanding of the geographical themes in the syllabus.

Resources

There will be a core course text which will be supplemented by teacher produced materials. Materials are kept up to date and topical through our subscriptions to on line resources of Geo Active and Geo file, the Geographical magazine and the internet.

Skills and Knowledge

Pupils are encouraged to develop:

1. Fieldwork skills (observing and recording).
2. Graphicacy (constructing and interpreting maps and graphs) skills.
3. Describing, explaining, concluding and evaluating fieldwork data skills.

Assessment

The GCSE syllabus to be used is AQA (3031) Geography A.

Examination:
Paper one 1½ hours 40 % of total marks
Paper two 1½ hours 35 % of total marks
Coursework 25% of total marks

There are two tiers of assessment:
Foundation aimed at grades (G - C)
Higher aimed at grades (D - A*)
The syllabus is the same for both tiers.

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