PEP Social Studies Textbook

5 Activity Use an atlas world map to find six different seas. 1. Name the ocean to which each is connected and the continents that border it. 2. Set out your results in a table like this one. Name of sea Ocean connected to it Continents which border it Caribbean Sea Atlantic Ocean South America Features of oceans and seas Oceans and seas include areas of different depths. Close to land are shallow seas over sea bed areas called continental shelves. Further from land are deep oceans. There are also deep trenches, the deepest of which is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, which is 10,920 metres deep. Compare the depth of the Mariana Trench with the height of Mount Everest. Which is greater? Activity 1. Work in a group to calculate the area of each continent. a) Trace the shape of each continent onto graph paper or squared paper. Find the area of each graph square and then add up the number of graph squares. b)  Rank the continents in order of size. 2. Use the same method to calculate the areas of the oceans. Rank the oceans in order of size. 3. Find the sum of the areas of all the continents and the sum of the area of all the oceans. 4. Calculate the percentages of land and water on the Earth. Coastal features Wetlands Lagoon Where our land masses (continents and islands) meet our seas and oceans special landforms called Beach Cliffs coastal features are created. The movement of the seas by waves, currents, tides and storms all affect the Bay adjacent land. The sea erodes peninsulas, headlands and cliffs carrying particles away. It deposits these Headland particles in gulfs and bays forming beaches and dunes. (point) You can see some of these smaller and larger scale coastal features in the diagrams on the right and on the next page. Peninsula Coastal features 96

5 FACT BOX A gulf is a large area of sea surrounded Peninsula on three sides by land, with a narrow mouth. Examples include Portland Bight in Jamaica and the Gulf of Mexico which leads off the Caribbean Sea. A bay is part of the coast which curves Gulf Gulf of Mexico in so that the sea is partly enclosed by Florida land. Long Bay near Negril or Holland Bay in the far east of Jamaica are Large gulf examples, also Mayaro Bay in Trinidad Jamaica and Rodney Bay in St Lucia. A peninsula is a long narrow piece Bay of land that juts out into the sea but Isthmus is connected to the mainland. The Yucatan peninsula in south-east Mexico Caribbean coastal landforms separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. The US state of Florida is also a peninsula. The Palisadoes strip on which the Norman Manley International Airport is found is a Jamaican example. An isthmus is a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, linking two larger areas of land. Central America, particularly the countries of Panama and Costa Rica, forms an isthmus between the continents of North America and South America. Activity Research online and in other sources to collect photos of each type of feature. Use the photos you have collected to create a picture dictionary of these features. Include an example of each from the Caribbean and an example from elsewhere in the world. Learning to work by yourself is as important as learning to work as part of a group. It does not suit all tasks, but for those that it does it can help you to become very efficient, complete your tasks quickly and be praised for all the work done. 97

5 Activity 1. The top row of the table below shows world coastal features with an example of each in the second row. Gulf Bay Peninsula Isthmus Archipelago Hudson Bay The Persian the Korean Médanos the Indonesian Gulf Peninsula Isthmus, Archipelago Venezuela In small groups: a) Find the examples in your atlas, a world map or research online. b) Find three more examples of each feature. c) Make a table similar to the one above to record your findings. d) Share your table with other groups and add more examples to your table. 2. For one example of each feature in your table: a)  describe the relative location of each using compass directions from other places b)  give the absolute location of each using latitude and longitude. Caribbean water bodies and coastal landforms Look carefully at the map on page 99. You can see that the Caribbean region borders the Atlantic Ocean. The Caribbean Sea lies between the Caribbean islands and Central America. Central America is part of the continent of North America. What are the main water bodies and landforms of the Caribbean region? Some of the countries of the Caribbean are mainland countries: Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela all border the Caribbean Sea, and Guyana is considered part of the Caribbean. Suriname is also sometimes included. Which of these countries are on the continent of South America? Many of the Caribbean countries are islands or groups of islands. Can you see the group of smaller islands all the way from Trinidad to the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and the tiny islands of The Bahamas? This chain of islands is an archipelago. Which Caribbean islands are completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean? 98

