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Year 10 - Geography

Using and interpreting photographs

Geographical and statistics skills

Unit Summary

This unit teaches pupils about geographical skills. Pupils will learn how to identify, describe and analyse atlas and OS maps at different scales. They will also learn how to construct and interpret photos, diagrams, graphs and thematic maps. Pupils will also learn numerical and statistical skills.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use and interpret a range of photographs.

Key Notes

  • Geographers use different types of photographs to show different aspects of geography.
  • Drawing a sketch from a photograph can be a good way of highlighting certain geographical features.
  • Photographs rarely tell geographers everything about a place and so they use critical analysis to interpret them.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • oblique aerial photograph: an aerial photograph where the camera is at an angle to Earth's surface
  • vertical aerial photograph: a photograph taken straight down from the air, showing a view of Earth's surface
  • annotation: a comment used to describe and explain things that might not necessarily be seen in an image
  • critical analysis: thinking more widely about an image to gain a deeper understanding of it

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Students frequently confuse the aerial images seen through software such as Google Maps as a map, partly because they are frequently displayed alongside actual maps.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.

Geographers use different types of photographs to show different aspects of geography. Drawing a sketch from a photograph can be a good way of highlighting certain geographical features.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'oblique aerial photograph'

an aerial photograph where the camera is at an angle to Earth's surface.

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: Students frequently confuse the aerial images seen through software such as Google Maps as a map, partly because they are frequently displayed alongside actual maps. Correction: Maps are representations of the world and use symbols and cartographic language to present certain characteristics of a place (and not others). Aerial photographs are indiscriminate views of the world and do not select certain aspects of geography.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 Geography guide library.