Au-Yeung Wai Yin
Ad-hoc Committee for the Revision of S1-3 Geography Curriculum

Objectives of the Curriculum
Knowledge and Understanding
(a) develop a thorough understanding of key geographical concepts and apply them in new situations and contexts;
(b) develop a solid framework of place knowledge , including the knowledge and understanding of places in the local region, other places in China, the Asia-Pacific and the world, and the interconnectedness among these places;

Objectives of the Curriculum
(c)
(d) describe and explain the interactions between human and the natural environment over space and time, and the patterns and impacts created by such interactions; understand how the natural environment influence human life and how human activities alter the natural environment;

Objectives of the Curriculum
(e) develop a knowledge and understanding of the major issues of global concern , and how these issues can be managed and/or resolved in a sustainable way .
Energy
Globalization

Objectives of the Curriculum
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d) think geographically master basic geographical enquiry skills master basic geographical skills e.g. map reading, GIS, field work techniques master basic competencies , e.g. communication skills, critical thinking skills and creativity, through the enquiry of geographical issues

Objectives of the Curriculum
Values and Attitudes
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e) be commit to actions conducive to a better environment and to the sustainability of the world; develop a sense of belonging to our society and nation, and be willing to take action for the betterment of our society and nation; be aware of the increasing global interdependence and the importance of international cooperation in handling global issues; show concern for the people who are less privileged and who are suffering from various types of problems; develop an understanding and respect for other people, their values, cultures and ways of life.

Content Outline
Section A : From Hong Kong to the World
- Variations in space, people and places
4 core modules
(1)
Using Urban Space Wisely – Can we maintain a
(2)
(3)
(4) sustainable urban environment?
Living with Natural Hazards – Are we better equipped than the others?
Tourists – Friends or Foes?
Changing Climate, Changing Environment

Section A : From Hong Kong to the World
- Variations in space, people and places
(1)
Using Urban Space Wisely – Can we maintain a sustainable urban environment?
Guiding Questions

How does our city look like?


What problems is our city facing?
How can we solve our problems?
Skills



Integrate map reading skills e.g. plans & map, grid reference, longitudes & latitudes, scales
Introduce field work techniques
Use of GIS

Section A : From Hong Kong to the World
- Variations in space, people and places
Using Urban Space Wisely – Can we maintain a sustainable urban environment?
1998 2010
Scramble for land!
Fixing our cities' problems
Using urban space wisely
- Can we maintain a sustainable urban environment?
Change
Most content retained
Left "urban fringe problem" to S4-6
Broadened global view of urban morphology

Section A : From Hong Kong to the World
- Variations in space, people and places
(2)
Living with Natural Hazards – Are we better equipped than the others?
Guiding Questions

Are we living in a hostile world?




Why do we suffer from strong winds and heavy rain in summer?
Why do our slopes collapse?
How do we prepare for natural hazards?
Why are some people more vulnerable than we are?
Skills: Integrate map reading skills e.g. relief maps, cross section, gradient
Interpret climatic graphs and satellite images, videos

Section A : From Hong Kong to the World
- Variations in space, people and places
(2)
Living with Natural Hazards – Are we better equipped than the others?
1998
Weather and climate - do they matter?
Collapsing slopes!
2010
Living with Natural
Hazards -
Are we better equipped than the others?
Change
Combined
Brief introduction of climate and relief of
HK
Focus more on hazard
Broadened global view of world major hazards

Section A : From Hong Kong to the World
- Variations in space, people and places
(3)
Tourists – Friends or foes?
Guiding Questions


Why is our airport so crowded during major holidays?
Are tourists friends or foes to the local people?


Will Hong Kong enjoy the same benefits and face the same challenges?
Can we develop tourism in a more sustainable way?
Skills



Use of longitudes & latitudes, grid reference
Find out local time
Conduct simple survey

Section A : From Hong Kong to the World
- Variations in space, people and places
(3)
Tourists – Friends or foes?
1998 2010
Where to spend our holidays?
Tourists
– Friends or foes?
Change
All major concern retained
Enriched content on impact of tourism
Strengthened
“sustainable tourism” – physical and sociocultural aspects
Provided a general background of HK geomorphology and geology

Section A : From Hong Kong to the World
- Variations in space, people and places
(4)
Changing Climate, Changing
Environments
Guiding Questions

What’s happening to our climate?



What cause our climate to change?
What is happening and will happen?
How can we do?
Skills
• Interpret graphs, satellite images and photos

Section A : From Hong Kong to the World
- Variations in space, people and places
(4)
Changing Climate, Changing Environments
1998
Weather and climate - do they matter?
2010 Change
Focus on climate change
Only 30% old content retained
Changing climate,
Changing environments
How clean is our atmosphere?
Provided a general background of HK climate
Enriched content on the impact of climate change on different parts of the world

Section B : From China to the World
- Enquiring regional problems arising from human-environment interactions
Core
(1) Can We Feed Ourselves?
(2) Too Much and Too Little!
(1) Population Problems
- Purely a matter of number?
(2) Taming the Sand

Section B : From China to the World
- Enquiring regional problems arising from human-environment interactions
Core: (1) Can We Feed Ourselves?
Guiding Questions


Where are the farmlands in China?
Can we produce enough food for our growing population?


