Social Science: Provincial Level
Geography – Generic Topic Outline
The focus is on Physical and Human Geography.
I. Demography:
By the end of this unit the student will be able to:
- Distribution and density
- Explain factors which influence population distribution and density
- Explain the relevance and limits of methods used to measure the distribution and growth of human populations.
- Population growth and control
- Describe how population growth, the standard of living of a country or region, and the rate of consumption of resources are all related.
- Discuss the various predictions for population growth and the various ideas for limiting the rate of population growth.
- Food consumption and Distribution; Analyze factors that determine food consumption and distribution.
- Migration
- Describe the movements and the motives for the movement away from migrants’ original locations.
- Evaluate the impact of emigration on the country or region of origin and immigration on the new country or region.
- Describe current migration patterns and the reasons for this migration
II. Meteorology & Climatologic:
By the end of this unit the student will be able to
- Earth and sun relationships
- Describe the relationships between the earth and the sun.
- Describe how the energy from the sun and from within the Earth is distributed and changed by Earth’s systems.
- Atmosphere, structure and composition
- Explain how the Earth’s atmosphere evolved and its relationship to the hydrosphere, the lithosphere and the biosphere.
- Describe the structure and function of the atmosphere and explain why the temperature of the atmosphere increases and decreases as you go through the various layers.
- Insolation and temperature
- Describe the relationship between insolation, topography and the temperature of various parts of the Earth’s surface.
- Explain how energy is transferred and transformed as it moves through the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.
- Atmospheric pressure and winds
- Describe the major atmospheric circulation patterns in the upper and lower atmosphere and explain the differences between surface and upper atmospheric winds.
- Explain how surface winds affect the ocean currents and how the oceans affect air pressure and therefore wind direction and velocity.
- Moisture, humidity and precipitation
- Explain the relationship between moisture, humidity and precipitation.
- Describe the various forms and patterns of precipitation and the geographic conditions that determine what type and pattern of precipitation occurs.
- Weather Systems and Hazards
- Be able to map weather and be able to interpret a weather map.
- Describe the Earth’s major weather systems and the various mechanisms that drive these systems.
- Describe and explain major weather events such as El Nino, cyclonic storms and monsoons.
- Identify the possible impacts of weather especially storms on humans.
- List the precautions to take to prevent loss of life or damage to property