Ryton Parents – Year 9 Options – Geography

Geography is one of the most important areas of knowledge as it reflects people’s timeless concern to understand the environment in which they live and its ability to support their way of life. Today a great deal of interest is shown in geographic issues as the world is changing rapidly and people are adopting a more global perspective. Indeed, they are learning that the Earth’s resources are not limitless and that the impact of human beings on the environment is far greater than had been anticipated a decade ago.

As a subject Geography provides an ideal bridge between the Sciences and the Arts/Humanities as it uses a holistic view of the world, its environments, communities and processes. When you experience a place and its people, if you enjoy how they are different and wonder about them, you are thinking like a Geographer.

There is plenty of variety in GCSE Geography from the cold environments of glaciers to the internal heat from volcanoes, from the use of land for settlement, industry and as a resource for tourism and energy. You need to be a bit of an “all rounder” as we undertake investigations, problem solve and make decisions in order to try to resolve conflicts. We use maps, photographs, videos and satellite images, as well as atlases and text books. Fieldwork is an essential part of the course and Information Technology is important in enhancing the development of these skills.

What other subject covers such a wide range of subject matter and puts the interest and reality into literacy, numeracy and ICT? What other subject gives you the edge in future employment, allowing you to broaden your horizons and become better citizens of a global community? As well as being interesting and important in its own right, employers are aware that Geographers must have a wide range of skills for them to have achieved success. They know about the world, they can use maps, graphs and statistics, collect data, investigate problems and write reports on their findings. They have the ability to present a coherent argument, show self-motivation and team work, all of which are needed in today’s workplace. At most Higher Education institutions Geography can be studied as either an Arts subject or Science, the subject therefore fits well with a wide range of AS and A2 Level subjects.

On Boxing Day 2004 Tilly Smith, a ten-year-old British girl, saved over a hundred lives using what she had learned about tsunamis in her geography class. Tilly was on holiday in Thailand and was enjoying the local beach when she noticed that the ocean waters were quickly disappearing, exposing more and more of the sandy beach. She knew this was the sign of a coming tsunami and was able to convince hotel workers to evacuate the beach before the tsunami arrived. None of the adults on the beach seemed to have recognised the danger that Tilly did, showing the importance of understanding geographic concepts.

We all make a mark on where we live, and where we live leaves its mark on us. Learning about the links between our lives and the environment around us is central to geography. Wherever you go in the world there is a geography lesson to be learnt.

Contact: Mrs. D. Kell