Geography Class XI Syllabus

Course Structure

Part/Unit	Topic or Chapter	Marks
Part A	Fundamentals of Physical Geography	25
Unit-1	Geography as a discipline
Unit-2	The Earth
Unit-3	Landforms
Unit-4	Climate (OTBA)
Unit-5	Water (Oceans)
Unit-6	Life on the Earth
	Map abd Diagram	5
Part B	India - Physical Environment	25
Unit-7	Introduction
Unit-8	Physiography
Unit-9	Climate, vegetation and soil
Unit-10	Natural hazards and Disasters
	Map and Diagram	5
Part C	Practical Work	30
Unit-1	Fundamentals of Maps	10
Unit-2	Topographic and Weather Maps	15
	Practical Record Book and Viva	5

The question paper will include a section on Open Text-based Assessment of 10 marks from Unit - 4 (Part A). No other question will be asked from this unit. The open text material on tbhis unit will be supplied to students in advance. These materials are designed to test the analytical and higher order thinking skills of students. The OTBA will be asked in the final examination to be held in March.

Part A: Fundamentals of Physical Geography

Unit-1: Geography as a Discipline

Geography as an integrating discipline, as a science of spatial attributes.
Branches of Geography; PhysicalGeography and Human Geography.
Scope and Career Options

Unit-2: The Earth

Origin and evolution of the earth; Interior of the earth.
Wegener's continental drift theory and plate tectonics.
Earthquakes and volcanoes: causes, types and effects.

Unit-3: Landforms

Rocks: major types of rocks and their characteristics.
Landforms and their evolution.
Geomorphic processes: weathering, mass wasting, erosion and deposition; soil-formation.

Unit 4: Climate (OTBA)

Atmosphere- composition and structure;elements of weather and climate.
Insolation-angle of incidence and distribution; heat budget of the earth-heating and cooling of atmosphere (conduction, convection, terrestrial radiation and advection); temperature- factors controlling temperature; distribution of temperature-horizontal and vertical; inversion of temperature.
Pressure-pressure belts; winds-planetary, seasonal and local; air masses and fronts; tropical and extratropical cyclones.
Precipitation-evaporation; condensation-dew, frost,fog, mist and cloud; rainfall-types and world distribution.
World climates-classification (Koeppen and Thornthwaite), Global warming and climatic changes.
Climate and Global Concerns.

Unit 5: Hydrosphere

Basics of Oceanography
Oceans - distribution of temperature and salinity.
Movements of ocean water-waves, tides and currents; submarine reliefs.
Ocean resources and pollution.

Unit 6: Biosphere

Biosphere - importance of plants and other organisms; biodiversity and conservation; ecosystem and ecological balance.

Map work on identification of features based on 1 to 6 units on the outline/Physical/Political map of the world.

Part - B: India - Physical Environment

Unit-7: Introduction

Location, space relations, India's place in the world.

Unit-8: Physiography

Structure and Relief; Physiographic Divisions.
Drainage systems: Concept of river basins, Watershed; the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers.

Unit-9: Climate, Vegetation and Soil

Weather and climate - spatial and temporal distribution of temperature, pressure winds and rainfall, Indian monsoon: mechanism, onset and withdrawal, variability of rainfalls: spatial and temporal; use of weather charts; Climatic types (Koeppen).
Natural vegetation-forest types and distribution; wild life; conservation; biosphere reserves.
Soils - major types (ICAR's classification) and their distribution, soil degradation and conservation.

Unit-10: Hazards and Disasters: Causes, Consequences and Management

(One case study to be introduced for each topic)

Floods, Cloudbursts
Droughts: types and impact
Earthquakes and Tsunami
Cyclones: features and impact
Landslides

Map Work of features based on above units for locating and labelling on the Outline/Political/Physical map of India.

Part - C: Practical Work

Unit-1: Fundamentals of Maps

Geo spatial data, Concept of Geographicaldata matrix; Point, line, area data.
Maps -types; scales-types; construction of simple linear scale, measuring distance; finding direction and use of symbols.
Map projection- Latitude, longitude and time, typology, construction and properties of projection: Conical with one standard parallel and Mercator's projection. (only two projections)

Unit 2: Topographic and Weather Maps

Study of topographic maps (1:50,000 or 1:25,000 Survey of India maps); contour cross section and identification of landforms-slopes, hills, valleys, waterfall, cliffs; distribution of settlements.
Aerial Photographs: Types and Geometry-vertical aerial photographs; difference between maps and aerial photographs; photo scale determination. Identification of physical and cultural features.
Satellite imageries, stages in remote sensing data-acquisition, platform and sensors and data products, (photographic and digital).
Use of weather instruments: thermometer, wet and dry-bulb thermometer, barometer, wind vane, rain gauge.