GEOGRAPHY FOR 2023 & BEYOND
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Soil Degradation 

 Objective 1: To be able to explain the causes of soil degradation

Starter: Collect some soil in a tub and ask students to rub a small amount into the worksheet to the right. Then write down everything that they know about soil in the bubble. 

Task 1 - Watch the the video to the right hand side (different languages here). Make notes on the following on your starter sheet:

a. Outline then main importance of soil.
b. How is soil formed?
c. How long does it take to form 10cm of soil?
d. How does human activity affect soil erosion?
e. How many tonnes were lost in 2011 & what does that equate to in cost per person and annually to the global economy? 
f. How is fertile land being 'grabbed' from potentially vulnerable populations?
g. Why is the issue of soil degradation not "current news"? 

Task 2 - Study the Soil Degradation map below carefully. Answer this IB 5 mark (target 9 minutes) question:


Describe the distribution of global supplies of stable soil and comment on its suitability for future population use.

Make sure you copy and paste this map next to your response for revision reference.

Task 3 - Make a note of the four ways in which soil degradation can happen (see definitions to the right).

Task 4 - Study the table below and take notes on the how overgrazing, over-cultivation  deforestation, fertilizer & pesticide use and industrial pollution cause soil degradation. 

Task 5 - Take notes on the five physical causes of soil degradation as set out in the table below. 
Picture
Source: UNEP

Gone with the wind and washed away by water.....

soil.docx
File Size: 18 kb
File Type: docx
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Picture

Let's Talk About Soil - English from IASS Vimeo Channel on Vimeo.

Soil can be degraded in different ways. The main types of soil degradation are:

Wind and water: Rain or wind blowing away topsoil and causing degradation.

Biological: The loss of humus and or plant/animal life.

Physical: The loss of soil structure or change in permeability.

Chemical: The change in the chemical composition of soil. This could be acidification, salinisation or chemical pollution or loss of nutrients.

Picture
Source: Greenfield Geography Wiki

Task 6 - IB exam question practice. Study the graphic to the right hand side. Answer this 5 mark question:

Examine the main causes of soil degradation globally and discuss to what extent they are human/physical in nature. 

Objective 2 - To be able to discuss the environmental and socio-economic consequences of soil degradation.

Task 7 - Split into pairs and carry out some research to find out how the following factors are linked to soil degradation:

a. Desertification (fertile land turning into desert)
b. Dust storms
c. Topsoil erosion
d. Famine & starvation
e. Conflict

Share what you have collected with each other and then answer this question:

Outline the most serious threats posed to the physical environment and vulnerable populations by soil degradation. (8)

Objective 3 -To be able to discuss soil degradation management strategies. 

You should now have a good understanding of the causes and consequences of soil degradation. You must now gather information so that you are able to discuss management strategies (like Freshwater). 

Task 8 - Watch the two videos to the right hand side and this six minute video from BBC Futures and make notes of the successful strategies in China and Africa.

Read Geo Factsheet 191 - Soil Degradation, A Creeping Concern.  Page 1-3 contains information that you are already familiar with.  Turn to page 4 and read the information on 'Managing Soil Degradation' carefully. 

Task 9 - Complete the task above Fig.5 on page 5. You might want to screenshot the diagram and add text boxes with full descriptions of methods 1-6. 

Task 10 - Complete the exam question on page 5 of the Geo Factsheet using the 'Answer Guideline' to help you. 
Picture
french version of video above

All content copyright geographypods unless otherwise stated. 
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  • Home
    • About & Contact
    • Discover The World Education >
      • Sample Lessons IGCSE/IBDP
    • Blog
    • Site Testimonials
    • Photos (Free to use) >
      • Floods
      • Snow & Mountains
      • Coastal
      • Tropical
      • Urban
      • Sports
  • Reactive
    • Qatar World Cup 2022
    • Famous Refugees
    • Over the Horizon
    • Migration to the EU. >
      • Classroom Display
    • Hurricane Matthew 2016 >
      • Hurricane Matthew Display
    • Nepal Earthquake 2015
    • Ebola 2014
    • Don't Panic - The Truth About Population
    • Israel & Palestine Group 3
    • Global Village + Maths
    • IB Sample Lesson 2017
  • G11-12 IB
    • IB Geo 2017 Onward
    • IB Geo 2009-18 Archive >
      • IB Induction Cross Curricular
      • Global Interactions (70 hrs)
      • Hazards and Risk Management (30 hrs)
      • Freshwater - Issues and Conficts (30hrs)
      • Sports, Leisure & Tourism (30 hrs)
      • Internal Assessment >
        • IA 2018 >
          • Sitges & Calafell Photos 2013
          • Sitges & Calafell Video >
            • Debrief
      • IB Geography Exams >
        • G11 Mock
        • G12 Mock
    • Extended Essay
    • IB Geography & TOK
    • Studying Geography at Uni
  • G9-10 GCSE/iGCSE
    • Theme 1 Population & Settlement.
    • Theme 2 - Natural Environment
    • Theme 3 - Economic Development
    • Coursework >
      • IGCSE Berlin Fieldwork
      • IGCSE Rivers France
      • IGCSE Barcelona Fieldwork
    • IGCSE Exam Revision
  • G6
    • G6 Factfulness
    • Introducing Tectonics
    • Volcanoes
    • Earthquakes
    • The New Silk Road
    • Map Skills
    • Tornadoes
    • The Ice Man
    • Landscape in a Box >
      • 2016 Efforts
      • 2012 Efforts >
        • 7X
        • 7Y
    • End of Year Exam
    • Parent Information
  • G7
    • G7 Factfulness
    • 8850 Top of the World
    • Geography of My Stuff >
      • Journey of a T-Shirt
    • Another Shopping Centre?
    • Sinkholes
    • Walls
    • Carcassonne Connection
    • Renaissance Day
    • End of Year Exam
  • G8
    • G8 Factfulness
    • Development
    • Global Biomes
    • Climate & Rainforest
    • The Tribe
    • Palm Oil & Me >
      • Palm Oil Assessment
    • Introducing Waterfalls
    • Tourism Blessing or Curse?
    • Niagara Redeveloped DME
    • IGCSE Options
    • End of Year Exam