Uganda Senior One Geography Curriculum

This curriculum focuses on developing a holistic understanding of geography, emphasizing practical application and skills development. It aims to equip learners with the necessary knowledge and skills to become self-assured individuals, responsible citizens, lifelong learners, and positive contributors to society. The curriculum is structured around themes and topics, incorporating fieldwork, research, and critical thinking.

Term 1: Introduction to Geography

• Topic 1: Introduction: This topic introduces the concept of geography and its importance. Learners explore the relationship between people and their environment, both natural and built. They learn to observe, classify, and appreciate the significance of geographical studies.
• Topic 2: Showing the Local Area on a Map: Learners develop map-reading skills, including understanding the difference between maps and photographs, using symbols and keys, identifying directions, and drawing sketch maps of their school and local area.
• Topic 3: Maps and Their Uses: This topic expands on map skills, covering different types of scales, using coordinates and bearings, locating places on an atlas using latitude and longitude, and understanding the diverse applications of maps.
• Topic 4: Ways of Studying Geography: Learners explore various geographical research methods, including fieldwork techniques (observation, interviews, questionnaires), using maps, aerial images, photographs, graphs, and charts. They also learn about different photographic perspectives and their effects.
• Topic 5: The Earth and Its Movements: This topic covers the Earth-Sun relationship, its effect on temperatures and seasons, the causes of day and night, locating places using latitude and longitude, and calculating time using longitude.
• Topic 6: Weather and Climate: Learners differentiate between weather and climate, understand weather elements and their measurement, learn about weather instruments, cloud types, rainfall patterns, and the influence of weather and climate on lifestyles.

Term 2: Introduction to East Africa

• Topic 7: Location, Size, and Relief Regions of East Africa: Learners study the countries of East Africa, their populations and areas, and the main relief regions. They learn to use contours and draw cross-sections.
• Topic 8: Formation of Major Landforms and Drainage in East Africa: This topic covers rock types (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic), weathering, landform formation, drainage features, and the influence of landforms, rocks, and drainage on human life. Plate tectonics and its role in shaping East Africa's physical features are also introduced.
• Topic 9: Climate and Natural Vegetation of East Africa: Learners study the characteristics of East African climates, the factors influencing them, and their impact on vegetation. They learn to draw climate graphs and maps showing climate and vegetation.
• Topic 10: Climate Change in East Africa and the World: This topic covers the concept of climate change, its causes, effects, and potential mitigation strategies. Learners explore the political and social challenges related to climate change and participate in activities to address its effects.

Term 3: World Climates: Introduction to North America; Agriculture in East Africa and North America

• Topic 11: Major Climatic Zones of the World: Learners explore major climatic regions globally, their characteristics, influencing factors, and their impact on vegetation and human activities. They learn to plot climatic regions on a world map.
• Topic 12: Geographical Regions of North America: This topic introduces the physical features, drainage, climates, and a brief history of North America, focusing on its differences from East Africa.
• Topic 13: Development of Agriculture in East Africa: Learners study different types of agriculture in East Africa, influencing factors, the concepts of subsistence and commercial farming, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. They also explore issues related to land and water resource use and conservation.
• Topic 14: Some Agricultural Areas of North America: Learners study large-scale farming in the Prairies and irrigated farming in California, comparing them with East African agriculture and evaluating their suitability for the region.

This comprehensive curriculum provides a strong foundation in geography for Senior One students in Uganda, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical skills applicable to real-world situations.