EDEN INTERNATIONAL

SCHOOL
Welcome to our Year
Eight Geography class
Enjoy Your Lesson
Meaning of Geography

Geography is the study of the earth

and its physical features and the
relationship between the earth and
human activities. It can also be
described as the study of places and
the relationship between people and
their environments.
Who is a Geographer?

A geographer is a person who studies the natural

environment of the earth and society and the
interaction between nature and society.
The first Geographer was a Greek called
Eratosthenes. He was the first person to study
and determine the circumference (distance round
a circle) of the earth. He is therefore regarded as
the “Father of Geography.”
Eratosthenes - The Father of Geography.
The Five Themes of Geography

 Place
 Location
 Region
 Movement
 Human-Environment interaction
Branches of Geography

There are three main branches of Geography namely:

 Physical Geography – This is the study of the natural features of the earth’s
surface. It includes land formation, mountains, hills, valleys, etc.

 Human Geography – This is the study of the interaction between people,

their culture and the natural environment. Examples of human geography
include population geography, rural geography, economic geography,
cultural geography, social geography, and many others.

 Environmental Geography – This is the study of how human activities affect

the environment or are affected by the environment. Examples are
vegetation, climate change, drainages (water bodies), soil, animals, air, etc.
Why study Geography?

 Geography helps us understand basic physical features

that affect our everyday life.
 Geography helps us to know the location of places
 It enables us to know about the features of certain places
 It helps us to embrace the concept of globalisation
 It makes us better global citizens
 Geography enables us develop spatial sense.
 It enables us to predict natural disasters.
Review Exercise 1

1. Explain your understanding of geography.

2. Identify the five themes of geography.
3. Who is the father of geography?
4. Explain briefly each of the three main types of
geography.
5. Give any five reasons why you think geography should
be studied.
END OF TOPIC 1
THANK YOU
TOPIC 2 – Giving
Directions
Meaning of Direction

Direction is the set of instructions to

follow in order to locate a given
destination. It can also be described
as the path or course to a particular
location.
The Cardinal Points

The cardinal points help us in giving

directions or locating places. Cardinal
points are the principal or main directional
points on a compass. There are four main
cardinal points namely, North, South, East,
and West.
The four main cardinal points
Some phrases used in giving direction are,
turn right, turn left, go straight, turn
backwards, etc. Land marks also help in
giving directions. Land marks are
structures or places that can easily be
identified. Examples of land marks are
school, hospital, police station, filling
station, market, bank, cinema, stadium,
church, mosque, etc.
Review Exercise 2

1. Explain the meaning of direction.

2. Draw a compass showing all the four main cardinal
points.
3. Identify certain phrases usually used in giving
direction.
4. Explain the meaning of land mark and give 5
examples.
5. Make a sketch of a given community and use arrows
to show the direction to a particular destination.
END OF TOPIC 2

Thank you
TOPIC 3 – Mapping our
Environment

Interpretation of Scale
A Map and a Sketch

Map
A map is a pictorial representation of any part of
the earth drawn to scale. There are different
types of maps. These include physical maps
climatic maps, vegetaional maps, drainage maps,
political maps, mineral distribution maps, and
soil maps.
Sketch

A sketch is a rough representation of a part or the entire

section of a place. It is the drawing of a location or an item
not drawn to scale. The school compound or the classroom
can be sketched using a free hand.
Differences Between a Map and a
Sketch
MAP SKETCH
a. A map is the visual A sketch is the rough
representation of an area. representation of an area.
b. A map is drawn to scale A sketch is not drawn to scale
c. A map gives detailed A sketch gives brief
information about an area. information about an area.
 Features of a map

A complete map should have the following features:

 Title/Heading
 Key/Legend
 Scale
 The direction of the true North
 Grid/Location
An Example of a map
Scale of a Map

 A scale of a map is the ratio or relationship between two

distances measured on a map and the actual distance on
the ground.
 This means for example, if we measure 1 cm on a map,
what is it’s equivalent on the ground in terms of the
actual or real distance.
 We can determine the actual distance on the ground with
the help of a scale.
Types of Scale of a Map

There are three main types of scale of a map

namely:
 Statement Scale
 Linear scale
 Representative Fraction (R/F) Scale
Statement Scale

This is a type of scale which is written in a form of a

statement or in words.
For example the Statement scale 1 centimetre (cm) is
equal to 10 kilometres (km) means that every 1cm
measured on the map is equivalent to 8 km on the ground.
Therefore if we measure 5 cm on the map, the actual
distance on the ground would be 5cm/1cm * 8km = 40km.
This means that if we measure 5cm on the map, it is
equivalent to 40km on the ground if we use the scale 1cm
equals 8km.
Linear Scale

The Linear scale represents the scale of a map in a linear form.

