In your fist unit in Geography, you will be learning about:

• What the SDGs are.

• Key mapping skills.

• Sustainable cities.

The Challenge

To become the designers of a brand-new Sustainable City of the Future. Your city must help the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

You will work with a partner to design your city. Your challenge is to include features that make it fair, safe, and environmentally friendly.

Your Mission

Your city plan must include:

1. 👩‍🦱 Gender Equality (SDG 5)

   • How will your city ensure that men and women have equal opportunities?

   • Think about schools, jobs, transport, safety.

2. ⚡ Clean & Renewable Energy (SDG 7)

   • What types of renewable energy will your city use? (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, geothermal).

   • Where will you place your energy sources on your city map?
     
     

3. 🌍 Protecting People from Hazards (linked to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities)

   • Your city is built in a hilly area. How will you protect people from landslides, floods or other natural hazards?

   • Think about building design, green spaces, and safety measures.
     
     

Steps to Complete

1. Brainstorm ideas with your partner – use your SDG notes for inspiration.

2. Design your city on any plat form or way you wish.
   
   

   • Label key features (schools, hospitals, transport, housing, energy sites).

   • Use colours and map features to enhance your design
     
     

3. Explain your choices in short notes around your map as annotations (e.g., “We placed solar panels on rooftops to save space and reduce pollution”).
   
   

4. Present your city to another pair in the class. Be ready to explain:

   • How your city helps achieve the SDGs.

   • Why your city is safe and sustainable.

In your second unit of geography you will be developing an in-depth case study on Dubai focusing on:

• The physical geography of Dubai

• Living in an urban area 

• Population and migration into Dubai 

• Climatic issues in the UAE

Scenario: You are a news reporter working for Al Jazeera. You are tasked with writing a report on the catastrophic floods that hit the UAE in April 2024. In your report you must include:

• A reflection on the damage that was done

• Why they happened in the first place 

• What has been done since to mitigate the threat of future flooding. 

In your third unit in Geography you will be discovering the water sources of the world. You will explore:

• How much water is on our planet

• The journey of a water droplet

• How water shapes our planet

• How we can protect ourselves against the power of water

In your final unit in Geography for this year you will be exploring Antarctica. You will learn:

• What Antarctica is really like

• Who owns Antarctica 

• What valuable natural resources Antarctica possesses

• Why tourism is gaining popularity in Antarctica 

• Whether Antarctica should be developed