Geography

Geography at Middleton is designed to encourage and foster student’s enjoyment of studying whilst building on the skills and techniques to create confident subject specialist.

Year 7

The year 7 Geography curriculum at Middleton Technology School aims to encourage and develop a number of different skills through each scheme of work, these include: asking geographical questions; observing and recording information; analysing evidence and drawing conclusions; using geographical vocabulary; using and understanding globes, maps and plans at a range of scales and identifying and describing places around the world.

Units undertaken by students in year 7 include ‘What do Geographers do?’ This aims to consolidate the KS2 curriculum and introduce important Geographical skills and techniques. We then complete a unit looking at the continent of Africa introducing links between human and physical processes and introducing more complex concepts such as global development and aid. The students will then complete a unit using mapping skills, look at weather and complete a microclimate study and look in-depth at the physical processes of rivers leading to the physical and human causes, effects and responses to flooding events within the UK.

Year 8

The year 8 Geography curriculum at Middleton Technology School is designed to encourage and foster student’s enjoyment of Geography whilst building on the skills and techniques from year 7 to create confident subject specialists. Students are supported Pupils are supported to develop a greater sense of intellectual curiosity through the units studied. Core knowledge is developed by studying a range of places, on a local, national and global scale, allowing pupils to enhance their understanding and appreciation of the world and encouraging pupils to express opinions about people, places and environments.

Topics studied in year 8 include a study of Globalisation looking at the spread of culture, technology and ideas with a detailed study of a transnational corporation. An in-depth study of a global biome looking at the physical and human processes at work in the Amazon Rainforest and the interconnections between nature and people specifically looking at cause and effect of deforestation. Leading on from the work students completed in year 7 on Africa we will build on concepts introduced on global development and further develop students understanding of poverty, aid and uneven development. Students will them also study units on UK coasts and polar environments.

Year 9

The year 9 geography curriculum promotes an understanding of local and global societies, cultures and environments. Students are encouraged to develop their investigative and problem-solving skills whilst exploring a wide variety of geographical concepts. Through their studies, students become familiar with the concepts of change and interdependence and will develop and express opinions relating to the current events which are shaping their world.

Topics studied in year 9 include a local area study of Manchester incorporating the history of the city, growth, immigration, prosperity and redevelopment and regeneration looking to the future. Students will also study two units on hazards looking at both tectonic and weather hazards filtering content down from the GCSE curriculum. We will also study units on dark tourism and conflict and borders to help consolidate skills required for the GCSE course.

Year 10

Topics of study the challenge of sustainable resource use the formation and management of physical landscapes such as coasts, rivers, tropical rainforests and areas of tundra. Students are also encouraged to understand their role in society, by considering different viewpoints, values and attitudes.

Year 11

The AQA Geography GCSE specification allows us to teach an exciting and relevant geography course in a balanced framework of physical and human themes and investigates the link between them. Students will travel the world from their classroom, exploring case studies in the United Kingdom (UK), higher income countries (HICs), newly emerging economies (NEEs) and lower income countries (LICs).

Topics of study include climate change, poverty, deprivation, global shifts in economic power and students are encouraged to understand their role in society and both values and attitudes of others. The final term in year 11 we focus on consolidating knowledge and skills in preparation for the terminal exams.