The line is sub-divided into two parts namely, primaries and
secondaries.
The primary section is that portion to the zero on the line. All
major measurements (whole numbers) are taken in the primaries
before the remaining sub-units are then measured on the
secondaries.
The secondaries are sub-divided into smaller parts so that
fractions on the distances on the primaries can be
measured on them.
For example a linear scale of metres to kilometres will have
the secondary markings in metres.
How To Use The Linear Scale

 Use a piece of thread to measure the distance between the two points on
the map.
 Place the beginning of the thread on the zero(0) mark and stretch it on
the primary to determine the whole length in kilometres . For example if
the thread on the primary falls on 4km but with a piece left, it is sent to
the secondary.
 Any remainder of the thread that is less than a length in the primary is
then sent to the secondary for fractions of the measurement to be
determined. If the remaining piece falls at the centre of the secondary, it
is taken as 500m.
 The total length of the distance between the two points is therefore the
summation of the primary and the secondary; that is, 4km + 0.5km
(500m) = 4.5km
Representative Fraction (R/F)
Scale

This type of scale is written in the for form of a ratio or

fraction with the numerator always 1. No units are written
against it; for example the ratio 1: 50,000 0r 1: 100,000
[1/50,000 or 1/100,000] means that the map distance is 1
and the actual distance is 50,000 or 100,000 on the ground.
The R/F scale is therefore the ratio of the map distance to
the ground equivalent.
Transferring Actual Distances
onto Paper

 The actual distance on the ground can be drawn on a paper using

a given scale.
 For example, using the scale of 1cm equals 12km, draw a plot of
96km long and 60km wide.
 In solving this, we need to convert the actual distances given to
distances we can measure on paper – We can do that using the
scale given.
Therefore the length on paper would be 96km/12km * 1cm, which will
give us 8cm.
The Breadth or width on paper would be 60km/12km * 1cm, which
would give us 5cnbm.
In drawing our rectangular plot, we measure 8cm for the length and
5cm for the width and join all the sides.
Not drawn to Scale
Perimeter of the plot = 2(L) + 2(W)
= 2(8) + 2(5)
= 16 + 10
=26 cm

Area of the plot = L*W

= 8*5
= 40 square cm
Review Exercise 1

1. Draw a disparity between a map and a sketch.

2. Identify all the features of a map.
3. What do you understand by the term ‘Scale of a Map?’
4. Identify the three types of scale of a map.
Review Exercise 2

1. If the distance between two points measured on a map is

6cm, what is the actual distance on the ground using a
scale of 1cm equals 9km?

2. A. Luke bought a plot of 72 km long and 48km wide.

Using a scale of 1cm is to 12km, draw Luke’s plot on a
paper.
B. Determine the (i) The Perimeter
(ii)The area of the plot you draw.
[Please show workings for both questions]
END OF TOPIC 3
THANK YOU
TOPIC 4 - Population
Meaning of Population

Population can be explained as the total number of people

living in a geographical area within a specific period of
time.
What is Population Census?

Population census refers to the official process of

recording, analysing, and interpreting the population
statistics of a country.
Officers who go round to record population statistics are
called Enumerators.
Importance of Population Census

 Determination of population figures helps the government in

planning for development.
 Population figures enables the government to determine control
measures.
 It helps in determining unemployment figures and dependency
load.
 It helps in policy formulation towards migration.
 Population figures helps in the determination of Per Capita
income: The per capita income of a country measures the share
of wealth that each citizen enjoys. It is computed by dividing
the nation’s total income in a particular year by the total
population. By this the standard of living is determined. A
country which enjoys high per capita income enjoys higher
standard of living and vice versa.
[Per capta income = National income/Total population]
 Population census helps in determining population density. This
refers to the total number of people per square kilometre.
[Population density (Dp) = N/A, where N = Number of people and
A = Area]
Population concepts

