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Geography
Senior Cycle

At the Leaving Certificate Level, Geography is an option subject and presently half of students have opted to continue their study of this subject. The Leaving Certificate Geography course was revised in 2006 and currently the revised syllabus has a core, elective and option structure. In fifth year the physical and regional sections are covered (core section) with an emphasis placed on the elective (economic geography) and option section (geocology) to be completed in sixth year. All students will build on and develop in greater detail the knowledge that they acquired during the Junior Cycle.

​
​Senior 
Geography Department Staff 2020/2021
Aoife O'Dwyer
Grace Duncan
Maeve Stapleton
​Katie Dooley

Geographical Investigation  - Fluvial Study


November Exams 

5th Year
​Duration: 2 hours
Content: All Physical & Regional Geography covered plus Geographic Skills
Structure:
  • 10 short questions at 8m each
  • 2 long questions parts A , B, C Chapters 1-4 / 15 & 16
  • Q3A Sketch map (OS or Photo) 20m

6th Year
​Duration: 2 hours
Content: All Economic Geography covered plus Geographic Skills / Revision topic from 5th Year
Structure:
  • 10 short questions
  • 2 long questions parts A , B, C 



Your Geography Folder

Every student keeps an A4 lever arch folder in 5th year and once again in 6th year. If you keep this neat & organised then it's a crucial resource for revision in 6th year. It should contain the following sections:
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Section 1 - Core Unit

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The main objective of the core unit is to provide a useful tool through which students can understand and interpret the physical landscape. This unit also places an emphasis on the interactions humans have had with the physical processes at work in the environment through a study of rocks, rivers and the work of the sea. Through a study of FIVE main regions on a global scale students will understand the interaction of physical, economic and human processes in EACH of these five regions.

Click below for PPT presentations on 5th Year Physical & Regional Geography
www.mentorbooks.ie/resources/module.aspx?mode=teacher&contentid=33688





Section 2 - Elective Unit

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This offers the student the opportunity to study the Patterns and Processes in Economic Activities (where such areas as globalisation, the influence of the E.U and sustainable development will be studied).

Section 3 - Option

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This allows the student the opportunity to develop their skills in ONE of four options. 
  1. Global Interdependence
  2. Geoecology
  3. Culture and Identity
  4. The Atmosphere-Ocean Environment 
This optional unit is for Higher Level students only. In St Colmcille's Community School, the option of Geoecology is routinely taken as our main area of study.





Geographical Investigation

The GI or Fieldwork is an essential part of Leaving Cert Geography, representing 20% of the marks. In general, the fieldwork is done as whole class activity when the class go to a particular river and carry out the fieldwork. Each student then writes up their own report booklet based on the information they gathered during the fieldwork.

Each year, the State Exams Commission decides the fieldwork topics (see relevant year). They select five different topics, ranging from physical to economic geography – the topic focused on at St Colmcille’s is the Fluvial environment.
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Fieldwork Reporting Booklet

The report booklet is sent out to each school in January and this is where students will write up the fieldwork. The booklet limits the report to a 1000 words and includes the headings for each part of the report.  See the attachment below for a sample GI Booklet.
Prescribed Topics 2022
Prescribed Topics 2021
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Fieldwork Marking Scheme

The report booklet is made up of 5 different sections, each carrying a set number of marks. 


Useful Links

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​https://www.instituteofeducation.ie/studynotes/geography-h-new-variations-on-old-themes/
Reaction to Leaving Cert 2018 Geography (Higher Level) by Michael Doran, Geography teacher at The Institute of Education.

http://www.examinations.ie
Allows the student access to marking schemes for any subject that is on the Junior AND Leaving Certificate course. With respect to Geography, papers and marking schemes can be obtained as far back as 2001 in which students can see the division of marks for questions on BOTH papers.

http://www.scoilnet.ie
An Irish website which is an excellent revision tool for Junior AND Leaving Certificate students. Drop down menus allow the student access to a range of geographical topics from which they can choose a particular area for further study.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/leaving-cert-geography-thought-provoking-1.1823187
Interesting article for those considering Geography as a subject.

http://skoool.ie/uploadedfiles/study_guides_050208/21-01-08_IT_TSZ_09.pdf
LC study guide

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
Provides information on the history, geography, communications and economy of 266 nations. Provides country comparisons on a global scale.

