DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL STUDIES
SOCIAL STUDIES SECOND FORM COURSE OUTLINE
RATIONALE:
TERM 1
TOPIC/CONTENT
OBJECTIVES
1. Map Work
i. What is a map?
ii. Types of maps
iii. Essentials of a map and their importance
Students should be able to:
- Define what is a map
- State the essentials of a map
- Explain why each essential is important
- Differentiate between a map, a plan and a photograph
- Identify and name at least four types of map
- Be able to recognize basic conventional symbols used on a
map to depict relief and land use.
2. Scale
i. Types of scales
ii. Finding distance
Students should be able to:
- Define scales of a map
- State three types of scale used on a map
- Identify the three types of scales
- Calculate the distances from one place to another using the
Linear Scale (using various measuring instrument)
- Use map scale express as a ratio or statement.
3. Giving Directions
i. Cardinal Points – eight and sixteen points
ii. Bearings – degrees
iii. Grid Reference – four figure
Students should be able to:
- Give simple direction of places
- Identify the sixteen cardinal points
- Draw and label the sixteen point compass
- Give direction using bearings
- Give bearings of each cardinal point
- Recognize bearings beyond the sixteen cardinal points given
in degrees (using a protractor)
- Give location of places and features using grid references
- Read grid references accurately
- State the two types of grid references
- Demonstrate an understanding of the techniques in finding
grid reference.
4. Contour Lines
i. Introduction to contour lines and simple contour
landforms
Students should be able to:
- identify simple contour landforms
- Identify other ways of showing height on a map
- Relate contour lines to landform
5. Latitude (Sun Lines)
i. Climatic Zone
ii. Temperature
Students should be able to:
- State what are lines of latitude
- Identify lines of latitude
- Tell the importance of the latitude lines
- Explain the importance of the Equator
- Locate area/places using lines of latitude
- Identify the major lines of latitude (sun lines)
- Identify temperature zones
- Relate latitude to the climate of a place.
6. Longitude
i. Longitude and Time
ii. Calculating Time
iii. International Date Line
Students should be able to:
- Identify lines of longitude
- State the importance of the Greenwich meridian
- Locate areas using lines of longitude
- Calculate longitude and time using various methods.
- Explain the importance of the international date line.
TERM 2
TOPIC/CONTENT
7. Jamaica: Physical Resources
i. Location, size and relief
ii. Counties, Parishes, Capitals
OBJECTIVES
Students should be able to:
- Describe Jamaica’s position in relation to the Caribbean and
the rest of the world
- Demonstrate understanding of relative sizes of Caribbean
land masses
- Describe the various relief features found in Jamaica
- State the countries in Jamaica
- Name the parishes and Capitals
- Draw a map of Jamaica write in parishes, capitals and
counties
- Define the term landform
- Locate and identify major mountains
- State what is a mountain, hill, plain and plateau
- Identify the highest mountain in Jamaica
- Name the major rivers found in Jamaica.
8. Using Our Resources and Related Environmental
Matters
i. Farming
ii. Fishing
iii. Mining & Manufacturing
Students should be able to:
- define farming
- categorize human activities as primary , secondary and
tertiary
- assess the part farmers play in the country’s economy
- describe the steps involved in the cultivating and processing
of certain products
- state and describe problems faced by farmers
- locate and name fishing villages and fishing grounds
- state the importance of fishing to the economy
- identify the methods of fishing
- define mining, bauxite, minerals, ore, alumina / aluminium
- discuss the use and abuse of our mineral resources, gypsum,
limestone, marble, silica, sand, bauxite
- identify and locate major mining and bauxite plant areas
- describe the processing of bauxite to alumina
- state the contributions of the Bauxite Industry to the Jamaican
economy
- assess the impact of mining and manufacturing on the
environment
- show appreciation of the importance of the mining industry
9. Tourism
- define tourism, tourist
- discuss factors which make Jamaica an important resort /
destination
- design and produce posters
- assess the method being used to promote tourism in Jamaica
- discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the tourist trade
to Jamaica
- identify, research and discuss careers in tourism