 Under Population: This is a situation whereby a country’s

population is less as compared to the available resources. It
means that the people needed to maximise the use of the
country’s resources to the advantage of the country.
 Over Population: This is a situation whereby a country has
more people than needed to work on the available resources.
 Optimum Population: This is a situation whereby a country’s
population effectively and efficiently combines her natural
resources with her man-made resources to yield maximum
output of goods and services per head.
Case Study on Ghana: Problems
associated with Population Census

 High rate of Illiteracy

 Inaccessibility
 Lack of Finance and other Logistics
 Traditional beliefs
 Inadequate skilled demographers and enumerators
 Inaccurate data due to double counting or no counting
 Lack of commitment to the census program
Population Growth

Population growth refers to the changes that occur in a country’s

population over a period of time. The changes may either be
positive, negative, or constant.
A country’s population growth is positive where there is an
increasing population. The growth is negative where the country’s
population has been decreasing. The population of every country
changes with time and the rate at which these changes occur
differ from one country to another.
Factors that affect Population
Growth

There are two main factors that affect population growth

namely natural factors and artificial factors.
Natural factors include Birth Rate and Death Rate whereas
artificial factors include Immigration and Emigration.
Birth Rate refers to the number of live births per every
thousand of the population whereas Death rate is the
number of deaths per every thousand of the population.
Immigration refers to the number of people who enter the
country whereas Emigration refers to the number of people
leaving the county.
Calculation of Population Growth

Total Population Growth (TPG)

= Natural Population Growth (NPG) + Artificial Population Growth
(APG)
But NPG = (Birth Rate – Death Rate), APG = (Immigration –
Emigration)
Therefore, TPG = (BR-DR) + (Imm. – Emm.)
Trial Question 1

1. The number of live births recorded in East Legon in the year

2023 was 950 and the number of deaths recorded was 450. In
that same year 700 people came to reside in East Legon and
200 people left.
a. Determine the population growth
b. If the population of East Legon in the year 2022 was 4,000,
what was the new population in the year 2023?
c. Determine the percentage growth in population of East Legon
in the year 2023.
Solution

Total Population Growth(TPG) = Natural Population Growth (NPG) + Artificial

Population Growth (APG)
= (Birth Rate – Death Rate) = (Immigration – Emigration)
= (950 – 450) + (700 – 200)
=(500) + (500) = 1,000
Therefore the Total Population Growth (TPG) = 1,000, meaning the population
increased by 1,000 in 2023.
New Population = Old Population + Population Growth
= 4,000 + 1,000 = 5,000
Percentage increase = Population Growth/Old Population * 100%
= 1,000/4,000 * 100% = 25%, meaning the increase in terms of percentage is 25%
Trial Question 2

The total number of people living at Cantonments in the year 2018

was 15,000. In the year 2019 the population increased by 20%.
a. Determine
i. The population growth
ii. The new population in the year 2019
b. If the population in 2019 reduced by 25% in 2020, what was the
new population in 2020?
Population Structure

Population structure refers to the distribution of the country’s

population among the various age groups. This structure is divided
into three namely children(0 – 14 years), youth (15 – 64 years), and
old age (above 65 years).
The age structure of a population can be represented on statistical
tools such as Pie chart, Bar graph, Histogram, etc.
A representation of the age structure of a population
A representation of the percentage age structure of a given population on a bar graph
Significance of Population
Structure

The significance of any given country’s population provides the

government with information on the proportion of people in the
various age groupings.
 The Needs of the People – The population structure enables the
government to know the needs of the people, and so help to
provide them.
 Information on Working Class – Population structure enables
the government to have data on people within the working
class.
 Economic planning – Population helps economic planners to
know where more attention has to be given in the economy in
order to ensure overall development in the country.
 Population Policies – Population structure helps the
government in the formation of its population policies in the
country.
 Production purposes – Population structure helps the business
community to decide on what to produce, how much to
produce, and when to produce to meet the demand for the
various age groups in the economy.
 Future predictions – Population structure enables the
government to predict the future needs of the people.
 Tax Collection Purpose – Population structure provides the
government with information on the number of tax payers in
the country so that appropriate tax collection methods are
adopted.
END OF TOPIC 4

Thank you