Geography

What is the nature of Geography in Grades 7 & 8?

Geography is a diverse discipline which bridges the arts, social and natural sciences. It is concerned with developing a better understanding of the world we live in, and through this understanding helps us respond to complex and current issues. It is distinctive in its spatial dimension, and it takes advantage of its position to drawn on a wide range of disciplines to examine issues and concepts.

The Grade 7 and 8 Geography curriculum seeks to introduce students to a broad range of contemporary issues – such as climate change, water security or inequality – and encourages students to be curious and fascinated about the world and the people within. Students are also systematically introduced to a range of transferrable skills which are progressively strengthened through the two years.

At SJII, the Geography curriculum content provides essential context for the service learning and outdoor education programmes, thus enabling students to enrich their learning experiences, improve their understanding, making critically and thoughtfully informed choices and come up with sustainable responses to real-world problems.

What is the approach to learning in Geography?

Lessons are dynamic, and planned to engage students and enable them to see the value of understanding places and issues at a variety of scales - from our SJII campus, to areas within Singapore and the broader region and other parts of the world. Students are explicitly taught to explain human and physical geographical processes and the interactions between them.

The processes of enquiry and interaction with places is fundamental in geographical learning, so each year, students have the opportunity to engage in fieldwork, where they plan an enquiry within a topic, then collect, present and interpret data. Reasoning and thinking critically are essential elements of enquiry-based learning and decision-making in Geography because students need to draw substantiated conclusions about their findings or opinions

Through each unit, students develop and strengthen learning approaches to learning (AtL) skills related to for example research, collaboration, effective communication and self-management. Students also progressively develop their information and literacy skills as well as media literacy skills.

What is the subject content?

The Geography curriculum at SJII is developed by the department and draws on a range of sources including the International Baccalaureate. Units of study in Grades 7 and 8 provide students with knowledge and understanding of a selection of contemporary issues and help them develop key skills which are required for IGCSE Geography. In each grade, Geography works in close collaboration with Service Learning and Outdoor Education to provide invaluable context for student initiatives.

Grade 7 – Units

Plate Tectonics and Hazards Students are introduced to the theory of plate tectonics, the hazards associated with tectonic activity, and how different places are affected, plan for and respond to hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes.

Freshwater Students are introduced to the water cycle and river processes, and the significance of freshwater security for communities including places such as Singapore

Development Students are introduced to the concept of development, how it can be measured and investigate why different places have different levels of development and what this means for the people living there. This unit helps provide context for Grade 7’s service learning programme with communities in Bintan investigating how we can be good community partners

Geographical Skills Through Grade 7, students are introduced to a range of geographical skills, such as field work, map reading and using maps to locate places or represent information

Grade 8 - Units

Energy and Climate Change Students are introduced to the greenhouse effect, and examine natural and anthropogenic activities which can affect this and lead to changes to climate. Energy sources and related emissions are investigated to better understand possible responses . Globalisation Students are introduced to globalisation and investigate what it means, and its importance to the interconnections between people and places

Oceans and Coasts Students are introduced to the value of the ocean and its natural beauty and learn about threats posed by human activities. This unit helps provide context for Grade 8’s service learning and outdoor education programmes

Urban Environments Students learn how urban areas are increasing across the world, the pressures and opportunities these present to places at different levels of development and consider possible solutions to urban problems

What is the nature of assessment?

Students are assessed formatively and summatively through end of unit tests and a variety of projects and/or presentations with assessment focusing on:  knowledge and understanding of geographical concepts;  the ability to design enquiries, research, collect and record data, present and interpret data and evaluate methods and sources of information;  the ability to community effectively;  map skills.

Assessments vary and can be independent or based on collaboration/team projects and examples include reports, blog entries, websites, infographics, poems and videos.

Feedback is a key component of all assessments, with students encouraged to reflect and identify areas for improvement, thus providing them with skills needed as the progress through school.