Broad General Education (S1-3)
Why Study Geography?
Studying geography helps us to make sense of the world in which we live. Geography allows us to understand our environment, from helping us to predict weather, and climate changes to implementing and planning in response to global issues. Geography covers two keys areas looking at our physical world where we answer the questions on how landforms like mountains, rivers and coasts have been formed and then we look at the human world and how we have impacted our world through climate change, population structures, migration and farming.
The course provides geographical perspectives on important issues concerning the environment, sustainability and citizenship. They encourage fieldwork and the use of local environments and the acquisition of geographical skills.
BGE Geography (S1-S3)
S1 Geography - Pupils will cover two geography units in S1, which are;
Exploring Geography and Mapping
In the first rotation, pupils will explore the key fundamentals of mapping using grid references, contour lines and scale. Along with also exploring our continents, countries and oceans. Pupils will conduct their own country research project by choosing a country of their choice to explore their cultures, languages, currency, population and physical and human geographical features.
Climate Change
In the second rotation, pupils will focus on Climate Change, looking at the greenhouse gas effect, causes of climate change, impacts of climate change on the UK and the wider world and then strategies to solve climate change. Pupils will conduct a new report investigation exploring the impacts and solutions of climate change.
S2 Geography - Pupils will cover two geography units in S2, which are;
Earth's Natural Forces
In this unit pupils will explore the layers, our Earth and how tectonic plates move and collide. Pupils will explore how volcanoes and earthquakes are created. Pupils will focus on a case study and investigate the impacts and responses needed in disaster planning.
The Living World
In this unit, pupils will explore two biomes. Pupils will learn about the layers of the rainforest, along with how plants and animals have adapted to survive. Pupils will then explore the causes and impacts of deforestation and climate change on the Rainforests. Pupils will then learn about how animals have adapted to surviving in the desert and investigate the impacts and solutions to desertification in the Sahel.
S3 Geography
Pupils begin in the first term exploring the topic of Antarctica looking at how animals have adapted to survive their cold conditions. Pupils learn how to construct and interpret climate graphs. Pupils then look at the threats facing Antarctica from human activites and form their own pressure groups to create a presentation on how to save Antarctica.
After the October holidays pupils then move onto starting the National 4/5 course developing key N5 writing and analysing skills.