Geography

Topic 1: Changing Places

Skills

Students must engage with quantitative and qualitative approaches across the theme as a whole.

Quantitative data, including the use of geospatial data, must be used to investigate and present place characteristics, particular weight must be given to qualitative approaches involved in

representing place, and to analysing critically the impacts of different media on place meanings and perceptions. The use of different types of data should allow the development of critical perspectives on the data categories and approaches.

Knowledge

3.2.1.1 The nature and importance of places

3.2.1.2 Changing places – relationships, connections, meaning and representation

3.2.1.2.1 Relationships and connections

3.2.1.2.2 Meaning and representation

3.2.1.4 Place studies

Rationale

Changing places is about how citizens engage with places and the importance they place upon them.  Developing knowledge about the concept of continuity and change in places will help them understand their surroundings better and the ways in which place is central to their lives.

Through studying contrasting places learners engage with the familiar and the distant; they are better able to appreciate their own locales’ economic and political organisation from comparing and contrasting it with a markedly different environment, overseas.

The use of statistical, data manipulation and mapping techniques within the field of study encourages further growth of these skills for later coursework endeavours.

Topic 2: Water & Carbon Cycles

Skills

Students must engage with a range of quantitative and relevant qualitative skills, within the unit. In particular there is a need to understand simple mass balance, unit conversions and the analysis and presentation of field data.

Knowledge

3.1.1.1 Water and carbon cycles as natural systems

3.1.1.2 The water cycle

3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle

3.1.1.4 Water, carbon, climate and life on Earth

3.1.1.6 Case studies of a tropical rainforest setting & a river catchment(s) at a local scale, respectively

Rationale

This unit looks to the dynamic relations between major stores of carbon and water and their surroundings. It serves to introduce many of the fundamental insights of physical geography. In particular a systems approach which posits dynamic interactions between component parts.

We deliberate over the importance of cycles at different scales including that which pertains to human populations; both carbon and water cycles demonstrate the features of natural resource use to serve societal needs.

Finally, the section allows for geographical skills development along the lines cited above. Mapping and measurement skills as well as those of numerical manipulation via statistical techniques are particular areas conducive to the subject matter of this unit.