National 4/5 Geography
In Geography we learn about three key units:
Physical
- Glaciated Landscapes– Key processes, formation of features, identification of features using OS map skills/ pictures, land users in the areas and conflicts amongst them.
- Coastal Landscapes– Key processes, formation of features, identification of features using OS map skills/ pictures.
- Weather- Factors affecting the weather, characteristics of air masses, elements of high and low pressure weather, reading synoptic charts.
Human
- Population- physical and human factors influencing where people live in the world, factors affecting birth and death rates, reading population pyramids, the use of social and economic indicators.
- Rural- changes in the rural landscape in developed and developing countries related to modern developments in farming.
- Urban- characteristics of land-use zones in cities, recent developments in the CBD, inner city, rural/urban fringe in Glasgow. Recent developments which deal with issues in the favelas of Rio.
Global Issues
- Climate Change– features of climate change, physical and human causes, local and global effects, and management strategies to minimise impact/effects.
- Natural Regions– climate and ecosystems in the Amazon Rainforest, causes; impacts and management strategies of deforestation. Climate and ecosystems in the Alaskan Tundra, causes; impacts and management strategies of land degradation in the Tundra.
Lastly pupils will complete at Added Value Unit (National 4) or an Assignment (National 5). The learner will choose a geographical issue, collect information from either primary or secondary sources, process the information gathered, explain, and analyse their findings and reach a well-supported conclusion.
The Exam:
Component | Marks | Time Frame |
Question paper | 80 | 2 hours and 20 minutes |
Assignment | 20 | Completed within 1 hour and in one sitting in class. |