Learning Area

Key Stage 3

Your daughter has 2 lessons per week.

Homework is set once every week for 30 minutes, which should be marked within one week from being handed in.

The course consists of:

Unit 1 Growth of the Local area: Using a range of evidence changes in the local area are plotted from early settlement to urbanisation.
Unit 2 Settlement: Studies the factors that influence the sighting of early settlements.
Unit 3 Local area enquiry: Use of street work and local photos to test hypothesis that Stratford provides a good range of services for all of its citizens.
Unit 4 Water: Introduces the hydrological cycle and water stores. Rivers with river management are covered along with the uses of flood plains.

These areas are taught using a range of resources including maps, diagrams, photographs, videos and computers.

Areas covered are:

Unit 1 Brazil: Covers a detailed study of this LEDC. The emphasis being on comparing the regional differences in quality of life between the North-East and South-East.
Unit 2 Planet Earth: Girls learn about the structure of the earth and basic Plate Tectonic theory. Volcanoes are then covered, using Vesuvius and Mt. St Helens as examples for their formation, structure and human implications of eruptions.
Unit 3 Natural Environments: Introduces tropical climate zones plus the concepts of Ecosystems and Food chains. Students also learn how to construct and interpret climate graphs.
Unit 4 Tropical Grasslands: Learning about its location, climate and adaptation of natural vegetation. Desertification and nomadic pastoralists of Mali also covered.
Unit 5 Tropical Rainforests: Learning the location, vegetation and wildlife of the rain forest. Specifically the nutrients and water cycle. This is progressed onto an enquiry into the life style of the indigenous people and the conflicts of interest between rainforest users.

The following topics are covered:

Unit 1 Development: Covers how quality of life can be measured, how countries can be compare and why some are more economically developed than others. Introduces the idea of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary industry and employment structures.
Unit 2 Japan: Covers in detail the physical, economic, environmental and cultural geography of the MEDC.
Unit 3 Energy Resources: Studies the range of energy resources available (renewable & non-renewable). Consideration of the positive and negatives of these. Using biogas in LEDC as an example of a sustainable solution. Acid rain damage in Scandinavia. The causes and possible effects of Global warming.
Unit 4 The EU and Italy: Shows the location of the EU countries and the aims of the EU. Specifically a look at the landscape, economy and environments of Italy.
Unit 5 Crime: This is a new unit in the year 9 currently under development.
Unit 6 Coastlines: Looks into the physical processes that shape the coast, with particular reference to north Norfolk.

Sarah Bonnell School