Geography KS3
Key Stage 3 Geography
This course is all about planet Earth, and how and where we live on it. At the end of Key Stage 3, pupils should become good geographers. This means that they will:
- Be interested in the world around them.
- Understand that many processes, both natural and human, are shaping and changing the Earth.
- Know what kinds of questions to ask in order to find out about countries,
- places and people.
- To be able to carry out enquiries, to find answers to questions
- To have skills that enable them to e.g. read maps, use satellite images, GIS.
Year 7 – Course Content
Passport to Geography
- Making Connections Settlement – Town and Country
- Changing Populations
- Rich and Poor World – Case Study – Kenya
- Exploring Wales – My Local Environment
- ‘Geography in the News’ – events in the media e.g. volcanic activity, earthquakes, floods, rainforest destruction.
Year 8 – Course Content
The Physical World -Rivers/Flooding
- Economic Activity -People as Consumers
- Threatened Environments – Ecosystems Rainforests/Amazonia
- Environmental Issues -Climate Change
- Development – Rich and Poor World
- ‘Geography in the News’ – events in the media e.g. volcanic activity, earthquakes, floods, rainforest destruction.
Year 9 – Course Content
- Dangerous Places – Hazards Volcanoes and Earthquakes
- Economic Development in Different Locations -Country Focus Italy
- Impact of Economic Activity Tourism/Ecotourism
- Environmental Concerns/Conservation
- Globalisation -Olympic Games Global Fashion
- ‘Geography in the News’ – events in the media e.g. volcanic activity, earthquakes, floods, rainforest destruction.
Key Stage 3 Geography Homework Policy
Regular homework will be issued throughout the course. This will preferably be one piece per fortnight although that will depend on the unit being studied. The tasks will include reinforcement of work covered in class, individual research into topics and revision for unit tests. However, there are excellent opportunities to introduce pupils to research skills by setting an extended homework project – to be completed over several weeks - for each of the units studied. Often these projects will benefit from internet research but, where this is impossible, the department can provide materials for pupils to work from. Other homework may consist of revision for unit tests. The homework is clearly linked to what they are supposed to be learning. It is planned at the same time as the lesson.
When homework is valued and taken seriously by the student it is:
- designed to be fun as well as worthwhile
- stimulating, challenging and at the limit of what they can do
- engages their interest in different ways to their normal class work that it is varied
- that uses artistic techniques or ICT
- that can be displayed
- that enables them to make use of resources unavailable at school
- when they feel likely to succeed
Throughout Key Stage 3 the theme ‘Geography in the News’ is a common theme. Pupils will be asked to carry out research into events that are related to earthquakes, volcanic activity, floods, hurricanes, etc.
Key Stage 3 Geography Assessment Schedule
Throughout Key Stage 3 pupils will be assessed at regular intervals and at the end of individual topics. Assessments will be based on memory and recall, teacher assessment of class work, homework and pupil self assessment where pupils will evaluate their own work and comment on their understanding of specific topics. The following assessments are exemplar.
YEAR 7
Assessment 1 World map. Label continents and oceans on a map of the world. Label Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle.
Assessment 2 Extended writing task. Write in detail about a favourite place that you have visited. Include maps and images. If possible use IT for presentation.
Assessment 3 Thinking skills activity reflecting an understanding of settlement site. Map of Wales – label place names, sea areas, mountain areas, national parks, etc.
Assessment 4 End of year teacher assessment based on all assessments carried out during the year including class work and homework. Throughout the year pupils will be asked to self assess the work they have produced at the end of each unit studied.
YEAR 8
Assessment 1 Revision of work based on ‘Weathering and Erosion ’. Learn names of the parts of a river. Test memory and recall related to the ‘Features of a River Basin’. The assessment may possibly be linked to the River Taff Drainage Basin
Assessment 2 Work produced based on research related to Niagara Falls. This could be a written assessment either word processed or hand written. The work could also be produced as a poster or PowerPoint presentation.
Assessment 3 Assessment based on numerical skills with the completion of a river bend cross section. It could be based on the ‘River Survey Assessment Sheet’. It could also include the assessment sheet ‘Floods and Flood Control’.
Assessment 4 End of year teacher assessment based on all assessments carried out during the year including class work and homework. Throughout the year pupils will be asked to self assess the work they have produced at the end of each unit studied.
YEAR 9
Assessment 1 Recall words and meanings – parts of the earth crust, mantle, core. Recall words and meanings parts of a volcano.
Assessment 2 Work produced based on research of volcanic/earthquake activity. This could be hand written or word processed. Pupils will have the opportunity to produce a poster or PowerPoint.
Assessment 3 Assessment based on knowledge and understanding of the countries of the EU. Places in Italy/France. Throughout the year pupils will be asked to self assess the work they have produced at the end of each unit studied.
Assessment 4 ‘Final Key Stage 3 Assessment’. End of year teacher assessment based on all assessments carried out during the year including class work and homework. Levels gained at the end of Year 7 and 8 are reviewed in this final end of Key Stage assessment.
How parents can best support their children
- Ensure that pupils maintain regular attendance in order to progress in the subject.
- Review the work in their exercise books and take note of the comments made by their teacher.
- Check homework diaries for tasks that have been set.
- Ask pupils about what they are studying in the subject.
- Encourage them to keep up to date with ‘Geography in the News’. Events such as earthquake activity, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, flooding, etc are all related to geography. Encourage research into such events.
