Why do we have to much traffic? Are there ways to reduce it? There are so many people living in cities - why? Are there any problems when someone lived in a city? In this unit we're going to learn all about how early settlements started and how they changed and grew. We're going to talk about traffic and how to solve it. Let's not waste any more time - let's go!!!
The lessons covered in this unit are: 1. Functions of a settlement 2. Settlement site 3. Settlement pattern 4. Settlements over time 5. Benefits of living in a city 6. Problems of living in a city 7. Problems traffic causes 8. Traffic solutions |
1. FUNCTIONS OF A SETTLEMENT
🡺 I can identify the functions of a settlement.
A settlement is a place where people live. It can be as small as a village or as large as a city. Many settlements began, or originated, a long time ago. For a settlement to grow there had to be a special reason why it should be built in the first place. This is called a function. Here are four different functions:
These next two towns both grew up to help and serve people.
The larger a settlement is, the more functions it has. Settlements normally have a number of functions, but one may be more important than the others. |
Geo-check!
1. Think about the town where you live.
a. List some of its functions.
b. What was different with the settlements’ functions 100 years ago?
c. Why do you think the functions changed?
2. There are a list of explanations below (a - g). Match the main function of these towns and an example for each from below.
FUNCTION:
SETTLEMENT
a. This is a coastal town important for trade. Ships come in here to load and unload their cargo.
b. Here we find many factories where raw materials are manufactured into goods for sale.
c. This town is by the sea. There are many hotels and places of entertainment near the sea front.
d. A place visited by people for religious purposes.
e. Where the majority of residents live but work elsewhere.
f. Originally there was a large open space in the centre. Farmers came here to buy and sell their produce.
g. This would be the most important town important for administration. Here one finds the most important government offices.
a. List some of its functions.
b. What was different with the settlements’ functions 100 years ago?
c. Why do you think the functions changed?
2. There are a list of explanations below (a - g). Match the main function of these towns and an example for each from below.
FUNCTION:
- Market Town
- Religious town
- Capital/Administrative
- Tourist resort
- Industrial town
- Residential
- Port
SETTLEMENT
- Sliema
- York
- Valletta
- Rotterdam
- Santa Lucia
- Birmingham
- Lourdes
a. This is a coastal town important for trade. Ships come in here to load and unload their cargo.
b. Here we find many factories where raw materials are manufactured into goods for sale.
c. This town is by the sea. There are many hotels and places of entertainment near the sea front.
d. A place visited by people for religious purposes.
e. Where the majority of residents live but work elsewhere.
f. Originally there was a large open space in the centre. Farmers came here to buy and sell their produce.
g. This would be the most important town important for administration. Here one finds the most important government offices.
2. SETTLEMENT SITE
🡺 I can define settlement site and can explain different advantages of settlement site.
When we use the word site, we mean the actual place where a village or town grew up. A site was chosen if it had one or more natural advantages. There are some natural advantages below. PLENTY OF WATER For drinking, cooking and washing. PROTECTION Good views from a hilltop give you warning if you are attacked. NOT TOO MUCH WATER Sites must not flood or be marshy. BRIDGING POINT Where the river is easy enough to cross. SHELTER A south facing slope will have more sun and will be protected from the cold north wind. BUILDING MATERIALS Wood, stone or clay. It’s useful to be near a forest or a rocky hillside. FLAT LAND Easier to build on, for growing crops and travelling to other towns. FUEL SUPPLY Needed for warmth and to cook on. |
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Geo-check!
1. Fill in the blank spaces.
A ________________ is a place where people live and work. It may be a ___________, kilometres away from the next building, or a _________________ with millions of people. The original site of a settlement was chosen because of certain _________________ _________________ . These could include relief (the shape of land such as hills or valleys), soil, water supply and resources. Study the photograph of a town in northern England. 2. Draw a sketch of the settlement and label the main features of its site. 3. Suggest at least THREE reasons why the early settlers chose this site for a settlement. 4. What are TWO disadvantages of this site? 5. What could be done to amend one of the disadvantages. 6. Why will the site prove difficult for modern developments? |
3. SETTLEMENT PATTERN
🡺 I can explain what the pattern of a settlement is and why it formed that way.
Settlements have different shapes. Some are long and thin, some are compact, and round and others are spread out. In geography we call these shapes the settlement pattern. Settlement patterns are usually influenced by the natural features of an area. These are often the same features that were considered important when choosing the original site for the settlement. The main settlement types are: Nucleated
Linear
Dispersed
Planned
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4. SETTLEMENTS OVER TIME
🡺 I can explain the changing functions of settlements over time using maps and aerial photos.
