Geography (Key Stage 3)

Intent

The aim of geography at Oldershaw School is to inspire in pupils a deep curiosity and fascination about the world around them and its diverse people, places, and environments. Pupils will be equipped with essential knowledge and understanding of diverse locations, natural environments, human populations, resources, and the physical and human processes that shape the Earth. Through a carefully sequenced curriculum, students will develop key geographical concepts, including spatial awareness, sustainability, and interdependence. They will engage with real-world issues such as climate change, global migration, and inequality, fostering a sense of global citizenship. Oldershaw students will have opportunities to apply their geographical knowledge and skills both inside and beyond the classroom, using critical thinking, data analysis, and fieldwork to investigate and interpret the world around them. This will enable them to build the cultural literacy and geographical skills necessary to become informed and responsible global citizens, prepared for their future learning or employment.

Year 7

Focus

Autumn	Spring	Summer
Geography & Me My location UK geography (physical and human) OS Maps Personal geography Fieldwork Place: UK	Resources and Trade Types of resources economic sectors Trade routes supply chains trade blocs Uk industrial change OS maps	Fantastic UK Landscapes Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic rocks Landforms (e.g. Giant’s Causeway, Grampians) Weathering and erosion OS maps and GIS
Our Planet Earth’s physical geography: Earth’s structure tectonics atmosphere The water cycle Continents Earth’s human geography: Population distribution Global inequality settlement	Brilliant biomes Tropical Desert temperate biomes Climate graphs latitudinal variation Adaptations and threats (e.g. deforestation)	UK Coasts Processes: hydraulic action, longshore drift Coastal geology Landforms: beaches headlands, bays, cliffs Coastal OS map skills Place : UK

Year 8

Focus

Autumn	Spring	Summer
River Rivals River features and landforms Floodplain formation The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam conflict GIS Place: NE Africa	Endless Energy Fossil fuels Renewable Energy China’s energy use Carbon footprints DME solar panel site location OS maps Place studies: UK China and Uruguay	Polar Environments Arctic vs Antarctic features Causes of extreme cold Global climate mechanisms Tundra Characteristics Indigeous Nenets Ice loss Ecosystems Geopolitical interest Place – Arctic Russia
Food and Famine Physical and human causes of famine Factors affecting food security Reducing food insecurity Case studies: UK, Syria, South Korea	Climate change Greenhouse effect Sea level rise Paris Agreement Local climate action Unequal impacts of climate change Fieldwork Place studies: UK, India, Pacific Islands	The Middle east and Sustainability Middle East past and present Oil and development Wealth and inequality Place studies Yemen, UAE Water security

Year 9

Focus

Autumn	Spring	Summer
Global Oceans Layers of the Ocean Ocean currents Ocean climate regulation Ocean biodiversity and ecosystems Governance of the oceans	The Global Economy TNCs Globalisation Deindustrialisation Industrialisation HIC’s, MIC’s and LIC’s China’s growth Supply chains and technology hubs The UK’s global role: finance, services and trade partners	Food and Famine Physical and human causes of famine Factors affecting food security Reducing food insecurity Case studies: UK, Syria, South Korea
Ocean Tectonics Tectonic plate boundaries Seafloor spreading and mid ocean ridges Subduction zones Volcanic processes The Japanese tsunami: causes & impacts on people the environment & infrastructure GIS	Development Disparity What is development Development indicators Factors affecting development (colonialism, conflict and environmental factors) Development strategies (trade and the role of NGO’s) India’s urban – rural divide, slums and infrastructure	UK Regions Fieldwork Investigation Revision – geology, coastal river and glacial landscapes The geographical enquiry process – hypothesis, data collection, data presentation, data analysis, conclusion and evaluation Lake District virtual fieldwork Wirral fieldwork (to be conducted as a fieldtrip)

Enrichment Opportunities

Virtual visits to the locations studied
On site fieldwork to study the microclimate of the school site
In school fieldwork to explore how infiltration rates differ around the school site

Useful Links/Websites

BBC Bitesize KS3 geography

Time for Geography – excellent for physical geography (rivers, coasts and glaciation)

Seneca learning – most homework will be set on this platform. Students can also access KS3 geography revision here too. Students can set a password using their school email address.