Departments

Geography

If you want to learn more about our amazing world, follow a well-planned course with lots of fun and engaging learning activities, including extensive opportunities to use your iPad and other technology and would like to develop a wide variety of transferable skills, highly prized by employers in today’s highly competitive job market then Geography is the subject for you!

In Geography we use a wide variety of teaching methods to suit all types of learners. While you will be working independently on your own some of the time there will also be plenty of opportunity to be working in pairs, larger groups or as a whole class. The entire Geography course is available digitally through iTunesU on your iPad. You will also be using your iPad to access a wide range of apps, carry out research for investigations and debates, produce presentations, record field work data etc.

Key transferable skills that Geography develops and can be used in other subjects, at college, university or the world of work include processing and interpreting a range of information in written, audio-visual, numerical, statistical and graph form. Geography also calls on pupils to develop a range of unique and highly sought after skills such as interpreting maps, using geographical information technology and the collection and processing of data through fieldwork and other practical research skills.

The S3 Geography course is divided into three sections:

  • Global Issues
  • The Human Environment
  • The Physical Environment

Topics covered in Global Issues:

Water, the most important natural resource? – Learn why we shouldn’t take water for granted, how poor access to water can affect people’s lives, how demand for bottled water is created by big business, the impact of bottled water on the environment, how to calculate your own water footprint, how to use water in a more sustainable way and how water can lead to war.

Tsunami’s – Learn how are caused, how they affect people and landscapes and what can be done to manage the threat that they cause to millions of people around the world.

Topics covered in The Human Environment:

Urbanisation, the making of our cities – Learn why growing numbers of the world’s population choose to live in cities, how the sites for cities were chosen, why cities grow, why new towns are built. Plan and design Scotland’s next new town! Learn what causes traffic congestion and how this issue is being tackled in British cities. Evaluate whether the building of the new Forth Road Bridge, is a good idea or not? Discover the housing problems in the Indian city of Mumbai.

Food and farming – Learn where our food comes from, about the different types of farming in Britain today, how British farming has changed, farming and the environment, as well as about food miles and fair trade food.

Population – How does Scotland shape up? Learn how our population compares to other countries. Find out what is happening to the population of Scotland and elsewhere and what this will mean for our country and others.

Topics covered in The Physical Environment:

Our Dynamic Coastline – Did you know that the coastline of Great Britain is 17,820 km long? Find out how dramatic coastal features such as caves, arches, stacks and spits are formed. Study coastal features and tourism at the coast using Ordnance Survey maps.

Scotland’s Weather – Find out why it always rains in Scotland, how the weather is measured, how air pressure affects the weather and how to read specialist weather maps.

Homework:

Pupils are expected to take responsibility for their own learning and progress. Homework is a key part of this. As well as getting some formal set homework to develop skills and deepen your knowledge and understanding, other tasks you should expect to get include carrying out brief research tasks in preparation for your next lesson. You may also be expected to revise for assessments or simply catching up with coursework not completed in class using the course material available on your iPad using the iTunesU app.

Assessment:

There will be continuous formative assessment in the form of individual and group tasks. Students also receive three formal assessment over the course of the year covering one topic from each of the three units of work detailed above.

Progression:

This Geography course has been carefully designed to provide the basic skills and a broad knowledge base to progress easily onto National 4 and National 5 Qualifications in fourth year.

Studying geography can be the gateway to a wide range of careers. Most employers, colleges and universities are looking for young people with a good range of recognised and well-respected qualifications and geography is one of them.

Some careers where having studied Geography could be a distinct advantage include: cartographer, estate agent, chartered surveyor, remote sensing analyst, GIS specialist, market researcher, planner, social worker, housing officer, transport manager, retail buyer, travel agent, logistics manager, location analyst, charity co-ordinator, aid worker, diplomat/civil service, flood prevention officer, risk assessor, weather forecaster or presenter, disaster manager, civil engineer, geologist, hydrologist, soil conservationist, oceanographer, coastal engineer, estate manager, forestry ranger, environmental consultant, pollution analyst, conservation officer, marketing manager, teaching, tourism officer, media researcher, civil aviation etc.

Field Work:

Field work is an important part of Geography. Our S3 Geography course offers students opportunities to take part in field work activities in the school grounds, the local community and further afield.