National 5 Geography

COURSE DESCRIPTION

What is Geography – Geography is a study of people and place. It is a far reaching subject that deals with the landscape and environment around us and how humans interact with it. There is a variety of topical and relevant issues within the subject which offers variety of for learners to engage with.

Why study Geography – Within Geography there is a wide skills set that will aid pupils   throughout   their   school   career,   higher   education   and   fulltime employment. Pupils will gain a variety of skills including O.S. mapping skills, extracting information from graphs, charts and maps, using ICT and multimedia along with presenting their findings and ideas.

Physical Geography

-   Weather systems that affect the UK and how these weather systems impact on different groups of people.

-   Glaciated Uplands and Coastal landscapes, including the associated land uses and the conflict within a National Park.

-   Pupils will have the opportunity to participate in Outdoor Leaning and fieldwork.

Human Geography

- Developed and developing countries population structures.

- Urban  and  rural  studies  focusing  on  land  use  zones  and  farming practices. 

- Comparisons will be made between two case study areas - Edinburgh and Mumbai.

Global Issues

- Climate Change – the physical and human causes, local and global impact along with strategies to reduce the effects

- Environmental Hazards - studying the causes and impact on people and the  landscape of volcanoes, earthquakes and tropical storms.

Assessment

Pupils have to complete an Added Value Unit on a topic decided by the SQA. They will have to  complete a written report about their investigation under examination conditions. A prelim examination will be undertaken in the Spring term. Pupils will also have to sit an external SQA exam.

WHAT WILL MY HOME COMMITMENT BE FOR THIS COURSE?

Regular homework will be set by the class teacher.  Students can expect to be doing at least 11/2 hours of study per week which will include a selection of:  End of Topic formal  homework, Consolidation of notes from previous week /Completion of exercises as home practice. Assignment and Exam preparation

Is GEOGRAPHY for me? 

You will enjoy this subject if: 

· You enjoy the natural world and are keen to protect it.

· You are interested in people and places around the world.

· You want to understand how our world was formed and why it is constantly changing.

· You think about climate change and global warming.

· You want to find out about the developing world and its problems.