General introduction to the subject: Geography enables us to understand the world we are living in. It allows students to explore and understand the relationship between human beings and the Earth through the study of space, place, and the environment. Geography develops in students an interest in and a sense of wonder about the place where they live and about other places and people. This is done by studying different environments, the processes that shape our world, and how people and environments interrelate and interconnect. Geography enables students to become informed, responsible, and active global citizens by cultivating an appreciation for the environment, enhancing a sense of responsibility for others and the long-term sustainability of the planet.
Topics studied: • Map Reading – interpreting maps of different scales • Weather and Climate – observation and simple weather forecasting, rainfall, tropical storms • Physical Geography – Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Coasts, Rivers, Rocks, Biomes • Human Geography – Energy resources, Population, Settlement, Industries • Environmental Issues – Climate Change, Acid Rain, Pollution, Deforestation
Class activities involved: Map Reading activities, photo analysis, debates, quizzes, role play, presentations, participation in co-curricular projects, experiments, watching videos and commenting on them, use of software such as Google Earth to locate places.
Homework assigned: Different forms of tasks aimed at assessing the knowledge, understanding and skills outlined in the syllabus and may include research work on particular case studies, and site visits, labelling and sketching of diagrams, structured questions requiring short answers, analysis of data collected for fieldwork and reports, map reading and interpretation.
Assessment given: Year 9: An end of year exam of 1 hour 30 minutes. School-based Assessment to be given on tasks given throughout the year as classwork and homework. Year 10: An end of year exam of 1 hour 30 minutes. School-based Assessment to be given on tasks given throughout the year as classwork and homework. Year 11: A mock exam of 2 hours. One school-based assessment (presentation, site visit report, case study research). School-based Assessment to be given on tasks given throughout the year as classwork and homework.
Skills acquired while studying the subject: • Map reading and interpretation skills • Field-work skills (observation, gathering of primary data, analysis of data, presentation of results). • Research skills (from books, textbooks and various digital media) • Oral presentation skills • Interpreting graphs and statistical data • Problem-solving and decision-making skills • Analytical skills • Communication skills
Skills required to study the subject: • Basic Mathematical skills (e.g. reading graphs) • Good command of the English language
This subject can lead you to the following Career Paths: Geologist Agriculture Meteorologist Careers in the Transport sector Careers in the Tourism sector Geography Teacher Planning, Environment, & Nature Conservation Navigation & Armed Forces
Mikiel Anton Vassalli 