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Course Description

Teacher in Charge: Kōkā E. Stanbridge.

Geography 101

“Geography is the subject that holds the key to our future.” - Michael Palin.

Geography is the study of places, and the relationships between people and their environments. Geographers explore both the physical properties of Earth's surface and the human societies spread across it. It is about understanding the processes of the world around us, to help us make sense of our ever-changing natural and cultural environments. Geographers ask, "What is where? Why there? Why care?". There are practical fieldwork and skills components to the subject.

This course is designed as an introduction to the study of Geography. We learn about different aspects of the natural and cultural world, including extreme environments caused by natural processes, factors that determine the development of a place such as climate, the distribution of earthquakes, the geography of colonisation and political power, and more. The course is varied and interesting, with an emphasis on gaining the skills integral to Geography for future years. There is a practical component, including a possible field trip to support the learning.

Course Overview

Term 1
Extreme Environments
Have you ever wondered how Mt Everest is so tall, what the Grand Canyon is, or how the Amazon Rainforest formed? This is a study of natural processes that interact to form extreme environments around the world.

Poles to Tropics
The economic and social development of countries around the world is a complex issue, where we observe both extreme wealth, and extreme poverty existing together in some places. Climate is one determinant of development. This is a study of how the location of a place influences its social and economic prosperity.

Term 2
Shake & Shift
This is a study of the global distribution of earthquakes, including the natural process of plate tectonics, as well as the impact of living along plate boundaries on people, economies and natural and cultural environments. There is an NCEA Achievement Standard associated with this topic.

Term 3
Geo-Politics
The complex interplay between geography and power, where location, natural features and natural resources have all contributed to conflict in the past and present, as well as processes such as colonisation.

Term 4
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Make some maps with us! This is a study of computer programmes which we can use to manipulate data to create maps.

Geography Skills
Throughout the year, students will apply geographic skills including inference, graphing, identifying patterns, mapping, and more.

Social Sciences

Recommended Prior Learning

Year 9 and 10 Social Studies.

Contributions and Equipment/Stationery

There may be one-day field trips as part of this course. There is a possible data gathering trip at one point in the year. Once confirmed, there will be a small cost.

2x 1B8 work books, a ruler and colouring pencils are recommended alongside stationery outlined in the published stationery list.

Geography graduates work in a wide range of roles that have a focus on the environment or society using skills such as planning and research. Students with a focus on human geography may work as community liaison officers, volunteer coordinators, development officers, refugee support coordinators, advocates, immigration advisers, logistics coordinators, data or statistical analysts, emergency management officers or programme coordinators.

Physical geography students may work in these areas as well as in more scientific, technical or analytical roles such as environmental specialists, cartographers, supply chain analysts, compliance officers, land advisers, resource consent planners, transport analysts, urban planners or modelling or statistical analysts.