Geography

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, Exodus 20:11

The Lord created the heavens. He is God. He formed the earth and made it. He set it firmly in place. He didn't create it to be empty. Instead, he formed it for people to live on. He says, "I am the Lord. There is no other Lord. Isaiah 45:18

Geography is the study of the earth's peoples, places, landscapes and environments. It is, quite simply, about the world in which we live.

Geography is unique in bridging the Social Sciences (Human Geography) and the Natural Sciences (Physical Geography).

Geography observes social and physical processes in different places - recognising and explaining the variations in cultures, political systems, economies, landscapes and environments, and the links between them. As well as being a study of where places are and what they are like, Geography studies how and why they are changing.

There is always something new to research in Geography: new nation-states are created, natural disasters strike populated places, the world's climate changes. Having the ability to geographically analyse allows us to understand the world in which we live.

Computerised mapping and data analysis is known as Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Together with Global Positioning System (GPS), it takes Geography into the future and ensures there will always be a place for Geographers.

Geographers...
  • plan new communities
  • decide where new highways should be placed
  • establish evacuation plans
  • forecast weather
  • make maps
  • manage the environment
  • use Global Positioning System (GPS)
Is Geography for you?

  1. Are you fascinated by the natural environment? Do you enjoy being out in the world studying landforms and researching the processes that have formed them? Are you a problem solver?
  2. Do you care about the future of the planet? Are you interested in green issues?
  3. Do you have a genuine interest in global affairs and a real passion to make a difference for people?
  4. Do you enjoy map work and using Google Earth?
Have you thought about studying Geography?

Year 11 Geography

Hebron Christian College offers six achievement standards and 21 credits in Level One Geography.

External assessments, assessed through the end of year NCEA exam
  • Geographic skills and ideas (4 credits)
  • Resources and their use (3 credits) - Dairy Farming in New Zealand and Uranium Mining in Australia.
  • Extreme natural events (3 credits) eg. Earthquakes in New Zealand, Volcanoes in New Zealand or Tropical Cyclones in the South-West Pacific.
Internal assessments, assessed during the year
  • A contemporary geographic issue (3 credits)
  • A global geographic topic (3 credits)
  • Geographic research (5 credits)

Year 12 Geography

 Hebron Christian College offers six achievement standards and 21 credits in Level Two Geography.

External assessments, assessed through the end of year NCEA exam
  • Geographic skills and ideas (4 credits)
  • Natural landscapes (3 credits) - Amazon Basin and Tongariro Volcanic Centre
  • Disparities in development (3 credits) - Comparing differences between or within a developed (USA) and a developing country (Tanzania)
The focus on Tanzania is especially good for students who visit Tanzania through the school mission trip. Having been there puts them at an advantage over the many other Year 12 students who study this topic!

Internal assessments, assessed during the year
  • A contemporary geographic issue (3 credits)
  • A global geographic topic (3 credits)
  • Geographic research (5 credits)

Year 13 Geography


Hebron Christian College offers six achievement standards and one unit standard, totalling 23 credits in Level Three Geography.

External assessments, assessed through the end of year NCEA exam
  • Geographic skills and ideas (4 credits)
  • Coastal processes in New Zealand (4 credits)
  • Tourism in an overseas and a New Zealand setting (4 credits)
Internal assessments, assessed during the year
  • A contemporary geographic issue (3 credits)
  • A global geographic topic (3 credits)
  • Geographic research (3 credits)
  • Geography in fiction (unit standard - 2 credits)