Singapore Secondary 1 Geography Syllabus - Humanities > Geography > G3
This information is based on the 2021 Lower Secondary Geography syllabus implemented for the 2021 Secondary One cohort.
Introduction to Geography
- What is geography and how does it help me understand the world?
- Geography studies the world, including physical and built environments, and the relationships between people and environments.
- It is divided into physical and human geography.
- Key geographical concepts include:
- Space: A physical area on Earth's surface.
- Place: An area with meaning to people.
- Environment: Comprising physical (natural elements) and built (human-made) environments.
- Scale: Ways to organize phenomena for study (map scale, time scale, geographic scale).
- Geographical inquiry involves posing geographical questions and carrying out investigations to answer them.
Theme: Sustainable Resource Use and Management
- Thematic Question 1: How Can We Sustainably Manage Natural Resources?
- Natural resources can be renewable or non-renewable.
- People view and use natural resources in different ways:
- Nature-centred: Focus on preserving the environment.
- Human-centred: Focus on extracting resources for human use.
- Sustainable use involves conservation and technological development to minimize environmental impact.
- Water exists in various states: vapor (gaseous), water (liquid), and ice (solid).
- Water is stored in various locations: oceans, glaciers, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and soil.
- The hydrological cycle ensures a continuous supply of water through processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
- Water availability changes due to variations in precipitation, leading to floods or droughts.
- Water supports river ecosystems and is used by people for domestic, recreational, agricultural, and industrial purposes.
- Human actions can lead to water pollution, impacting water quality and availability.
- Sustainable management strategies include improving water quality, reducing consumption, developing new technologies (like desalination), and importing water.
- Topic 1.2: Tropical Rainforests and Mangroves
- Tropical rainforests and mangroves are evergreen and biodiverse.
- Tropical rainforests have distinct layers (emergent, canopy, undergrowth), while mangroves exhibit horizontal zonation.
- They are found in the tropics (rainforests) and along sheltered coasts and river mouths (mangroves).
- Tropical rainforests thrive in high rainfall and temperatures, while mangroves adapt to warm waters, sheltered environments, and varying salinity.
- They provide habitats, store carbon, generate oxygen, protect against erosion, and offer resources and recreational opportunities.
- Resource extraction can lead to deforestation and an enhanced greenhouse effect.
- Sustainable management involves protecting areas, regulating forestry, rehabilitating disturbed areas, and promoting public education.
- Thematic Question 2: How Can We Sustainably Build Cities?
- Cities are characterized by large populations, high density, built-up areas, and diverse functions.
- They attract rural-urban migration and provide goods and services.
- Cities impact the environment through pollution and resource consumption but also offer opportunities for education, employment, and innovation.
- Sustainable city building involves environmental management, hazard mitigation, and improving quality of life through housing and transportation.
- Housing can be formal (developed by government or private entities) or informal (squatter settlements).
- Formal housing is typically located on desirable land, while informal housing is often found on unwanted land.
- Housing impacts the environment through resource use and pollution, and it impacts people by providing basic needs, amenities, and a sense of community.
- Sustainable housing management involves integrated land-use planning, inclusive public housing, environmentally friendly building design, and slum improvement.
- Topic 2.2: Transport Systems
- Transport systems facilitate movement in cities and are characterized by network density, infrastructure quality, and mode variety.
- They are located to maximize accessibility and connectivity.
- Transport systems impact the environment through physical changes and increased carbon footprint, and they impact people through health and safety risks, congestion, and improved mobility.
- Sustainable transport management involves laws and policies, integrated planning, diverse mobility options, and research and development.
Geographical Data Skills and Techniques
Students will learn to read, construct, analyze, and interpret various geographical data types, including graphs, maps, images, field sketches, tables, texts, and schematic diagrams. These skills are essential for geographical thinking and decision-making. |
Member 
