S1 IH (Teacher’s guide)
The physical environment of Hong Kong
1
The physical environment of Hong Kong – Teacher’s Guide
Periods
1-3
Content
Remark
The physical environment of Hong
Kong: Location
The physical environment of Hong Education Department, CD-ROM:
Kong: Weather
“The Use of Information Technology
in the Learning of Geography”
The physical environment of Hong PowerPoint file: A day in Conduit
Kong: Relief
Road
Extended Activity 1
Field observation: Hong Kong urban
slopes
Extended Activity 2
Geotechnical Engineering Office,
Civil Engineering Department,
teaching kit: “Understanding
Landslides”
Overall learning objectives:
1. To locate a place with the help of latitude and longitude;
2. To know about weather conditions in Hong Kong;
3. To make climatic graph;
4. To understand the relief of Hong Kong;
5. To learn how to measure slope gradient;
6. To appreciate the pluses and minuses of living on hillslope;
7. To know about the use of urban slope in Hong Kong through a field study;
I.
The physical environment of Hong Kong: Location
Learning Objectives:
1. To locate Hong Kong with the help of latitude and longitude;
2. To identify places from an atlas (including index and contents);
3. To read a small-scale map.
Suggestions on Teaching:
1. Teachers should indicate at the end of the lesson that floor plans, maps, atlases and the globe
are basic tools for identifying places, locations and distributions.
2.
Students should be able to use maps and atlases as tools, in identifying places, planning tours
or business trips, and in understanding local and international issues.
II. The physical environment of Hong Kong: Weather
Learning Objectives:
1. To understand the impact weather has on the way people live;
2. To know about weather conditions in Hong Kong;
3. To understand weather and climatic changes in Hong Kong through the Internet;
4. To learn two different methods of making climatic graphs;
5. To learn to analyze climatic graphs;
6. To analyze the weather conditions in Hong Kong in 2 000, and understand how extreme
weather conditions affect the way people live;
S1 IH (Teacher’s guide)
7.
The physical environment of Hong Kong
2
To develop a readiness to take precautionary measures under extreme weather conditions.
Suggestions on Teaching:
1. Students should be able to collect information concerning weather and climate from different
sources.
2. Information technology, such as the Internet and Excel file, provides easy access to weather
and climate data.
3. Teachers are encouraged to use the CD-ROM "The Use of Information Technology in the
Learning of Geography" produced by the Education Department. Students can input the
collected data into the given Excel file.
4. Teachers should provide computer facilities necessary for the lesson.
5. Students should develop a proper attitude towards group discussion, such as active
participation and appreciation of the opinions of others.
6.
Teachers should develop in the students an ability to respond to weather and climate
conditions. This is more important than a recitation of the characteristics of climatic
phenomena.
III. What is the physical environment of Hong Kong: relief
Learning Objectives:
1. To understand the relief and contour lines of Hong Kong through map reading;
2. To identify different places with the help of atlases;
3. To identify surrounding places using compass bearing;
4. To understand the relief of Hong Kong;
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
To learn how to measure slope gradient;
To help students appreciate the pluses and minuses of living on hillslope;
To help students understand the importance of relief to land development through group
discussion;
To promote learning from one another through discussion;
To develop communication skills through making presentations.
Suggestions on Teaching:
1. Students should be able to acquire a basic understanding of the relief of Hong Kong which can
facilitate their further study on land use and land development in Hong Kong.
2. Teacher should ask students to find height difference, horizontal distance between A and B,
3.
4.
5.
and gradient through a step by step process.
Students should be able to develop a proper concept on gradient, such as definitions of steep
and gentle slopes.
Teacher should act as a facilitator, and help students to think and investigate.
Teacher can suggest the following considerations on whether hillslope development should
continue or not. They include relief, geology, population size and demand of other activities.
Extended Activity 1
Learning Objectives:
1. To let students observe land uses on urban slopes in Hong Kong through a field study;
2.
3.
To indicate different urban land uses on a sketch map;
To take photos on different types of land use;
S1 IH (Teacher’s guide)
The physical environment of Hong Kong
4.
To calculate gradient of the field study area from map;
5.
6.
To prepare a simple field study report;
To develop communication skills through oral presentation.
3
Suggestions on Teaching:
1. Field study is useful in understanding the environment. Teachers should expose students to
such learning opportunities whenever possible.
2. Teachers should provide information to students prior to field study. The information should
include relevant route maps, a list of things to bring as well as a schedule of field study.
Teachers should also remind students of safety matters.
3. Procedures:
 Divide the class into ten groups with four members each.
 Explain aim and task of site visit before setting off.




Instruct students to take photos of crowded structures on the slope on arrival at the site.
Ask students to draw a sketch map showing the structures on the slope and indicate
different land uses ith different colours. For example, red to represent commercial use
and yellow for residential.
Calculate the gradient of site from a topographic map with contours.
After returning to classroom, conduct discussion on topic: “Should hillslope
development continue in Hong Kong?”.
Extended Activity 2
The teaching kit “Understanding Landslides”
Learning Objectives:
1. To help students acquire a better understanding of landslide hazard;
2. To investigate and understand why people choose to live on hillslopes;
3. To promote appreciation of the pluses and minuses of living on hillslopes.
Suggestions on Teaching:
1. The supplementary information provided in the CD-ROM and videotape of the teaching kit is
useful in helping students develop certain understanding about slopes.
2. Teachers should encourage students to take active participation in discussion.