Geography and Key Skills In addition to their specific content and knowledge, the subjects and short courses of junior cycle provide students with opportunities to develop a range of key skills. This course offers opportunities to support all key skills but some are particularly significant. The examples below identify some of the elements that are related to learning activities in Geography. The 8 key skills are set out in detail in Key Skills of Junior Cycle. Key skill Key skill element Examples of possible student learning activities Being creative Exploring options and alternatives Learning creatively Stimulating creativity using digital technology Students learn about global issues such as climate change and explore mitigation and prevention options. Students create models to explain the formation of fold mountains. Students use videos and animations to explain a population change. Being literate Expressing ideas clearly and accurately Students debate how economic development influences opportunities for a young person. Being numerate Seeing patterns, trends, and relationships Gathering, interpreting, and representing data Students analyse settlement patterns. Students measure, record and graph average rainfall over a given period using a rain gauge. Communicating Listening and expressing myself Discussing and debating Students collaborate with their peers to prepare a project on the sustainable use of Irish resources. Students discuss the impact of human activities on climate change. Managing information and thinking Being curious Thinking creatively and critically Gathering, recording, organising and evaluating information and data Students investigate the origin of their town or village. Students design hazard management defences. Students investigate the formation and behaviour of a hurricane. Managing myself Knowing myself Being able to reflect on my own learning Students reflect on their learning by discussing and acting on feedback from their teacher, such as during the Classroom-Based Assessment process. Staying well Being social Being positive about learning Being responsible, safe and ethical in using digital media Students work as part of a team to complete a project on economic activities in their area. Students choose an area of personal interest to explore based on an area of learning they have experienced. Students being responsible, safe and ethical in using any digital media to research a geographical topic. Working with others Developing good relationships and dealing with conflict Co-operating Respecting difference Students listen to different views and collaborate to plan a presentation on industrial conflict with the environment. Students assign roles and plan group projects. Students respect differences through learning about different cultures.
