The Natural Regions Project forms a major part of the geography course.

It is a research project undertaken both in the classroom and during your own study time. The Natural Regions Project is worth 35% of the course grade and as such its content must reflect the value put on this part of the course.
A successful project takes time and must evolve through several drafts. Students who leave project work until the last moment generally suffer from undue stress and tend to score lower grades than those students who diligently work steadily on the project throughout the whole term.
Below you will find an outline of project themes and their mark allocations.

1. LOCATION

For your chosen Natural Region:
Give a map to show its location in the world.
Label it accurately, by showing the main oceans, lines of longitude and latitude etc. colour it appropriately.
(3 marks)


Write a paragraph (100 words) to describe its location.
Use specific geographical detail to explain its location.
(e.g. refer to whether it is in the tropics, N or S of the Equator, etc.).
(4 marks)


2. THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE

Compare the climate patterns of your Natural Region with that of another region. Refer to both temperature and rainfall.
(4 marks)


Draw a climate graph for your region and label it accurately.
(3 marks)


3. SOILS AND VEGETATION

Explain accurately the kinds and types of soils that are found in your Natural Region. (e.g., perma-frost in the Tundra or leaching in a Tropical Rain Forest). Use one or two sketches to show what you mean. Label it accurately.
(3 marks + 3 marks)


4. PLANTS AND ANIMALS

Carefully describe and explain the plants and animals that are found in your region.
(2 marks)


Describe how they have adapted and survived in their particular Region.
(4 marks)


USE AT LEAST 4 TYPES OF VISUAL EVIDENCE TO SHOW WHAT YOU HAVE EXPLAINED. LABEL AND CROSS REFERENCE ACCURATELY.
(4 MARKS)


5. PEOPLE

Using at least a paragraph (100 words) to describe:
  1. The traditional life style of the original inhabitants. Include such things as whether they hunted, fished, their clothing, foods, housing etc.
    (4 marks)
  2. Explain how their traditional lifestyle was or still is related to their natural environment.
    (3 marks)

6. MODERN DEVELOPMENTS

Carefully explain the modern developments that have taken place in the region during the 20th. Century. Mention such things a lumbering, commercial plantations, cattle ranching, mining for oil or other natural resources etc.)
(4 marks)


In what way have the lives of the original inhabitants been affected by modern technology -- for good or for bad? Look at aspects such as deforestation, commercial activities, tourism, migration to cities etc.
(6 marks)


7. POLLUTION

Carefully explain the dangers to the environment and the changes in pollution levels that have taken place over the past 50 years. Provide proof of this in the form of copies of newspaper/magazine articles, photographs etc.
(6 marks)


Show how you think the problems of pollution/environmental danger can be effectively solved.
(4 marks)


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS TO INCLUDE



ALL SOURCES MUST BE CROSS REFERENCED


Remember to use the links and items in the "chart box" that are provided for your research.