GEOGRAPHY

WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

Geography is the study of earth as the home of people and explores interactions between both natural and cultural environments.

Geography is unique in that it is not defined by one particular topic. Instead Geography’s scope encompasses many different topics such as people, politics, settlements, geology, plants and much more.

Geography students will learn to apply skills, assess information and evaluate people's values to understand current contemporary issues and global studies. It is a highly relevant discipline that seeks to understand and solve important issues facing the world we live in.

Geography is offered from Years 11-13 in both the NCEA and IB programme.

YEAR 11 GEOGRAPHY

In the Level 1 Geography course, we will cover natural processes causing changes to te taiao (environments) in the Tarawera volcanic environment. Students will examine locations and causes of tropical rainforests. They will develop an understanding of how populations grow and evolve and apply this to a study of cities. Geographers will also complete some primary research on the use of Auckland’s waterfront. Throughout the course, we will also be learning how to apply and utilise geographic information systems.

YEAR 12 GEOGRAPHY

In the Level 2 Geography course, students will investigate the natural processes that occur at Tongariro Volcanic Centre and use this context to complete our geographic research in the field. We will track the development of London’s population growth over time and investigate issues around the global pattern of megacities. We will cover differences in development examining reasons for differing standards of living across the United States of America.

YEAR 13 GEOGRAPHY

In the Level 3 Geography course, students will examine how coastal processes shape beaches and complete geographic research on a comparison of a west coast (Muriwai) beach and an east coast beach. We look at the planning and decision making that goes into an event (Rhythm and Vines) and look at the causes and consequences of the cultural process of tourism development as it occurs both in New Zealand (Rotorua) and internationally (Hawaii). The Level 3 Geography programme is designed to allow students to gain literacy credits and University Entrance.

IB GEOGRAPHY

The IB Diploma is a 2 year course. If students select Geography as their Group 3 subject they will cover a variety of topics relevant to today's world. Over this course, students will be aiming to:

Develop an understanding of the dynamic interrelationships between people, places, spaces and the environment at different scales
Develop a critical awareness and consider complexity thinking in the context of the nexus of geographic issues, including: acquiring an in-depth understanding of how geographic issues, or wicked problems, have been shaped by powerful human and physical processes, synthesizing diverse geographic knowledge in order to form viewpoints about how these issues could be resolved
Understand and evaluate the need for planning and sustainable development through the management of resources at varying scales.

Topics covered include:

Leisure, Tourism and Sport
Food and Health
Oceans and Coastal Margins
Geographic Perspectives
Global Change - Changing Populations
Global Climate - Vulnerability and resilience
Global resource consumption and security
Power Places and Networks
Human Development and Diversity
Global Risk and Resiliency

FIELD TRIPS IN GEOGRAPHY

In each year level, students undertake field trips to aid them in their understanding of their Geography studies. We also offer our Year 12 and Year 13 Geography students the opportunity to go on our overseas field trip to Hawaii. This occurs once every two years. Read more about each of the trips offered below.

LEVEL 1 GEOGRAPHY FIELD TRIPS

In Level 1 Geography , students undertake a day trip AND an overnight trip.

For our day trip we head over to Wynyard Quarter on the Devonport Ferry to do some exploring of Auckland’s waterfront.

We also offer an overnight trip to the Tarawera volcanic environment. As we have learnt about this taiao (environment) in class, it is important that we go and experience what we have been talking about.

On this trip, we travel up Mt Tarawera and go down into the crater, we wander round the Buried Village of Te Wairoa and go to the geothermal area of Waimangu Valley. All of the activities that we go to were all created or shaped by the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera!

LEVEL 2 GEOGRAPHY FIELD TRIPS

Level 2 Geographers participate in a 4 day field trip to the Tongariro Volcanic Centre. Students will study this environment in detail during Term 1 and then we will travel down to investigate further.

Whilst in National Park, we will complete the Tongariro Crossing and students will practice their research skills by gathering data.

LEVEL 3 GEOGRAPHY FIELD TRIPS

In Level 3 Geography , we offer both a day trip and an overnight trip.

Our day trip to Muriwai beach helps students to engage with the coastal environment they have learnt about in class. While there, they will examine the natural features and processes we have discussed and they will collect primary data to assist them with an internal assessment.

Level 3 Geographers will also head to Rotorua on a 2 night field trip to investigate the impacts of Covid-19 on the tourism industry. Students will get the opportunity to experience tourist attractions such as the luge, agrodome and the Redwoods treewalk. They will also participate in a Maori cultural experience and receive a lecture from the Rotorua Education Network. This trip will also help students to complete an internal assessment.

YEAR 12 & 13 OVERSEAS HAWAII TRIP

In Geography, we also offer an optional overseas trip to Hawaii every two years for our Year 12 and 13 students. This links to both the NCEA and IB curriculum.

Typically, we stay for 8-9 days in Hawaii’s tourist centre of Waikiki. We experience life as a tourist over there and get involved in activities such as Wet’n Wild, climbing Diamond Head, snorkelling at Hanauma Bay, eating Dole Whip at the Dole Pineapple Plantation, shopping at the Ala Moana Center and swimming at lots of Oahu’s beautiful beaches.

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