Revised National Curriculum Statement Grades R-9 (Schools) - Grade Eight
Learning Area: Social Sciences (Geography)
Learning Outcome 1: Geographical Enquiry
The learner will be able to use enquiry skills to investigate geographical and environmental concepts and processes.
Assessment standards
The learner formulates questions to guide an enquiry concerning social and environmental issues and problems.
We know this when the learner:
- Identifies and selects a variety of geographical and environmental sources relevant to an enquiry (uses fieldwork and other enquiry methods) [finds sources].
- Interprets maps and atlas information, graphical and statistical sources [works with sources].
- Measures distances on orthophoto maps and/or maps of local and other areas and compares map distances with distances in reality [works with sources].
- Identifies some physical and constructed features from aerial and/or orthophoto maps of local and other areas [works with sources].
- Observes and records information in the field [works with sources].
- Presents an original idea as part of an answer to the questions posed in the enquiry [answers the question].
- Reports on the knowledge gained in the enquiry by constructing an argument based on sources of information, in a variety of ways; uses maps, diagrams and graphics; where possible uses computers in the presentation [communicates the answer].
Learning Outcome 2: Geographical Knowledge and Understanding
The learner will be able to demonstrate geographical and environmental knowledge and understanding.
Assessment standards
We know this when the learner:
- Identifies and compares different types of settlement patterns [people and places].
- Identifies factors that influence the formation of settlement patterns (natural, economic, social/political) [people and resources].
- Identifies critical factors that have led to changes in settlement patterns in South Africa, Africa and elsewhere [people and the environment].
Learning Outcome 3: Exploring Issues
The learner will be able to make informed decisions about social and environmental issues and problems.
Assessment standards
We know this when the learner:
- Identifies challenges to societies and settlements associated with the use and abuse of people and natural resources [identifies the issue].
- Examines the unequal distribution of, and access to, resources in different contexts [factors affecting the issue].
- Investigates possible ways of reducing resource consumption [makes choices].
- Makes suggestions to guide sustainable living practices in a particular context [makes choices].