Year 7 Geography

Unit Content

Unit 1

Extremes

In this introduction to Key Stage 3 Geography, students explore some of the world's many extremes. These include the hottest, richest, poorest, and driest places on Earth. They study coral reef and ocean ecosystems, looking at how humans impact these environments and how we can protect them. The unit concludes with a focus on life in Antarctica.

Knowledge developed:

  • Knowing that countries have different levels of development
  • Knowing what causes differences in development
  • Knowing how humans respond to extreme weather
  • Knowing the importance of the world's oceans for humans and animals
  • Knowing how micro-plastics are threatening marine life
  • Knowing how the Antarctic wilderness is being managed

Skills developed:

  • How to describe a country's location in the world accurately
  • How to read and analyse data displayed in bar graphs
  • How to evaluate using geographic terminology

Assessment: At the start of Term 2, students complete a written assessment based on the skills and knowledge they have accumulated. They then complete a decision-making exercise mid-way through Term 2, which is self-assessed in class.

Unit 2

The UK

In this unit, students consider differences in the lives of people living in the UK. They explore the distribution of populations within the country, considering how geography can influence differences in opportunity. Students learn to draw their own conclusions from studying the northern and southern regions of England, rural and urban settlements, coastal communities, and patterns of migration to the UK. Later in the unit, students look at the impacts of flooding and extreme weather events, evaluating the UK's response to these challenges.

Knowledge developed:

  • Knowing where and why people have settled in the UK
  • Understanding the different experiences of people living in the UK
  • Understanding strategies that attempt to bring more equality to the UK
  • Understanding the UK’s varied weather patterns
  • Knowing the processes that create coastal landform

Skills developed:

  • How to carry out fieldwork investigation
  • How to use map skills to recognise differences in physical landscape
  • How to evaluate the effectiveness of responses to flooding in the UK

Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively in lessons, through the use of students’ class notebooks alongside quizzes and discussions. Learning is summatively assessed at the beginning of Term 5, in a written paper.

Unit 3

Europe

In this unit, students learn about climate change, and the impacts that it is having on Europe, looking closely at the impact of sea level rise in the Netherlands. They learn about the structure of the Earth, and how tectonic plates relate to natural hazards, looking specifically at volcanic eruption in La Palma. They assess the effects and responses to the eruption, and consider why people still choose to live near volcanoes. In the second half of the unit, students explore the Earth’s changing climate, dating back to pre-historic times, considering how different the continent that we now know as Europe was millions of years ago. Students develop their understanding of ice ages and how glaciers have shaped the land.

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding how the greenhouse effect leads to climate change
  • Knowing the four layers of the Earth
  • Understanding how the processes at plate margins can lead to volcanic eruptions
  • Understanding the impact of volcanic activity on humans
  • Knowing different geological timescales, and variations in the Earth’s climate

Key skills developed:

  • How to read the height of the land using contour lines on OS Maps
  • How to write an evaluative answer

Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively in lessons through the use of student class notebooks, and through a variety of assessments in class.