Welcome to Maryhill High Media Arts College Geography Department.

Geography at Maryhill High School
“Geography is everywhere, so everyone should know about it.” Geography is all around us and is relevant to all our lives. The main aim of studying Geography is to develop an understanding of the big ideas and events that shape the world. Geography enables pupils to become successful learners who have an understanding of issues at different scales and who can make sense of the world around them. Many of the issues studied in Geography are linked to other subjects, such as Climate Change, the economy and ecosystems. Through the study of Geography, pupils will gain important knowledge and understanding to help them deal with situations and issues in the future.

Geography at Maryhill High School aims to provide a rich and varied curriculum, which is both relevant to pupils’ lives and geographical issues in the 21st Century. It aims to inspire a sense of awe and wonder and pupils will be able to make sense of the rapidly changing world around them, understanding their place within it.

In addition to learning geographical skills, such as analysing data and the use of GIS, pupils will also develop their Personal Learning and Thinking Skills enabling them to become
• Independent Enquirers
• Creative Thinkers
• Reflective Learners
• Team Workers
• Self Managers
• Effective Participators
Geography at Maryhill High School is taught by:
• Mrs Hopwood – Subject Leader for Geography
• Miss Bennett
• Miss Lowndes
• Miss Hambleton
• Mr Knight

Geography in Year 7
The aim of Geography in Year 7 is develop knowledge and understanding of Geography learnt in Primary School as well as introducing some new topics. In Year 7, pupils will study
• Where in the World?
• Where do I live?
• Geographical Skills
• Fantastic Places
• Geography of Crime
• Down the Drain – Water as a resource

Geography in Year 8

In Year 8, pupils will study:
• Paradise Lost – The impacts of tourism
• Ecosystems
• Risky World – Earthquakes and Volcanoes
• Changing Faces – Population
• Who Wants to be a Billionaire? – World Trade
• Into Africa

Geography in Year 9

In Year 9, pupils will study:
• Shrinking World - Globalisation
• Weather and Climate
• Food Miles
• Cool to be Green – Climate Change and Sustainable Development
• The Rise and Rise of China
• Current Geographical Topics e.g. Olympic Games, World Cup or Festivals

Geography at GCSE

Pupils are studying the Edexcel A GCSE Geography course. This course provides pupils with an understanding of current geographical issues and concepts. The exams are modular, so some will be taken in Year 10 and some in Year 11.

• Unit 1 assesses Geographical Skills such as map skills, graphical skills and the use of ICT, as well as investigating the issues of climate change and sustainable development.

• In Unit 2, pupils study the natural world such as volcanoes and earthquakes and an environmental issue, either waste or water.

• In Unit 3, pupils study the human world including settlements or economic change and a human issue, either migration or tourism.

• Unit 4 includes a fieldwork investigation and written project. This is similar to coursework, but parts of it are completed under exam conditions.

Units 1 to 3 are assessed by written exams. These exams last one hour each and make up 75% of the GCSE Geography course.

Unit 4, Investigating Geography, makes up 25% of the course. This includes fieldwork to collect data and investigate an issue. The writing up of the fieldwork is completed in school as a controlled assessment.

Visit the Maryhill Geography Blog website for study and revision material, as well as help with your coursework: www.maryhillgeogblog.blogspot.com

Geography at AS and A2 Level

Students study the AQA Geography course. At AS Level, students study core physical and human geography. This includes:

• Unit 1 – Physical and Human Geography including Rivers, Floods and Management, Coastal Environments, Population Change and Energy Issues

• Unit 2 – Geographical Skills including basic, investigative, ICT, graphical, cartographical and statistical skills as well as research and field work skills.

In order to prepare students for the fieldwork section of Unit 2, they participate in a four day residential field trip to Dorset. This will include practical fieldwork to measure coastal processes and to assess the effectiveness of coastal management strategies. Students will also complete a river study or a study on the impacts of tourism on the Dorset coastline.

At A2, students continue to enhance their knowledge and understanding of physical and human geographical concepts. This includes:

• Unit 3 – Plate tectonics and associated hazards, Challenges facing ecosystems and Development and globalisation.

• Unit 4 – Geographical Issues Evaluation, structured short answer and essay questions based on a resource booklet provided from the exam board in advance.


  

Geography Events

Take a look at the George Finney Memorial Garden on the events and news summer archive page!