Brighton College (Singapore)
IGCSE Pearson Edexcel Geography Summer Journal
I hope you are looking forward to starting the IGCSE Geography course in August! This journal is designed to help you get ready for IGCSE Geography. Over the summer, you’ll explore real-world issues like climate change, population growth and urbanisation - topics that affect people and places across the globe. Don’t worry, this isn’t about getting everything perfect. It’s about thinking like a geographer, noticing patterns in the world around you, and asking big questions. You’ll explore news stories, watch a documentary, do a mini fieldwork task, and even define key vocabulary to get ahead.
1. �� Geography in the News
Find3–5newsarticlesoverthesummerrelatedtoGeography(climatechange,migration,flooding,urban development,etc.).Foreacharticle,complete:
Usefulwebsites:
1) https://education.nationalgeographic.org/
2) https://geographical.co.uk
3) https://www.snexplores.org/
Title:
Location(country/region):
GeographyTopic:(e.g.,climatechange,urbanisation)
Whatishappening?
Whyisthisimportant?
Youropinionorquestion:
2. �� Watch and Reflect
Chooseonedocumentaryorvideofromthelist(e.g.OurPlanet,SimonReeve)oranotherrelevantshow.Then answer:
1. Explained – The worlds water crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C65iqOSCZOY
2. Simon Reeves – Around the World series: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/group/p06rrnkm
3. David Attenborough – Ocean: See trailer here: https://youtu.be/v5J7aP2FYH4 (can be found on Disney +)
TitleofDocumentary:
Location(s)featured:
Whatwasthemainissue/topic?
Whatdidyoulearnthatlinkstogeography?
Whatsurprisedorinterestedyoumost?
3. ��️ Mini Fieldwork Task
Goforawalkinyourlocalareaandobserveyoursurroundings.Takephotosordrawsketchesifyoulike.
Wheredidyougo?
EagleshaminScotland
Whattypesoflanduseorbuildingsdidyousee?
Thelandwasmainlycomposedofhousingandparks,therewerelotsoffieldsandgreeneryandallofthehouses andshopswereveryold There’salsoareservoirequippedwithelectricpumpstofillitup.There’slotsofspace butaloadofcarsastheroadsgothroughallthelittlestreets.
Howdopeopleusethespace?
Intheparks,there’slotsofmemorialbenchesaswellasflowersandtreesgrowingeverywhere.Peopletaketheir dogsonwalksthroughthereandgoonwalksbythemselvesthroughthepark.Alsochildrenwalkthroughthepark togettoschool.
Canyouspotanythingrelatedtosustainabilityorenvironmentalcare?
There’sawindfarmwhichhas215turbinesandin2020thewindfarmgeneratedenoughelectricitytopowerall ofScotland’shouses.
Anythingthatmadeyouthinklikeageographer?
Thereservoir,whichhasbeenthereforyears,hasstarteddrainingandnoonewhoownsitcanfigureoutwhy.
4.
�� Key Terms Tracker
Lookupandwriteashortdefinitionfor10keytermsthatwillhelpyouinIGCSEGeography:
1.Urbanisation–2.Erosion–
3.PopulationDensity–4.Migration–
RenewableEnergy
5. ✏️ My Big Geography Questions
Endyourjournalwith3questionsyou’recurioustoexploreduringthecourse.
1. Prisoners of Geography – Tim Marshall
How geography shapes politics, power and the future of the planet.
2. How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything – Mike Berners-Lee
An accessible and eye-opening look at how our daily choices impact the environment.
3. Factfulness – Hans Rosling
A powerful, positive look at the world using real data and global trends
Please save/bring this to your first lesson back after the Summer Holidays!