Geography

Curriculum Intentions:

At DIS, the Year 7 Geography curriculum is designed to ignite curiosity and lay a strong foundation for students to develop their geographical knowledge, skills, and understanding. This carefully crafted journey introduces key themes, concepts, and skills that underpin their future studies, fostering a lifelong passion for exploring the world and its dynamic systems.

Our curriculum encourages students to think critically, ask questions, and develop their ability to analyse complex global and local issues. Through a blend of place-based studies, skill-building, and thematic explorations, Year 7 students are equipped to understand their world while preparing for the challenges of more advanced geographical inquiry in later years.

My Dubai: A Local and Global Perspective

Students begin their geography journey by exploring their immediate surroundings—the UAE and Dubai. This unit connects them to their sense of place while introducing broader geographical concepts:

• Describing Places: Understanding how we define and describe locations and cities.
• Urban Life: Investigating what it means to live in a rapidly growing urban area like Dubai.
• Population Dynamics: Analysing the population structure of the UAE and how it has evolved over time.
• Climate Challenges: Identifying the environmental and climate issues unique to the UAE.
• Sustainable Development: Exploring how Dubai can manage its rapid growth while ensuring a sustainable future.

This unit provides a platform for understanding global themes such as urbanization, sustainability, and population growth, setting the stage for comparative studies in higher years.

Map Mastery: Essential Geography Skills

A key component of Year 7 Geography is skill-building. Students develop essential map skills that form the backbone of geographical inquiry:

• Using compass directions to describe locations.
• Mastering six-figure grid references for accurate place identification.
• Calculating distances and understanding scale.
• Interpreting relief features on maps to analyze the physical landscape.

These skills are continuously reinforced across all units and provide a critical toolkit for investigating and understanding geography at all levels.

Blue Planet: The Power of Water

Through this unit, students develop an appreciation for the Earth’s most vital resource—water:

• Distribution of Water: Investigating the availability and movement of water on our planet.
• Water’s Journey: Exploring the hydrological cycle and the journey of a single droplet.
• Shaping the Planet: Understanding the physical processes through which water shapes landforms.
• Protection and Management: Examining how we can protect ourselves and manage the risks posed by water-related hazards.

This unit deepens students’ understanding of physical geography while laying the groundwork for more advanced topics such as rivers, coasts, and water resource management.

Antarctica: A Frozen Frontier

The year concludes with a global case study of Antarctica, introducing students to a remote and extreme environment:

• Physical Geography: Exploring the characteristics and conditions of Antarctica.
• Global Governance: Discussing the political and legal agreements surrounding the ownership of Antarctica.
• Resource Management: Considering the exploitation of valuable natural resources and its implications.
• Tourism and Development: Analysing the rising popularity of tourism and debating whether development should occur in Antarctica.

This unit introduces students to key concepts in environmental sustainability, global interdependence, and ethical decision-making, inspiring them to think critically about the balance between development and conservation.

Building Strong Foundations

Our Year 7 Geography curriculum sets the stage for students to build on their learning in subsequent years, where they will tackle more complex geographical challenges, explore global interconnectedness, and develop advanced analytical and problem-solving skills. By fostering curiosity and a strong foundation in knowledge and skills, we ensure that students are well-prepared to become informed global citizens who can navigate and contribute to an ever-changing world.

This is the first step in an exciting geographical journey at DIS, where every student is encouraged to explore, question, and think deeply about their world.

Curriculum Intentions:

At DIS, the Year 8 Geography curriculum is designed to build upon the strong foundation established in Year 7, further developing students’ geographical knowledge, skills, and understanding. This carefully structured year enables students to deepen their engagement with global issues and refine their ability to analyse complex geographical processes and challenges.

Our curriculum empowers students to think critically, ask insightful questions, and develop problem-solving skills as they explore both physical and human geography. Through thematic studies, real-world applications, and skill-building opportunities, Year 8 equips students with the tools they need to approach GCSE Geography with confidence and curiosity.

Biomes: Ecosystems Under Threat

Students begin the year by exploring the world’s diverse biomes, with a focus on tropical rainforests and their critical role in sustaining life on Earth:

• Climate and Biomes: Understanding the distribution of climatic regions and interpreting climate graphs.
• Rainforest’s Importance: Investigating why tropical rainforests are essential to global ecosystems.
• Deforestation: Analysing the causes, impacts, and ethical dilemmas of deforestation.
• Sustainable Management: Exploring strategies to protect and sustainably manage rainforests.

This unit builds students’ awareness of global environmental issues and prepares them to think critically about conservation and sustainability.

Down to Earth: Population and Resources

In this unit, students examine the dynamic relationship between population growth and resource use, addressing pressing global challenges:

• Population Growth: Exploring the rapid increase in global population and its implications.
• Water Sustainability: Investigating how to provide access to clean water sustainably.
• Aging Populations: Understanding the challenges posed by aging demographics.
• Air Pollution: Analysing the causes and impacts of air pollution and proposing solutions.

This unit reinforces problem-solving and evaluative skills by encouraging students to consider innovative approaches to resource management and environmental sustainability.

Tectonic Hazards: Living on the Edge

Students delve into the fascinating world of tectonic activity, exploring the science and societal impacts of natural hazards:

• Earth’s Structure: Learning about the layers of the Earth and tectonic processes.
• Volcanoes and Earthquakes: Understanding where and why these events occur.
• Measuring Hazards: Investigating how earthquakes are measured and monitored.
• Responses in LICs and HICs: Comparing how different countries prepare for and respond to tectonic disasters.
• Living with Risk: Examining why people choose to live near volcanoes despite the dangers.

