Curriculum
All Junior Certificate students from First to Third year take this Geography course, culminating in the Junior Certificate examination. They study the subject as a form group and have three periods per week.
- The Physical World; Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere and the processes which form and change them.
- Human Environment; population, settlement and economic development.
- Environmental, Global, National and Local issues; involving case studies and the skills to analyze, assess and present in each area of study.
- A field study or trip is organised for each year group. This helps students to apply the subject to the real world.
- 1st Year – Local Environment Geography
- 2nd Year – Geomorphology – valley visit
- 3rd Year – Urban environmental issues.
Project work is undertaken where suitable. Assessment otherwise is by summation, term examinations and other formative measures. Almost all students take Higher Level Geography.
St Andrew’s model for Transition year includes the maintenance of a block of core subjects. Geography is one of these.
Although this is an academic programme, it contains a high degree of practical fieldwork coupled with the exploration of issues of a geographical nature, either environmental or developmental.
Much of the work is done out in school grounds or off campus, the aim being to utilize the opportunity to see Geography in context.
Geography is an important subject in our modern world of globalization with great pressures on cultures and resources. The ability to view issues from a wider perspective is appropriate for working in many different career paths. The nature of peoples’ working lives is changing. It is less likely that someone will spend all their life in one company or organisation. If your career path is to be varied you will need to develop transferable skills and be flexible. IB Geography fosters these qualities and provides a firm base for life-long learning.
Core theme: Patterns and Change
The core theme provides an overview of the geographic foundation for the key global issues of our times for example, the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular those concerning poverty reduction, gender equality, improvements in health and education and environmental sustainability. The core theme also develops knowledge of the likely causes and impacts of global climate change.
- Populations in transition
- Disparities in wealth and development
- Patterns in environmental quality and sustainability
- Patterns in resource consumption.
Options:
1. Leisure, Sport and Tourism
This option is designed to illustrate the pattern and diversity of leisure activities, their increasing popularity and their impact on environments, culture and economy on a range of scales from global to local. Issues and conflicts arise for planners and managers in meeting leisure demand, conserving natural resources and avoiding social conflict.
2. Freshwater - issues and conflicts
This optional theme focuses on water on the land as a scarce resource. It considers the ways in which humans respond to the challenges of managing the quantity and quality of freshwater, as well as the consequences (whether intended or unintended, positive or negative) of management.
3. Health and Food
This theme is based on the underlying premise that the health of a population is the direct consequence of having enough food, a balanced diet and reduced susceptibility to disease.The topic on health serves as an introduction to the theme, with more detailed coverage of the two topics on food and disease.
Higher Level Extension
Global Interactions
Measuring global interactions
Changing space – the shrinking world
Economic interactions and flows
Environmental change
Sociocultural exchanges
Political outcomes
Global interactions at the local level
Internal Assessment
All students participate on our river fieldwork investigation which brings us away to Fermanagh (currently) to complete the prescribed work in an ‘away’ experience over two days. Skills play a big part in this study and enquiry. It introduces the students to field research and analysis, with their final write-up amounting to 20% of their final grade.
With the new syllabus now well established, we are enjoying the potential of this course.
this is a two year cycle covering physical and regional core studies in Irish, European and Sub-continental settings. The first year covers this section and prepares students for field investigation.
The second year examines Economic development and the patterns and processes involved.
We then embark on our river fieldwork investigation which brings us away to Fermanagh (currently) to complete the prescribed work in an ‘away’ experience over two days. Skills play a big part in this study and enquiry. It introduces the students to field research and analysis, with their final write-up amounting to 20% of their final grade.
Various options are then explored at higher level including;
- Global Interdependence
- Geo ecology
- Atmosphere / Oceans
These are all very relevant, contemporary concerns. Again almost all students take higher level and a high percentage of honours is usually achieved.
The choice of Geography is seen by many as a good broad subject with Economic, Scientific, Social, Cultural and Environmental elements, opening students to many possibilities for further study. Students go on to study Geography, Geology, Geophysics, Meteorology, Bio-Ecology, Economics, Cultural or Sociological Studies.