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Geography skills

  • OS map skills

    Maps contain information tailored to a specific purpose. Ordnance Survey (OS) maps are often used by hillwalkers and tourists.

  • Data shown on maps

    Different maps can show geographical data in different ways. Chloropleth maps use shades of colour to show variations in data over wide areas. Isoline maps join places that share a value. Dot maps can show distribution or density. Proportional symbol maps show different values with changing sizes of circles or other symbols.

  • Data shown on graphs

    Line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, climate graphs and pictograms can all be used to present geographical information. It is important to know how to extract and interpret the most useful information from these.

Global issues

  • Development

    Development is any improvement in the standard of living of people in a specific country. Social and economic indicators are used to measure a country's level of development.

  • Improving housing in urban areas

    Favelas are informal settlements in Brazil. Residents have to deal with a range of issues. Improving housing and services in favelas is one way to reduce development gaps.

  • Supporting development through tourism

    Tourism is an important source of income and employment is many countries. In the Maasai Mara region of Kenya, tourism organisations are involved in supporting and developing their local communities.

  • Improving global health care

    Providing health care is important to development. Reducing child mortality and ill health, and increasing life expectancy all improve people's lives and the prosperity of a country.

  • Population structures

    World population is growing rapidly. Different countries have different population structures which can be shown using population pyramids.

  • The UN Sustainable Development Goals

    The 17 goals set by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet and help everyone prosper.

Sustainability

Weather and climate

  • What is weather and climate?

    Weather describes the day-to-day condition of the atmosphere. Climate describes average weather conditions over longer periods and over large areas.

  • Weather in the UK

    The UK's changeable weather is affected by five air masses. Different weather systems, depressions and anticyclones bring different weather conditions.

  • Tropical desert regions of the world

    Tropical deserts are hot and dry with summer and winter seasons. They have wide variation in daily temperature. They are home to many different animals and plants that have adapted to survive in the hot, dry conditions.

  • Tropical rainforest regions of the world

    Rainforests are located in the tropical climate region. They are hot and wet all year round – this creates a humid climate. Rainforests contain an enormous variety of plants and animals – approximately 90 per cent of all of the world's species.

  • Tundra regions of the world

    The tundra climate region are found in the Arctic and Antarctic. They are very cold and have little precipitation. Plants and animals have adapted to stay warm and preserve water.