http://www.usgs.gov
The United States Geographical Survey website which has an emphasis on physical geography. Contains a multitude of online videos, presentations and case studies relating to major earthquakes, volcanoes and climate change issues.

http://www.sip.ie/sip069/Documents/geographypagethree.html
An online resource which gives the student access to over 70 areas of interest on both the Junior and Leaving Certificate syllabus. Topics include an online geography glossary, physical geography and the atmosphere.

http://www.awesomelibrary.org/Classroom/Science/Earth_Sciences/Earthquakes_and_Plate_Tectonics.html
An online resource that allows the student access to newspaper reports, multimedia presentations and photos of key earthquakes that have occurred over time. Tsunamis are also covered in this fascinating resource.

www.georesources.co.uk
An English website that is geared towards those doing G.C.S.E.’s and A levels that can be applied to those doing the Irish equivalent. Topics for further study include physical geography, map skills and economic activities for Junior Certificate students and Population and Urbanisation, climatology and case studies for those doing the Leaving Certificate.

https://maps.scoilnet.ie/Gallery/Eng/

https://maps.scoilnet.ie/Help/video_tutorials.html#Introduction

Fun Stuff
http://www.gatm.org.uk“Geography at the movies”
A website which allows access to a wide variety of short films designed by both teachers and students through which various units of the Junior and Leaving Certificate course can be examined. Used primarily as a tool for teachers however is very accessible for students aswell!

http://www.geographyworldonline.com/worldgames.html
A site that contains over 100 games relating to Geography. Examples include Geography hangman based on countries of the world, Trivia and crossword challenges and an excellent game based on “Who wants to be a millionaire”!
http://www.examinations.ie
Allows the student access to marking schemes for any subject that is on the Junior AND Leaving Certificate course. With respect to Geography, papers and marking schemes can be obtained as far back as 2001 in which students can see the division of marks for questions on BOTH papers.

http://www.scoilnet.ie
An Irish website which is an excellent revision tool for Junior AND Leaving Certificate students. Drop down menus allow the student access to a range of geographical topics from which they can choose a particular area for further study.

http://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/9da21be1-3f99-4f50-88ee-ba7ce6638e1a/SCSEC17_Geography_syllabus_eng.pdf
Leaving Certificate Geography syllabus

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/leaving-cert-geography-thought-provoking-1.1823187
Interesting article for those considering Geography as a subject.

http://skoool.ie/uploadedfiles/study_guides_050208/21-01-08_IT_TSZ_09.pdf
LC study guide

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
Provides information on the history, geography, communications and economy of 266 nations. Provides country comparisons on a global scale.

http://www.usgs.gov
The United States Geographical Survey website which has an emphasis on physical geography. Contains a multitude of online videos, presentations and case studies relating to major earthquakes, volcanoes and climate change issues.

http://www.sip.ie/sip069/Documents/geographypagethree.html
An online resource which gives the student access to over 70 areas of interest on both the Junior and Leaving Certificate syllabus. Topics include an online geography glossary, physical geography and the atmosphere.

http://www.awesomelibrary.org/Classroom/Science/Earth_Sciences/Earthquakes_and_Plate_Tectonics.html
An online resource that allows the student access to newspaper reports, multimedia presentations and photos of key earthquakes that have occurred over time. Tsunamis are also covered in this fascinating resource.

www.georesources.co.uk
An English website that is geared towards those doing G.C.S.E.’s and A levels that can be applied to those doing the Irish equivalent. Topics for further study include physical geography, map skills and economic activities for Junior Certificate students and Population and Urbanisation, climatology and case studies for those doing the Leaving Certificate.

https://maps.scoilnet.ie/Gallery/Eng/

https://maps.scoilnet.ie/Help/video_tutorials.html#Introduction

Fun Stuff
http://www.gatm.org.uk“Geography at the movies”
A website which allows access to a wide variety of short films designed by both teachers and students through which various units of the Junior and Leaving Certificate course can be examined. Used primarily as a tool for teachers however is very accessible for students aswell!

http://www.geographyworldonline.com/worldgames.html
A site that contains over 100 games relating to Geography. Examples include Geography hangman based on countries of the world, Trivia and crossword challenges and an excellent game based on “Who wants to be a millionaire”!
St Colmcille's Community School
Scholarstown Road
Knocklyon, Dublin 16
​D16 H298


Tel: 01 4952888
Fax: 01 4952887
email: info@stcolmcilles.ie
School Roll Number : 91510M
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