5 N Florida The Bahamas Atlantic Ocean over 2000 m Gulf of Mexico 600-2000 m Cuba Turks and 0-600 m Caicos Islands Mexico Dominican British Republic Yucatan Puerto Virgin Peninsula Cayman Haiti Rico Islands Anguilla Islands UISslaVnirdgsinanStdKNitetvsis Antigua and Barbuda Belize Jamaica Montserrat Guadeloupe Dominica Honduras Caribbean Sea St Vincent and Martinique Nicaragua the Grenadines St Lucia Aruba Bonaire Curaçao Barbados Grenada Isthmus Trinidad and of Panama Tobago Pacific Costa Panama Colombia Venezuela Ocean Rica 0 200 400 600 800 1000 km Guyana Suriname Physical map of the Caribbean In the map above, find the examples of coastal features from the Fact Box on page 97, and on an atlas map of the Caribbean. tBeraasienr Can you tell which of the following are water bodies and which are landforms? Archipelago, gulf, bay, peninsula, lake, isthmus, island, river, continent, ocean Activity Work with a partner. Use a a digital, wall or atlas map of the Caribbean. 1. Name a continent, an island, an archipelago, an isthmus and a peninsula. 2. Describe the relative location of each using compass directions from other places. 3. Give the absolute location of each using latitude and longitude. 4. Locate and name a sea, an ocean and a gulf. 5. In your notebook, describe each feature clearly, and make distinctions between them, using words and images (drawings, photographs, diagrams). If necessary use a dictionary to help you. 6. List the Caribbean countries which are mainland countries. 99

5 Inland water bodies As well as oceans and seas, water is also found on the Earth’s continents and islands. These water bodies include rivers, lakes, ponds and lagoons. A lake is an area of fresh water surrounded by land. Lakes can be natural or human-made. Human- made lakes are sometimes called reservoirs. Chicago on Lake Michigan in the USA There are many large lakes all over the world, for example the Great Lakes of North America. Lake Superior is the world’s second largest lake in area, at 82,100 sq km. The world’s largest lake by area is the Caspian Sea in Asia, at 371,000 sq km. Some lakes are very deep. The deepest lake in the world is Lake Baikal in Siberia, which has a depth of 1,637 metres. You can see the world’s major lakes on the map on page 103. The largest freshwater lake in Jamaica is Wallywash Pond in the parish of St Elizabeth, which is about a kilometre long. Bodies of water that are surrounded by land but are smaller than lakes are called ponds. Both lakes and ponds are very valuable in providing fresh water for farming and domestic purposes. Lagoons are areas of water, usually salty, surrounded by land, usually very close to the coast. Did you know? The largest lake in the Caribbean Region is Lake 100 Nicaragua in Central America. It is 160 km long and about 26 metres deep. It is the 19th largest lake in the world. Although it is a freshwater lake, it is the habitat of saltwater animals such as sharks. Lake Nicaragua in Nicaragua

5 Rivers You learnt about Jamaica’s rivers in Grades 4 and 5, and about the work of rivers in erosion and deposition. Source What do we call the main parts of a river? Rivers are bodies of fresh water which Bank Bank flow in a channel from a highland area to the sea or ocean, or sometimes into a lake. Channel The place where a river begins is called its source. The sides of a river are Tributary called banks. Mouth As a river flows from its source to its A river from its source to its mouth mouth, it is joined by other smaller rivers called tributaries. A tributary is a river which flows into or joins another river. Large rivers may have many tributaries. For example, the Black River in Jamaica has several tributaries including the Broad River, Smith River and the YS River, and underground tributaries such as the One Eye River. Sometimes rivers run underground or empty into holes in the ground. The place where the river enters the sea is called the mouth. The course of a river is the route it takes from its source to its mouth. The river bed is the ground over which it flows. By the time the river reaches its mouth, which is the largest part of the river, it has grown to many times the size it was where it started. Which is Jamaica’s longest river? The Yumuri River in Cuba flowing through a deep valley 101

5 FACT BOX The Rio Minho The Rio Minho is Jamaica’s longest river at 92.8 km. It rises close to the centre of Jamaica, with its main source in the Dry Harbour Mountains north-west of Frankfield. It flows generally south- southwest through May Pen in a winding course and across the Vere Plains with many meanders. It reaches the Caribbean Sea coast at Carlisle Bay, to the west of Portland Point. You can follow the course of the Rio Minho on Google Maps. Rio Minho Activity 1. Watch a virtual tour of a river from its source to its mouth. 2. Choose another river in Jamaica and use Google Maps to locate its source and follow its course. 3. Write a brief description of the course of the river you chose. 4. Complete a blank diagram to show the parts of a river (source, tributaries, banks, channel, mouth). Label the parts correctly. Rivers of the world The River Nile, the longest river in the world, is 6,695 km long. Compare Activity this to Jamaica’s longest river, the Rio Minho, which is 92.5 km long. 1. Use atlas maps to find the longest river in How many times can Rio Minho’s each continent. length fit into River Nile’s length? 2. Create a table ranking these rivers by length. tBeraasienr Include in your table: • the continent in which the river is found • the location of the source and the mouth • which ocean or sea it flows into • the number of tributaries and the length. 102

