GEOGRAPHY

Geography

Staff

Ms J Wilson (Subject Co-ordinator - Career Break)
Ms N Fallon (Subject Co-ordinator - Temporary)
Ms S Gray
Mr P Irwin
Ms S Jones
Mr C Rankin
Mr R Sullivan

Subject Overview 

Geography is the study of people and their relationship with their environment. It is concerned with helping pupils develop an understanding of the physical, social, and economic processes which shape the world around them. 

The Geography syllabus makes an important contribution towards enabling young people to make sense of the changing inter-relationships in the world in which they live and aims to give them a global perspective of how people, places, and economies interact. Through studying Geography pupils will develop a range of skills, enabling them to make a valuable contribution to society at local, national, and international levels. 

“The study of Geography is about more than just memorizing places on a map.  It’s about understanding the complexity of our world…” Barack Obama (2012)

The Geography Department aims to provide an interesting, topical and relevant course that develops every pupil’s ability to think critically, and equips them with a set of transferrable skills that will benefit their future career. 

Key topics studied this year included Migration Patterns and the Refugee Crisis, Managing the Earth’s Natural Resources, Economic Growth and Inequality and Managing Future Urban Growth.  Pupils have been developing the skills and knowledge required to take on the challenges posed by these topical global issues. 

The Geography Department focuses on helping pupils develop transferable skills they can use in college and future employment in the following 5 key areas; research skills, presentation and communication skills, investigation skills, social skills and evaluation skills. 

We aim to develop…Research skills

High School Geography pupils should be able to create a range of presentations by interpreting a range of data. The use of GIS, satellite photographs, maps, textual sources, figures, infographics, and ICT are key.

We aim to develop…Presentation and communication skills 

High School Geography pupils should be able to present and communicate information and ideas in a variety of ways (including maps, figures, statistics, written, and oral). 

We aim to develop…Investigative skills 

High School Geography pupils should be able to select and use a variety of modes of research to carry out a geographical investigation (fieldwork project) using both primary and secondary sources of information. 

We aim to develop…Social skills 

High School Geography pupils should develop effective transferable social skills (for example, working effectively alone or in groups, following instructions, teamwork and co-operation, use of verbal communication to find out, debate, and pass on information). 

We aim to develop…Evaluation skills 

High School Geography pupils should be able to synthesize, analyze, interpret, and evaluate information (for example, distinguish fact from opinion, draw conclusions, prove simple hypotheses, make informed judgements, suggest sensible solutions to problems and, where appropriate, suggest realistic plans for action).

Junior Cycle 

Form 1

Students study Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Fold Mountains, Rocks, Energy and the Environment, Primary Economic Activities, Weathering and Erosion. 

Form 2

Pupils study Population, Migration, Economic Inequality, Rivers, Coasts, Weather and Atmosphere, and OS Maps.

CBA 1: Geography in the News

Form 3

Pupils study Settlement, Urbanisation, Secondary Economic Activities, Tertiary Economic Activities, Climate Change, and Soil.

CBA 2: My Geography

Form 4 - Transition Year programme

The High School’s Transition Year Geography course is made up of 5 modules. Each module is taught in a 6 week block by a teacher with a specialist interest in the area of study. The modules cover a wide range of topics with the aim of giving pupils a full understanding of the economic, physical, and human processes that are included in Geography as a discipline of study. Project work and Geographical Investigations are seen as being essential to skills development in the Transition Year Geography course as they give pupils the opportunity to advance their knowledge and more importantly to develop many transferable skills.  Whether pupils choose to study Leaving Certificate Geography or not, this course will be of benefit to them through improving their understanding of topical global and local issues. 

As Geography is the study of people and their relationships with their environment, the five modules taught in the Transition Year Geography course are as follows: 

Economic Geography 

- Travel and Transport 

Physical Geography 

- Natural Hazards 

- Geoecology 

Human Geography 

- Cultural Studies 

- Environmental Studies

Senior Cycle 

The Leaving Certificate syllabus is presented in five sections: 

Core 

1) Physical Geography 

2) Regional Geography 

3) Geographical investigation and skills 

Elective 

1) Patterns and processes in the Human environment 

Option 

1) Geoecology 

The sections of the syllabus concentrated on in Form 5 are Physical Geography and Human Geography and in Form 6 Geoecology and Regional Geography.  The practical fieldwork involved in Geographical Investigation and Skills will be carried out late Form 5/early Form 6 and the written project will be completed after the Mock Examinations in Form 6.

Career Opportunities: 

Foreign Diplomacy
Community development
Local government planning
Media – Journalism/TV/Radio
Urban planning
International aid / NGO work
Management consultancy
Weather and climate analyst
Environmental management
Transport management
Geological surveyor
Charity sector
Land surveyor
Teaching(Primary/Post-primary/TEFL)
GIS specialist / Cartographer
Law Energy production

Additional Information 

The Geography Department organizes regular excursions for pupils to enjoy as listed below: 

Causey Farm (2017-19): This excursion for Form 1 pupils helps them to understand activities on an Irish farm, a key section of the Junior Cycle course. 

Chocolate Warehouse Factory Trip (2016): This excursion is for Form 3 pupils to help them understand the processes involved in manufacturing, a key section of the Junior Cycle course. 

Shankill Beach, Co Dublin (2015): The Form 6 pupils recently spent time at Shankill Beach conducting their Leaving Certificate Geographical Investigation. 

Iceland (2015): This Leaving Certificate trip is open to Form 4, 5, and 6 pupils and involves visiting many of the outstanding and unique landscape features Iceland has to offer.

Glendasan, Co Wicklow (2014): The Form 6 pupils recently spent time at Glendasan River conducting their Leaving Certificate Geographical Investigation.

Italy (2014): A regular Leaving Certificate trip for our Form 5 and 6 Geography pupils to visit the Mezzogiorno region in Italy, an important region on the Leaving Certificate course. Every Leaving Certificate Geography pupil will have the opportunity to visit Iceland or Italy as part of their learning experience at The High School.

Arigna Coal Mine, Co Roscommon (2013): An excursion for Form 5 Geography pupils to help them understand human interaction with the rock cycle. 

The Burren, Co Clare: The Burren has always been a popular destination for The High School Geography Department.