This unit provides a strong foundation for hazard management and equips students with critical analytical skills.

Changing Cities: Urban Growth and Innovation

The year concludes with a focus on urban geography, exploring how cities evolve and the challenges they face:

• Urban Characteristics: Investigating how urban areas have changed over time.
• Urban Sprawl: Understanding the factors driving city growth and its consequences.
• Urban Challenges: Analysing issues such as the Urban Heat Island Effect.
• Smart Cities: Exploring innovative solutions to urban problems through the concept of smart cities.

This unit encourages students to think about the future of cities and the role of innovation in creating sustainable urban environments.

Building Strong Foundations

Our Year 8 Geography curriculum ensures students continue to develop the skills and knowledge required for GCSE Geography, including data interpretation, critical thinking, and problem-solving. By fostering curiosity and encouraging students to engage with real-world challenges, we prepare them to become informed global citizens capable of making a positive impact in an interconnected and ever-changing world.

Year 8 is a vital step in the geography journey at DIS, where students solidify their understanding of key concepts and build the confidence to tackle more advanced geographical inquiries in Year 9 and beyond.

Curriculum Intentions:

At DIS, the Year 9 Geography curriculum is thoughtfully designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of global geographical concepts, while honing the skills necessary to excel in the rigorous GCSE Geography course. Building on the solid foundations established in Years 7 and 8, this year focuses on deepening critical thinking, inquiry, and reflective skills as students engage with complex global and local issues.

Through thematic units and real-world applications, Year 9 students are encouraged to think critically, reflect on their learning, and inquire into the geographical processes that shape our world. By the end of the year, students will be well-prepared to begin their GCSE Geography studies with confidence and insight.

Japan: A Land of Contrasts

Students start the year by exploring the diverse human and physical geography of Japan:

• Human and Physical Landscapes: Investigating Japan’s unique geography and how it shapes the nation’s identity.
• Urbanisation of Tokyo: Understanding how Tokyo has grown into one of the world’s largest and most dynamic megacities.
• Globalisation and Glocalisation: Exploring Japan’s role in the global economy and how local cultures influence global brands.
• Climate and Tourism: Analysing how Japan’s climate influences its tourism and sporting industries.
• Tectonics in Japan: Examining the impacts of plate boundaries, tsunamis, and disaster management in this tectonically active region.
• Aging Population: Evaluating the causes and consequences of Japan’s aging population.

This unit develops students’ analytical and problem-solving skills while introducing them to advanced geographical concepts like glocalisation and demographic challenges.

Coasts and Tourism: The UAE’s Coastal Dynamics

Students investigate the interplay between physical geography and human activities along the UAE coastline:

• Tourism in Dubai: An overview of Dubai’s rapid rise as a global tourism hub.
• Mangroves: Exploring their role as a natural barrier to erosion and a tourist attraction.
• Physical or Human Coastlines: Investigating whether the UAE’s coastline is more influenced by natural or human factors.
• Tourism at the Coast: Focusing on The Palm as a case study.
• Stakeholder Speeches: Debating whether The Palm was worth the investment from different perspectives.
• Fieldwork Skills: A hands-on experience at The View at the Palm, emphasizing data collection and geographical inquiry.

This unit equips students with essential fieldwork skills and fosters their ability to evaluate the environmental and economic impacts of coastal development.

TNC Takeover: The Global Reach of Corporations

Students examine the global influence of transnational corporations (TNCs) and their impacts on society and the environment:

• Tech Giants: Understanding how technology companies operate globally and their influence on inequality.
• Fast Fashion: Investigating the social and environmental consequences of brands like Shein.
• Sustainable Fashion: Exploring Patagonia as a case study for ethical and sustainable business practices.
• McDonald’s Power: Analysing the global influence of McDonald’s and its glocalisation strategies.

This unit encourages students to reflect on the complexities of globalisation and its varied impacts, helping them develop a nuanced understanding of global interconnectivity.

Vulnerable World: Development and Climate Change

In the final unit of the year, students explore global inequalities and the impacts of climate change:

• Levels of Development: Defining development through perception quizzes and real-world examples.
• Dollar Street: Researching the everyday lives of people across different levels of development.
• Climate Change: Understanding the enhanced greenhouse effect and its global implications.
• Impacts on the Vulnerable: Exploring how climate change disproportionately affects the world’s most vulnerable populations.
• Contributions to Climate Change: Examining how wealthier nations contribute the most to climate change.
• Infographic Project: Creating a visual representation of the impacts of climate change.

This unit challenges students to critically evaluate the global challenges of inequality and climate change, encouraging them to develop solutions and communicate their ideas effectively.

Preparing for GCSE Success

The Year 9 Geography curriculum is designed to solidify key knowledge, skills, and concepts, ensuring students are fully prepared to meet the demands of the GCSE Geography course. By engaging with complex global issues, conducting fieldwork, and refining their analytical and evaluative abilities, students are equipped to excel in their studies and develop as informed, reflective global citizens.

Year 9 marks an important transition in the geography journey at DIS, where students are inspired to think deeply, inquire broadly, and reflect critically on the interconnected world around them.