Junior School (S1-S3)

Junior School Geography

The material provided for Junior school is designed to ensure students learn the basics of Geography needed as part of a broad general education, but to also equip them with the skills required as they progress through high school. These skills are as basic as learning to organise and present work well, in addition to building up their confidence with numeracy and literacy. The material also provides resources to assist students achieve the outcomes required as part of Curriculum for Excellence.

TEACHER'S NOTE:- Curriculum for Excellence requires students to have attained Level 3 outcomes by the end of Third Year (age 14). Many should also have progressed onto Level 4 by this stage. To understand what these outcomes mean visit - Social Subjects Outcomes (Geography Outcomes are badged as "People, Place and Environment"
In addition, Broad General Education courses should be well planned to ensure progression for students as they achieve levels. The experiences and outcomes the content relates to need to be clearly identified. Developing the Young Workforce as well as STEM (sciences, technologies, engineering and maths) should be also be identified within each unit.
One of the most basic tools for any geography department to provide for its students as a starting point is a key words booklet. Geography Key Words Booklet

INTRODUCTION TO MAPPING

Another basic skill geography students should be able to do is to look up an atlas for information. This might seem a bit old fashioned in our increasingly digital world, however, as far as the SQA are concerned it is still an essential skill required for Advanced Higher Geography! The link below gives some ideas of activities. These include getting to know an atlas, latitude and longitude as well as basic knowledge of continents, oceans, rivers, mountains and islands. Essential tools for a lifetime of playing Trivial Pursuit, Pointless and any other general knowledge quiz life flings at you!
Maps and Atlas Work
To help you complete the maps in this booklet, view this slide show to find out how to find out information from an atlas - How do we use an Atlas?

 Here are some examples of how to present your maps.
 Examples of good presentation

Now practice your new found latitude and longitude knowledge with this game.
Latitude and Longitude Game
Reinforce your knowledge of latitude and longitude by watching this short clip aimed at kids.
Latitude and Longitude for Kids
The links below will help you to improve your geography knowledge as well as having a bit of fun.

Geography Fun With Maps





Don't have an Atlas? Don't worry - try this online Atlas. Online Atlas

Now test your knowledge with these online mapping exercises.

National Geographic Quizzes
National Geographic Fun!

Test Your Geography Knowledge against the Clock!

Trivia Plaza World Geography
Quizzes

Test Your Geography IQ!

ORDNANCE SURVEY MAPPING

Lets now take our mapping knowledge a stage further by learning all about Ordnance Survey Maps.
The absolute best place for learning everything you need to know about Ordnance Survey Mapping is MAPZONE.
This series of short films by Steve Blackshall will extend your OS Mapping knowledge further.

Once you become an OS map expert, you can try out making a treasure hunt like the one in the link below.
Dundee OS Map Treasure Hunt
To help make up a treasure hunt, it is a good idea to know your 16 point compass to be able to give detailed directions.

EMPTY LANDS - SUSTAINABILITY

Having mastered mapping skills, it is now possible to use this knowledge to progress onto learning about different climate zones. This offers progression since the concept of location and latitude is important in this unit. Three empty lands will be examined; rainforests, hot deserts and the tundra. Each climate zone studied will allow you to gain an understanding of location, climate, vegetation, animal life, traditional human life, modern changes and the impact of these changes.

RAINFORESTS

The links below take you into Powerpoint presentations. Click on them to learn all about the wonderful world of rainforests.
Introduction to Rainforests
Rainforest Climate
Rainforest Environment
The Boro Tribe
Deforestation and Destruction
Now complete the following tasks to reinforce your rainforest knowledge.
Effects of Rainforest Destruction Activity
Homework Choices
Climate Graph Template

These class clips from BBC Bitesize help to give an additional perspective on rainforest destruction. This clip focuses on Kalimantan, Indonesia and Costa Rica.
 Class Clip - Rainforest Destruction
This next clip looks at how rainforests can be used sustainably in Costa Rica.

A great insight to rainforest life, change and impact on tribal people is provided by Bruce Parry in his 'Tribe' series. The episode on the Matis tribe in Brazil is excellent. These DVDs can be picked up very cheap online!

HOT DESERTS

 Hot desert areas appear to be empty. However, this is far from true.

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