NCEA Level 2 Geography

Aims

To develop an understanding of the environment as the home of people, and an understanding of the important characteristics of both the natural environment and cultural environment, emphasising the inter-relationship and issues associated with them.

Course Content

Natural Landscapes: What landscapes are; how they vary from place to place; how they change through time and how humans can affect them. This topic includes a three day field trip to Aoraki Mount Cook.

Development Inequalities: The concept of development; reasons for inequalities and the effects of these. USA and Laos are our main case studies for this topic.

Geographic Issue: A look at a contemporary NZ geographic issue that has causes, consequences and solutions.

Global Topic: Human trafficking or the global spread of malaria - the impact these issues have on a range of communities and the people within them.

Geographic Research: Students undertake research while in the Aoraki Mt Cook area.

Skills

  • Thinking - Gathering, understanding, organising, evaluating and presenting information

  • Valuing - Identification of personal and other people’s value positions, recognising stereotypes, analysis of conflict in terms of facts and value positions, and identifying areas of agreement and disagreement

  • Practical - Observing, gathering, measuring, interpreting, presenting data; constructing simple graphs, maps; interpreting maps, graphs, tables, photographs and models; understanding and carrying out simple field investigations

  • Social - The ability to function in a group

Assessment

There are a variety of assessment tasks and school examinations. Externally assessed topics are examined nationally at the end of the year.

Qualification Gained

Full course completion — 23 credits in NCEA Geography Level 2

University Entrance Numeracy: 8 credits offered in this course contribute towards University Entrance Numeracy (AS91244 - 5 credits, AS91247 - 3 credits)

This subject has links with

History, Economics, Science

Prior knowledge required

Year 11 Geography and/or

Plus a reasonable level of achievement across Year 11, particularly in Literacy and Numeracy.

Exceptional circumstances may be considered on an individual basis after consultation with the HoD and the Year Level Dean.

Next step

NCEA Geography Level 3