The Brakenhale School

Sixth Form Welcome Pack

A Level Geography

Tasks to Complete Checklist

Tick once completed

Water and the Carbon Cycle Task 1 – Definitions Task 2 – The Drainage Basin Hydrological Cycle Task 3 – Drainage Basin Characteristics

Natural Hazards Task 1 – Structure of the Earth Task 2 – Plate Boundaries (Constructive) Task 3 – Plate Boundaries (Destructive)

Contemporary Urban Environments Task 1 – Global Distribution of Cities Task 2 – Urban Processes

Welcome to Geography

Introduction

It is great that you are considering studying Geography at A Level.

This pack contains a programme of activities and resources to prepare you to start an A Level

in Geography in September. It is aimed to be used after you complete your GCSE throughout

the remainder of the summer term and over the summer holidays to ensure you are ready to

start your course in September.

The pack is divided into some of the key topics you will study in A level Geography: Water and

the Carbon Cycle, Natural Hazards and Contemporary Urban Environments. There are a

range of different activities to do in each topic area.

Discovering the world we live in is great fun. I hope that you will agree!

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Reading Lists

3. Knowledge topics

I. Water and the Carbon Cycle

II. Natural Hazards

III. Contemporary Urban Environments

1. Reading list for A - level Geography

At AS and A Level Geography it is expected that you can demonstrate to the examiners that

you have been partaking in wider reading.

Below is a list of books/journals and websites you could use over the next two years and

beyond in university.

The textbook that we will be using next year is shown below. It would be a good idea,

although not essential, to purchase your own copy of the textbook to help consolidate

learning and complete independent learning tasks.

AQA - AQA Geography - A Level and AS Student Book (OUP)

https://global.oup.com/education/product/9780198366515/?region=international

Journals are a good way of keeping up to date with what’s happening in the world of

geography. You can subscribe for a year or buy individual past publications.

Some good Geography magazines are:

Geography Review, Go to: http://www.philipallan.co.uk/geographyreview/index.htm

Geographical, Go to: http://www.geographical.co.uk/Home/index.html

You need to be aware of current global events that are related to the units you will be

studying; so look out for things in the news to do with the topics we are studying. You can

use Google Alerts to make this easier

http://www.google.co.uk/alerts?hl=en

There are also many good websites you can use. News website are partially good at keeping

you informed and up-to-date.

News websites include –

www.bbc.co.uk

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

You can also use websites like –

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

http://www.geographyalltheway.com/

Additionally, there are a plethora of websites offering you help with the subject content.

Many will cover topics you don’t study and most are based on the old specifications or

different exam boards so check the content is relevant to you when using these sites. This is a

list of the web sites that are currently being prepared for the new Geography AQA

specification for 2016.

www.geographyiseverything.co.uk

www.coolgeography.com

Finally, you should refer to the exam website on a regular basis. On the website, they will

have access to the specification (you will receive a hard copy in September for your folder),

specimen exam papers and examiners reports. The examiners reports are good to read as

they should show sections of previous exam papers that were / weren’t answered well as

well as highlight key concepts that need to be understood for future examinations. You can

find the exam board website at

www.aqa.org.uk

Topic 1 – Water and the Carbon Cycle

This section of the specification focuses on the major stores of water and carbon at or near

the Earth’s surface and the relationship between each cycle. This unit will help you to

understand the complex relationships found within physical geography and will help you to

develop knowledge and understanding of the many different aspects that link in.

For this topic, you will have three tasks. They will build on your knowledge from GCSE and

get you to advance this further in preparation for September.

Task 1 – Definitions

For each of the following key terms, write a concise definition in the corresponding box.

Remember, this must have a geographical focus!

Evaporation Channel Flow

Percolation Interception

Precipitation Infiltration

Transpiration Vegetation

Storage

Surface Storage

Soil Water

Storage

Stem Flow Groundwater

Flow

Throughflow Channel Storage

Groundwater Storage

Surface Run-

off

Task 2 – The Drainage Basin Hydrological Cycle

Using all of the key terms you have defined in the table, put them into the correct place in the table.

Task 3 – Drainage Basin Characteristics

a) Draw in the left hand box a drainage basin with a high drainage density.

b) Draw in the right hand box a drainage basin with a low drainage density.

c) Label the following features:

a. Source

b. Mouth

c. Tributaries

d. Confluence

e. Main Channel

f. Watershed

d) Explain what would happen to the discharge of the river if

a. There was heavy deforestation in the high density drainage basin?

b. A large urban development was built in the high density drainage basin?

c. A series of storms hits the low density drainage basin?

You should refer to the characteristics of the drainage basin and the drainage basin

hydrological cycle in your answer (complete in the boxes on the next page).

Heavy Deforestation

Large Urban Development

Series of Storms

Topic 2 – Hazards

This section of the specification focuses on the lithosphere and atmosphere and how they

create natural hazards to the human population. This unit will help you to understand the

processes that create these hazards and how humans respond to them. For this topic there

are three tasks and they will require you to do a lot of independent research.

Task 1 – Structure of the Earth

In the box below, draw and annotate (detailed labels) the structure of the Earth. For each

layer, you must include the following information:

Temperature Range

Thickness

Composition of each layer (Solid / Liquid) and the minerals found in each layer.

Task 2 – Plate boundaries

1) Draw and label a diagram showing a constructive plate boundary.

2) Annotate onto the diagram to show how an oceanic ridge is formed.

Task 3 – Plate boundaries

1) Draw and label a diagram showing a destructive plate boundary.

2) Annotate onto the diagram to show how deep sea trenches and young fold mountains formed.

Topic 3 – Contemporary Urban Environments

This section of the specification focuses on urban growth and change and examines the

processes and challenges associated with them. This section will also allow you to study

urban areas in contrasting parts of the world and appreciate the human diversity within

them. For this topic there are two tasks that need to be completed.

Task 1 – Global distribution of cities

a) On the world map below, accurately plot the following cities.

Tokyo – Yokohama, Japan Jakarta, Indonesia Delhi, India Manila, Philippines Seoul, South Korea Shanghai, China Karachi, Pakistan Beijing, China New York City, USA Guangzhou, China

Sao Paulo, Brazil Mexico City, Mexico Mumbai, India Osaka – Kobe – Kyoto, Japan Moscow, Russia Dhaka, Bangladesh Cairo, Egypt Los Angeles, USA Bangkok, Thailand Kolkata, India

b) Describe the distribution of the cities plotted.

c) Explain the reasons for the growth of cities since 1850.

Task 2 – Urban Processes

In each of the boxes below, draw a cartoon to show named processes. This will require you

to have an understanding of each process, so make sure you research each one before you

complete the task.

Suburbanisation

Counter – Urbanisation

Re-urbanisation

If you have any problems with the work or tasks set or any questions about the course please

feel free to email me - nmullett@brakenhale.co.uk