Geography

Geography is the study of space and place - recognising the great differences in cultures, economies, landscapes and environments across the world, and exploring the links between them. The subject of geography occupies a distinctive place in the world of learning for students at all key stages, highlighting the complex relationship between people, places and the environment.

Geography at Teesdale Academy is an immersive experience, exposing students to a wide range of fascinating topics from the fragility of the earth's landscape to the growing trends of urbanisation around the world. The geography department’s goal is to start you on a journey of discovery of the world around us, equipping students with a wide range of transferrable skills alongside the academic qualifications you will gain.

Studying geography at Teesdale Academy helps students to be more socially and environmentally sensitive, better informed, and more responsible as citizens and students. From the classroom, students will go on a voyage of discovery through continents, countries and cities gaining a greater awareness of the captivating World around us.

Curriculum information:

Year	Autumn	Spring	Summer
7	- Fantastic Places Students travel the world in this topic immersing themselves in the wonders of the World - Migration and Population 7.5billion and growing! Study the migration patterns around the globe	- Weather and Climate Students begin to understand the weather around us - Urban Environments A city break like no other	- Coasts Take a trip to the beach to see the physical processes that operate - International Development Why is it that some countries are rich and others are poor? What can we do?
8	- Geological World (volcanoes) Study the monstrous volcanoes that inhabit our planet and the deadly effects they can have - Climate Change The biggest issue facing the world right now – what is causing it and what can be done?	- Glaciation Ice, ice and more ice! - Economic Activity Delve into the history of your local area / economy	- Evolving Continents Investigate the differences between the continent of Asia and Africa - Rivers Explore the fluvial processes that interact with the human world
9	- Wonderful Biomes Journey through the epic ecosystems that exist on our planet - Resource Conflict and Solutions Resources… we all need them… but what happens when they run out?	- Geological World (earthquakes) What happens when the physical processes of the world go wrong? - Dangers in the atmosphere Discover the effects of the atmosphere on the earth	- Contemporary Urban Issues Over half of the world’s population lives in cities – what challenges do thus create? - A Sustainable World With all the world’s current issues, investigate how the world can be made more sustainable to sustain future generations?
10	The Challenge of Natural Hazards – understand how natural hazards pose a major threat to people and property	The Changing Economic World – learn about the global variations in economic development and quality of life.	The Living World – explore the biotic and abiotic features that make up our planet Resource Management – understand the fundamental aspects of human life: food, water and energy
11	Physical Landscapes in the UK – review the diverse nature of the UK. Application of a range of geographical skills in a range of different contexts. The Changing Economic/ Urban World – learn about the global variations in economic development and urbanization.	Geographical Applications – hone your craft as a geographer with a review of the skills gained in geography and applying your knowledge to real-life events Physical – Our hazardous planet, from tectonics, atmospheric to climate hazards.

A-level
Year 12	Physical – exploring our hazardous world from wildfires, atmospheric hazards to tectonic hazards. Physical – Using a systems approach to explore coastal environments. Human –explore the relationships between population health, well-being, economic and development in the population and environment unit. Human – explore economic, political, and social changes within the global systems and governance unit.
Year 13	Physical – Investigating the interdependent/ changing relationship between carbon, water and human actions. Human - Changing places focuses on people's engagement with places, their experience of them and the qualities they ascribe to them. Independent fieldwork

Geography is fun, engaging and educating. It’s not just about maps and places, it’s about the present and the past, what’s in it and how we impact it all.

Year 8 student

People should study geography because it affects our life, every day, now and in the future; understanding geography ensures we can protect our planet.

Year 10 student