After embedding a deep knowledge of Earth’s systems and processes in Year 7 Geography, the students will be introduced to the beginnings of life on planet Earth in Year 8 Geography. Students will find out what geographers believe were the first species on Earth, where they came from, where humans fit into the geological timeline and how we have evolved to become the most dominant and influential species on Earth.

The movement of humans out of Africa and across the world will be mapped and the factors affecting the growth, and decline, of great civilisations will be analysed. The dynamic transformations humans have made to the planet will excite and fascinate through the well-chosen and relevant examples used from across the globe. Students will understand the impacts humans have had on the natural world and the interconnections that exist between environments and settlements. Students will see opportunities in the human world and learn how challenges are overcome across similar and contrasting parts of the world.

The knowledge built and developed across KS3, will make explicit links with other subjects and contemporary events in the news. Place is significant to a geographer, so breadth and depth have been considered carefully when sequencing our programme of study. Map skills, numeracy and graph skills continue to remain an integral part of geography so have been embedded into our narrative about the geography of Earth and will be used throughout to interpret data, analyse evidence and draw conclusions that challenge or support current theories.

Students will see that Geography is more than just a collection of randomly chosen topics about the world, but is a holistic subject with intricate links and complex connections between nature and people - physical and human.

 

Course overview

Year 8 - Changing places

• What did early life look like?
• How did human life begin?
• Why did some settlements grow?

Useful websites

https://www.google.co.uk/intl/en_uk/earth/ Explore worldwide satellite imagery and 3D buildings and terrain for hundreds of cities. Zoom to your house or anywhere else, then dive in for a 360° perspective with Street View.

https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-4133035 Discover the world with articles, fact sheets, maps and other resources that explore landscapes, peoples, places, and environments both near and far.

http://www.studentguide.org/geography-resources-maps-facts-for-students/ Designed for students looking for geographical information about different regions of the world. You can get different books and resources on geographical topics.

https://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/mapping-our-world This unique interactive website works with maps and globes to transform learners' understanding of the world.

https://www.scoop.it/topic/geography-education Recent updates and news on geography are shared on this website. Students can get information about different cultures of the world. You can get information on agriculture, industrialisation, world’s politics, economic development, population and migration.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html The World Factbook provides information on the history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/globaltrek/ Scholastic's Global Trek is a way for students to travel to countries around the world without ever having to leave their classroom. When students arrive in the country of their choice they are supplied with a suggested travel itinerary. This itinerary offers links to background information and a chance to read about the country's people. Students also have a chance to meet the people of the country they visit through Scholastic's Classport.

http://www.culturaljam.org/ This is a place that has photographic information about different cultures of the world.