No town or village remains the same forever. Over a period of time, its shape, function, land use and number of people living there may all change. What was typical in a village 100 years ago?
How has the village changed now?
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Geo-check!
1. Many settlements have changed their function over time. Use the word list below to continue the paragraph.
[defensive holiday longer high-tech tourists] Settlement functions can change over time. In some cases the original function may no ___________________ exist. For example, the towns of Valletta and Mdina no longer have a __________________ function. On the contrary the gates of these towns are open to attract ________________ from other countries. A fishing village might abandon fishing altogether and become a _________________ resort, or a mining town that is short of raw materials may develop into a _________________ industrial area. 2. The prefix HAL added to the name of the settlement is an indication that it was once a RAHAL or a small village. Using the population statistics, give THREE examples of settlements that have grown to very large towns now. 3. Sometimes, villages and towns have grown so much that they have joined with others and it is difficult to see where one settlement ends and another one begins. Use Google Maps to give TWO examples. 4. Look at the photos of the Sliema Strand 80 years ago and now. How do you think these groups of people might be affected by the changes in the village?
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5. BENEFITS OF LIVING IN A CITY
🡺 I can explain the benefits of living in a city.
In Malta and around the world, most people live in towns and cities. Many settlements grew very quickly in the nineteenth century, when most people moved there to work. There are many benefits to living in a city. Here are some of them.
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Geo-check!
1. Think about a town in Malta. Mention THREE benefits of living in that town.
2. Think about a large city abroad. Mention TWO benefits of living in that town, that you might not find in a smaller city in Malta.
3. Look up a large city abroad. Try and list as many benefits and problems of living there.
2. Think about a large city abroad. Mention TWO benefits of living in that town, that you might not find in a smaller city in Malta.
3. Look up a large city abroad. Try and list as many benefits and problems of living there.
6. PROBLEMS OF LIVING IN A CITY
🡺 I can explain the problems of living in a city.
Living in a city also has some problems. Here are a few:
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Geo-check!
1. Think about a town in Malta. Mention THREE problems of living in that town.
2. Think of and explain TWO solutions to the problems we mentioned above.
3. Which problem do you think is the hardest one to solve? Why?
4. Your pen-pal, Jeff, has written to you to let you know that he and his family are moving to London. Jeff’s mother has a new job in London, and they have to move next month. He is worried about the big move, he has never lived in a city before, let alone one as big as London.
Your task is to write back to Jeff on the postcard below and try and reassure him that there are many advantages to living in a big city.
2. Think of and explain TWO solutions to the problems we mentioned above.
3. Which problem do you think is the hardest one to solve? Why?
4. Your pen-pal, Jeff, has written to you to let you know that he and his family are moving to London. Jeff’s mother has a new job in London, and they have to move next month. He is worried about the big move, he has never lived in a city before, let alone one as big as London.
Your task is to write back to Jeff on the postcard below and try and reassure him that there are many advantages to living in a big city.
7. PROBLEMS TRAFFIC CAUSES
🡺 I can give reasons for the growth of traffic and some problems it causes.
Traffic is a serious problem in most urban areas. Large cities have many cars trying to move about in their central areas. Here are some effects of traffic:
Some causes of traffic (Why traffic happens)
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Geo-check!
1. The two people on the right are badly affected by traffic congestion and pollution. For each person write at least FOUR ways that they are personally affected by the traffic.
2. Look at this data about traffic accidents in Malta in 2017 below. Why do you think… a. Most people were injured on a Sunday? b. Most accidents were on a Wednesday? c. Most accidents happened between 9 and 12pm? d. Most accidents were around Bkara, Qormi and Mosta? |
8. TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS
🡺 I can give solutions to traffic and congestion in cities.
There are two main ways of approaching the problem of traffic. The first is to allow private transport to increase and make improvements to deal with larger amounts of traffic. The second is to restrict private transport and discourage drivers from bringing cars into the city. Public transport would have to be improved. ENCOURAGE PRIVATE TRANSPORT
- One-way systems - Traffic lights
DISCOURAGE PRIVATE TRANSPORT
- Increase speed and comfort - Develop rail routes like the London underground
- Travel by free bus to centre
- Reduce spaces - Congestion charging
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Geo-check!
1. Write down the type of traffic solution of the photos below.
2. Look at these two European cities to the right. Read the newspaper articles about their traffic solutions. a. List all the solutions they have made. b. What solution did each city focus on? c. Do you think any of these solutions could be implemented in Malta? Why? d. Do you think any of these solutions could not be implemented in Malta? Why? |
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