North Volga Ob Yenisey America Europe Lake Missouri Lake Superior Baikal Lake Huron Africa Lake Ontario Asia Lake Michigan Lake Erie r Congo Lake Chang Jiang Mississippi Victoria 5Amazon DAustralasia arling NileSouth Murray NigeN America Antarctica 103 0 2000 4000 km The world’s major rivers and lakes

5 Activity Complete a blank map of the world to show the continents, oceans and major rivers. Extension activity 1. Research additional information on the importance of water bodies and land masses to human activities. 2. Present your findings to the class in an interesting way. If possible use digital technology. DC If you are intending to share something online be very careful how much personal information you give out. You could give a contact email but do NOT provide other personal details such as full name, age, phone number or address. Summary •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  104

5 Unit 5 Assessment Choose the correct answer. 1. Which correctly represents the proportion of land masses to water bodies? A. 60% to 40% B. 29% to 71% C. 21% to 79% D. 20% to 80% 2. “While still at 30,000 feet, the returning sports teams were excited to see the collection of small land masses surrounded by the Caribbean sea and Atlantic Ocean out of the aeroplane window.” Which concept could be used to replace the underlined section of the statement without changing the meaning? A. Island B. Isthmus C. Archipelago D. Delta Use the table below to answer questions 3 and 4. Group A Islands Group B River Continents Mountains Ocean Archipelago Sea 3. Which of the following is the odd one out in Group A? A. Continents B. Islands C. Archipelago D. Mountains 4. Which of the following could be added to Group B without changing the classification? A. Lake B. Delta C. Isthmus D. Channel Use this map to answer questions 5 and 6. I III V IV N II VI VII 0 2000 4000 km Key Continental land mass Island 5. Which pair is located on continent I? C. Volga and Himalayas A. Amazon and Rockies D. Nile and Alps B. Mississippi and Rockies 6. Identify the water body between continents IV and V. D. Arctic Ocean A. Atlantic Ocean B. Pacific Ocean C. Indian Ocean 105

5 7. Which of these Caribbean countries is located on the mainland of Central America? A. Venezuela B. Cuba C. Guyana D. Belize 8. Which of these islands is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea only? A. Jamaica B. Puerto Rico C. Barbados D. St Lucia 9. The Palisadoes strip near Kingston is an example of what kind of feature? A. A peninsula B. An island C. An isthmus D. A bay 10. Which of the following concepts is not correctly defined? A. Source: The beginning of a river B. Mouth: The point where a river enters the sea C. Tributary: A river that flows into another river D. Channel: The bed of a river 11. Examine the map of the Caribbean below and copy the table into your notebook. E Cuba Feature Letter Water body Gulf of Ocean Mexico C Atlantic Ocean Lake B D Caribbean Sea Isthmus Yucatan Gulf G PeninsulMa ontegoF Continent Bay Bay Island Peninsula I A South America Sea Lake Nicaragua H Panama Isthmus a Identify each of the features on the map by putting the correct letters in the table. b Put a tick in the right-hand column for those features that are water bodies. c Choose two features in the table above and write your own definitions of them. d Write a sentence to contrast and compare each of the following pairs of features: i An ocean and a sea A ii An island and an archipelago iii A gulf and a bay iv A peninsula and an isthmus 12. Examine the diagram on the right. BB a Give the correct term for the features labelled A to E in E the diagram. b Imagine you are a small fish swimming down the river C from its start to its end. Describe some of the features you are likely to encounter on the way. D 106