How can the problems be solved?
Do the same problems happen in the other parts of the world?
Skills



Construct & interpret graphs, charts, relief maps, climatic maps
Use of GIS

Section B : From China to the World
- Enquiring regional problems arising from human-environment interactions
Core: (1) Can We Feed Ourselves?
1998
Farming the wrong way?
2010 Change
General review of world major farming types
Can we feed ourselves?
Scientific farming methods
 farming problems and food problems

Section B : From China to the World
- Enquiring regional problems arising from human-environment interactions
Core: (2) Too Much and Too Little!
Guiding Questions
• How do water problems affect us?
• From where does water come?
• Is the nature to blame?
• What can be done to solve the water problems?
Skills
• Use of GIS
• Construct cross sections of rivers
• Use of statistics
Heavy rains in Jiangxi trigger dyke treat
(SCMP – 22/6/2010)

Section B : From China to the World
- Enquiring regional problems arising from human-environment interactions
Core: (2) Too Much and Too Little!
1998
Too Much
Water!
2010 Change
All major content retained
Too Much and
Too Little!
Enriched content on solving water problems in different parts of the world

Section B : From China to the World
- Enquiring regional problems arising from human-environment interactions
Elective: (1) Population Problems
- Purely a matter of number?
Guiding Questions

Are there too many people in China?



Can China support so many people?
What are the implications with China’s population distribution pattern?
Do other countries suffer from the same problem?

Section B : From China to the World
- Enquiring regional problems arising from human-environment interactions
Elective: (1) Population Problems
- Purely a matter of number?
Skills

Use GIS


Construct and interpret population pyramids
Calculate and interpret growth rates and
 dependency ratios
Read population and economic data

Section B : From China to the World
- Enquiring regional problems arising from human-environment interactions
Elective: (1) Population Problems
- Purely a matter of number?
1998 2010
Too many and too few
Population Problems
-Purely a matter of number?
Change
All major concern retained
Add other population problems in addition to overpopulation and uneven population
A brief review of population characteristics & problems in other countries

Section B : From China to the World
- Enquiring regional problems arising from human-environment interactions
Elective: (2) Taming the Sand
Guiding Questions

How does spreading desert dust and sand affect us?


Is the nature to blame?
What can be done to solve the spreading sand problems?
Skills

Interpret satellite images


Use of GIS
Compare photos and graphs

Section B : From China to the World
- Enquiring regional problems arising from human-environment interactions
Elective: (2) Taming the Sand
1998 2010 Change
All major contents retained
Taming the spreading deserts
Taming the sand
A brief review of desert landscapes and desertification in other parts of the world

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Core
(1) Global Shift of Manufacturing Industry
- Opportunities and threats
(2) Scramble for Energy
(1) Facing a Spreading Risk!
(2) Oceans in Trouble!

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Core: (1) Global Shift of Manufacturing Industry
- Opportunities and threats
Guiding Questions


Where have our factories gone?
Do other places in the world face the same problem?


What are the pros and cons of the global shift of manufacturing industry?
Can industrial development be appropriate and sustainable?

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Core: (1) Global Shift of Manufacturing Industry
- Opportunities and threats
Skills


Use of statistics and construct graphs
Conduct land use survey and questionnaire survey

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Core: (1) Global Shift of Manufacturing Industry
- Opportunities and threats
1998
2010
The Rich and the
Poor
Where are our factories moving?
Industrial Miracle
Global Shift of
Manufacturing
Industry –
Opportunities and
Threats
Change
Only location factors of industry retained (10%)
New focus on global shift of manufacturing industry
Impact of shifting of industrial location on economic development
Left the rest of “The
Rich & the Poor” to LS

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Core: (2) Scramble for Energy
Guiding Questions

Why do we have to struggle for energy resources?



What are the other problems with the current energy resources?
What alternatives do we have?
How can future energy demand be met in a more sustainable way?

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Core: (2) Scramble for Energy
Skills

Summarize arguments

Construct flow maps and bar graphs

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Core: (2) Scramble for Energy
1998
Struggle for power resources
2010 Change
Retained 50% of the past curriculum (the study of China’s energy problem
Scramble for energy
Made simple to include the study of energy problems in other countries

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Elective: (1) Facing a Spreading Risk!
Guiding Questions


Why do so many of us get sick at the same time?
How does the disease spread?


Why do the risk and impact of infectious diseases vary in different places?
Are we safe? If not, what can we do?

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Elective:
(1) Facing a Spreading Risk!
Skills

Interpret maps, climatic graphs and statistics


Use GIS to construct a digital map
Construct a choropleth map

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Elective: (1) Facing a Spreading Risk!
1998 2010
Facing a
Spreading
Risk!
Change
A brand new module focusing on geographical pattern, movement, trend and spatial association

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Elective: (2) Oceans in Trouble!
Guiding Questions

How do the oceans support life on earth?



How do human make use of the oceans?
What are the problems affecting our oceans?
What can be done to save our oceans?

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Skills

Interpret graphs, charts

 and statistical data
Record and observe in field
Use internet to search for information

Section C: Challenges for our world
- Managing global issues in a sustainable way
Elective: (2) Oceans in Trouble!
1998 2010 Change
All major contents retained
Oceans in
Trouble
Oceans in
Trouble!
Added a small part on marine ecosystem to introduce the concept of “ecosystem”
(To compensate the loss of “Save our
Rainforests!”

Important Points to Note
(1) How to maintain the curiosity and interest of students on geographical issues?
(2) How to make use of web-based materials and GIS for learning?
(3) How to keep geography a popular subject in your school?
(4) Is the geography curriculum sustainable ?