Level 1 Geography

Geography matters now more than ever, it isn't just learning basic map skills - latitude and longitude, cardinal directions, scale, and how to interpret the key. It is not just learning about land-forms like peninsulas, straits, and mountains. Nor is it simply discussing climate and biomes. Key Geographic skills are important but it is so much more than that! Digital technology and Google have changed that, we don't need to memorise where places are or how big a countries population is (or was) we can find that information at the push of a button.

Human Geography is important for so many reasons. Students will consider the relationships that exist between cultures, how they can be so different yet so similar and how this impacts on our lives.

Geography matters now more than eve because of crises that some countries face to the global water crisis to global health issues. Geography students at Pakuranga College will understand that learning about them is no longer enough, and that the real challenge lies in understanding what can be done to solve these issues. As a result of this our courses are contemporary and change year to year depending on what the biggest issues are and what our students think is important to them.

Geography matters because this is our world and we can make a difference.

You will look at:
• the horrific event that shaped New Zealand’s recent history, how did it happen and what are the consequences? Describe the processes involved in earthquakes and the impact that such events have on people
• the world is overpopulated in some areas, why is it growing and what is the future for the people in these areas? What about the other areas? Water? Describe how world populations have changed and continue to do so, as well as the impact this has on the places people live
• discover Gold and Silver in Waihi, is it sustainable? How do we use it? How are impacted by it? Describe how humans use natural resources and how this can be done in a sustainable way
• what’s up in New Zealand that impacts on a number of different people and the environment and what can be done about it?
• research how people get to school, or where do people go when it’s raining, is there enough shelter in the school? Research and present a geographic investigation at a local scale
• apply a range of geographic skills and ideas, such as mapping, photo interpretation and graph construction to different settings
• apply skills to Google Earth and run scenarios that could see how New Zealand's second busiest port could be affected by an extreme national event.