Theme: Living together 6 Our national government Focus question: How are decisions made at the national level and how do these decisions affect us? Key terms: government, citizen, constitution, democracy, vote, monarch, leader, Cabinet, Parliament, Senate, Opposition Objectives • Develop working definitions and use correctly the following terms: citizen, leader, democracy, Cabinet, government, parliament, Opposition, Senate, monarch, constitution, vote. • Distinguish between local and central government. • State the requirements for Jamaican citizenship. • Participate in activities that foster and develop responsible actions by citizens. • Distinguish between rights and responsibilities of citizens. • Examine the rights of a Jamaican citizen and develop a list of responsibilities of a citizen that complements these rights. • Examine an organisational chart of the structure of the Jamaican system of government, then describe it and make deductions about the relationship among members. • Identify people in positions of power, describe how they acquired the position of power and how their use of this power affects the freedoms and rights of others. • Examine the activities of various leaders and then develop and justify a list of skills and qualities needed to lead at the national level. • Identify the goods and services provided by government and explain how the government gets money to pay for these. • Evaluate various decisions made by the Jamaican Government and discuss the intended and unintended impact of these decisions on the Jamaican people, then propose amendments to the decisions. • Compare the procedures for making decisions in various settings (classroom, school, home, community, government). • Examine various cases of how justice is meted out to citizens of Jamaica, then develop criteria to judge the degree of fairness and use it to evaluate cases and propose just measures. • Work cooperatively and individually to accomplish goals. In Grade 5 you learnt about local government and about the work of our municipal corporations. In this unit we will learn about Jamaican citizenship and about our system of government at national level and how decisions are made. 107

6 FACT BOX Local government is government of particular districts or areas by the representatives of the people who live there. In Jamaica it is organised through 14 bodies: the 12 municipal corporations, Kingston and St Andrew Corporation and the Municipality of Portmore. Central government is government of the whole nation from the capital city by representatives elected by different areas of the country called constituencies. Activity Work with a partner. Think back to what you learnt in Grades 4 and 5. Create a definition for each of the following words: democracy, government, leader. Citizenship A citizen is someone who legally belongs to a particular nation or country. Being a citizen of a country gives you certain rights and responsibilities as well as a sense of belonging. Think back to what you learnt in Grade 4 about citizenship. How does someone legally become a citizen of Jamaica? Ways in which a person can become a citizen of Jamaica Descent People born in Jamaica of Jamaican parents are citizens of Jamaica. Adoption People born outside of Jamaica to Jamaican citizens can register as Jamaican Marriage citizens. Naturalisation A child legally adopted by parents who are Jamaican citizens can become a Jamaican citizen. If a Jamaican man marries a woman who is a citizen of another country the wife can register as a Jamaican citizen; similarly a man who marries a Jamaican woman can register as a Jamaican citizen. People who are citizens of other countries can become citizens of Jamaica; they must live in Jamaica for a minimum of five years, have good characters and be able to finance themselves. The naturalisation process takes about two years. Then the person is given a Certificate of Naturalisation. Adult citizens have certain documents which show their citizenship, such as a passport, a birth certificate or a National ID card. Activity Did you know? Ask your parents or guardians if you can have a look An individual can be a citizen at a birth certificate or passport belonging to a family in two countries. This is called member. What details does it show? dual citizenship. 108

6 Did you know? Jamaican citizens are recognised as Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals or citizens within the CARICOM region. Some people have CARICOM passports, with the CARICOM logo on the front. Citizenship means more than simply being born somewhere. It also includes active participation as a member of society, for example, participating in the voting process of the country. Citizenship not only entitles a person to rights, but also requires they take on civic duties and responsibilities. Activity Work with a partner. Research in books, online or using other sources. 1. Find different meanings of the word ‘citizen’ and create your own definition of the term, using your own words. 2. Share your ideas with the class to create the best definition. 3. Research and discuss the various different ways in which a person can become a citizen of a country. You could check the procedures and requirements for two or three different countries and compare them. 4. Make a bookmark with the requirements for Jamaican citizenship. DC Always remember when you do research to keep a list of your sources, take notes of things you want to remember (do not cut and paste), and then write any definitions, reports or other materials in your own words. Rights of citizenship The rights of citizenship are common to all citizens regardless of how wealthy they are, where they live, their gender, religion or level of education. A right is something which a person has a claim to, is entitled to or should be allowed access to. Did you know? The rights of Jamaican citizens are related to universal human rights. The United Nations (UN) drew up the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. These are rights to which all human beings are entitled simply because they are human. See www.un.org and seach for ‘universal-declaration-human-rights’. 109

