Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
1st Year Exploring Our World: Junior Cycle Geography Year 1
A foundational exploration of physical and human geography focusing on the processes that shape our planet and the ways humans interact with their environment. Students develop spatial awareness and analytical skills through the study of Irish and global landscapes.
The Restless Earth
An investigation into the internal forces of the Earth, focusing on plate tectonics, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
Examining the layers of the Earth and the movement of tectonic plates at different boundaries.
Studying the causes and effects of volcanic eruptions and seismic activity on human settlements.
Identifying the three main rock types and understanding the processes of formation and transformation.
Shaping the Landscape
Exploring the surface processes of weathering and erosion that sculpt the physical environment.
Analyzing how rocks break down and move downslope under the influence of gravity.
Tracing the journey of a river from source to sea and the landforms created by erosion and deposition.
Investigating the power of the sea in shaping coastlines through erosion and deposition.
Weather, Climate, and Life
Understanding the atmosphere, global climate patterns, and the diversity of the world's biomes.
Examining the composition of the atmosphere and the factors that influence daily weather.
Comparing different climate types and the factors that determine temperature and precipitation.
Exploring the relationship between climate, vegetation, and animal life in major ecosystems.
Population and Settlement
Analyzing how and why people are distributed across the globe and the growth of urban areas.
Studying the factors that influence where people live and how populations grow or decline.
Investigating the push and pull factors that cause people to move within and between countries.
Examining the growth of towns and cities and the challenges of modern urban living.
Economic Activities and Resources
Exploring how humans use the Earth's resources through primary, secondary, and tertiary activities.
Focusing on agriculture, fishing, and forestry as the extraction of natural resources.
Analyzing manufacturing and the service industry, including the rise of the global tech sector.
Investigating the growth of tourism and its impact on environments and local cultures.
Geographical Skills and Mapping
Developing the practical tools required to interpret maps, aerial photographs, and digital spatial data.
Learning to read and interpret 1:50,000 scale maps using grid references, scale, and symbols.
Using vertical and oblique photographs to analyze land use and change over time.
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and the use of digital tools in modern geography.