ICSE Syllabus for Class 8 Geography

Theme 1: Representation of Geographical Features

The topographic sheets or the top sheets are large-scaled maps, and in these maps, you can find various features that are both naturally existing and human-made. These features are represented using symbols and colours that are conventionally used. The student gets introduced to contours and can interpret the toposheets based on features of contours. Children also learn to represent landforms like plateaus, valleys, and hills using contours which they draw on plain sheets.

Post studying this chapter students will be able to:

• Read contours presented on the toposheets

• Distinguish between various slopes like between steep and gentle slope

• Identify landforms by looking at the contours on the toposheet

• Differentiate patterns of settlements on toposheets

• Draw contours on plain papers

Theme 2: Population Dynamics

This theme enables the students to understand the reason behind the growth in population in different parts of the world. They can comprehend terms like death rate, birth rate, migration, and population density. The students can also make a case study approach that helps develop their understanding of the high growth rate impact on social-economic development

After reading this chapter students will be able to:

• Describe various factors affecting the population of a region

• Understand the impact of over and under population on a society

• Identify over and underpopulated nations in the world

• Interpret a population pyramid showing the composition of the population based on factors of age and sex   

Theme 3: Migration

This theme's primary focus is to understand humans' movement from one place to another for varied purposes. Children are made to understand the migration types and how it impacts the area's social and economic development. The theme lets students investigate issues that are related to brain drain and how it affects society.

After post thorough understanding of the concepts of this topic, students will be able to:

• Differentiate between the terms - emigration, and immigration

• Explain reasons for migration 

• Analyse the impact of migration in any region

• Identify and understand regions of the world where huge migration took place at some point in the history 

• Understand the meaning of brain-drain

• Identify factors behind the brain drain in India

• Inspect and understand the positive and negative impacts of the brain- drain in India.

Theme 4: Urbanisation

The theme lets students understand what urbanisation is and what are its effects and causes. They can relate the knowledge that they gained in the earlier theme to know how the rapid increase in urbanisation in the world leads to migration.

This chapter will teach students about the phenomenon of urbanization. Learning outcomes for students would be:

• Describing the term “urbanization” 

• They will be able to identify causes of urbanization

• They will be able to explain the impacts of urbanization

• They will learn to distinguish between a smart city and any other urban centre

•  They will be in a position to explain steps taken at the local level to keep the urban areas clean.

Theme 5: Natural and Man-made Disasters

The theme enables children to build on their knowledge to study the disasters in detail through case studies. They also learn about disaster management and the role of the government in disaster management.

After understanding all the concepts of this chapter students will be able to:

• Distinguish between natural and manmade disasters

• Understand the importance of disaster management

• Demonstrate measures that need to be taken in case of an earthquake, flood, fire

• Elaborate the causes, effects, and impact of floods, earthquakes, and oil spills on life and the environment

• Enlist preventive measures to mitigate the effects of disasters.

Theme 6: Asia: The Largest Continent

Children have already got the basics about the continents. In this theme, the children learn about the largest continent in the world, which is Asia. The children learn about the natural environments and the physical features of the continent.

After finishing the chapter learners will be able to:

• Locate Asian countries on the globe as well as on the world map

• Identify important physical features e.g. mountains, plateaus, deserts, rivers, lakes, islands. on the map of the Asian continent

• Discuss how the climate of Asia is impacted due to latitudinal extent and unique relief features

• Analyse how climate and natural vegetation in Asia are interrelated.

Theme 7: India: Geographical Features

The theme builds on the child's previous knowledge and develops, focuses, and offers an in-depth understanding of India. It teaches them about the country's various geographical features and its vital role in the country's economics.

After going through this chapter students will be in a position to: 

• Understand the location and extent of India concerning other countries of the Asian continent 

• Locate important relief features such as mountains, plateaus, deserts, islands, rivers on the map of India 

• Differentiate the relief, climate, and vegetation of India from other parts of Asia 

• Explain the importance of the monsoon and how it impacts the socio-cultural life of the nation.

Theme 8: India: Human Resources

The theme introduces and makes the child aware of human resources' concepts and how they are used for a country's socio-economic development. Children are made aware of the educated, healthy, and skilled humans who are an asset to the nation. Children also investigate the areas in India where natural resources are not used optimally.

On completion of this particular chapter a student will be able to:

• Understand and comprehend the meaning of the term human resource

• Talk about the role of health and education in the development of the human resources 

• Differentiate between skilled and unskilled human resource

• Recognize areas in which India is lagging in development due to lack of unskilled human resource

• Inspect various factors responsible for the development of a region.