6 We are all entitled to the same rights and freedoms Our constitution states that every person in Jamaica, regardless of his/her race, colour, place of birth, political opinion, religion or gender, is entitled to certain rights and freedoms. Every person living in Jamaica, whether they are a citizen or not, is entitled to these rights that are protected by law. The Jamaican Government has an obligation to honour and protect these rights. You can read the Jamaica Constitution on the Ministry of Justice website: moj.gov.jm FACT BOX The rights and freedoms of Jamaican citizens include: • The right to life (except in the execution of the sentence of the court in respect to a criminal offence of which he has been convicted) • The right to liberty, security of the person, enjoyment of property and the protection of the law • The right to protection from arbitrary arrest or detention • Freedom of conscience, of expression (free speech) and of peaceful assembly and association • The right to privacy and family life • The right to protection from discrimination • The right to protection from inhumane treatment • The right to a fair trial • The right to vote • Freedom of worship • Freedom of movement Activity Read the list of rights above. 1. Make sure you understand what all the words mean – use a dictionary, online dictionary, or ask your teacher. 2. Choose ONE of the rights and be ready to explain what it means to a group or the class. Think of one or two examples to illustrate it. As citizens we have a right to family life 110

6 Violation of rights Sometimes the rights of citizens can be violated. This means that they do not receive a right to which they are entitled, such as protection by the law, or they are not able to exercise a freedom to which they are entitled, such as freedom of movement. Sometimes these violations of rights may be caused by criminal actions, for example murder or theft. At other times rights may be violated by government, for example if a person does not receive a fair trial. Sometimes the rights of two groups of citizens may conflict. For example, if one group of citizens exercise their rights to freedom of expression and association by holding a peaceful protest march this may prevent other citizens from moving through the streets. Or a newspaper journalist may use their freedom of expression (free speech) to write an article which may violate another citizen’s right to privacy. What rights are violated by murder? What rights are violated by burglary or theft? When a citizen’s rights are violated in some way they can seek redress. This means that the situation is remedied or set right. If a crime has been committed then they can go to the police. Otherwise they can take the person responsible for the violation to court. They can ask for the person to stop the violation and they may seek compensation. Activity Work in a group. 1. Research online or using other sources to find out about the rights of Jamaican citizens. 2. Find one or more articles in newspapers or online media which report violations of citizens’ rights. 3. Create a skit that shows a particular right of citizens being violated. Show how the citizen can seek redress. Responsibilities of citizenship The rights of citizenship come with responsibilities and duties to the country. These are referred to as civic responsibilities. One of our most important civic responsibilities is to participate in the voting process. In this way, citizens help to decide who should govern the country and therefore what laws are passed and what policies the government implements. The most important responsibilities of citizens are: • obeying and respecting the laws of the country • voting in elections for government representatives • respecting the rights of other citizens • paying taxes • serving on a jury in a court of law. Can you think of any other civic responsibilities? 111

6 We also all have a responsibility to become an informed and educated member of our country, to understand the important issues and become involved in and serve our community. Some responsibilities of citizenship, such as paying taxes, are required by law. Other responsibilities, such as becoming involved in the community, are important for the development of our nation. What are the differences between the rights and responsibilities of citizens? Activity Labour Day school refurbishment project Work as a class. Activity 1. Identify actions that demonstrate Look again at the rights listed on page 101. responsible citizenship at school and in Develop a list of responsibilities which go the community. This could be something with the rights. For example, the right as simple as collecting litter and disposing to education is complemented by the of it or visiting elderly people or helping responsibility to work hard at school. other members of the community. You could ask adults in the community to suggest actions which would be useful. 2. Brainstorm and then decide on a name for your project and its aims. 3. Take part in the activities. 4. Report back to the class on what you did and explain how it made you feel. 5. Discuss ways of promoting responsible citizenship such as posters, panel discussions, jingles, slogans, etc. Democracy and elections Jamaica is a democracy. This means that it has a democratic government – a government elected by the people. Members of central or national government represent the citizens and are elected in a general election. Under the Jamaica Constitution a general election must be held every five years. Before the election date is announced the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) and the political parties begin to prepare. 112

6 1. Campaign begins When the parties know that an election is imminent they start campaigning and introducing their candidates for each constituency. Each candidate campaigns in his/her constituency but the parties campaign all over the country. 3. Nomination day 2. Election announced Candidates are officially Following weeks and even months of campaigning, the named to represent their Prime Minister announces the election. Two dates are parties in a particular announced: nomination day and election or polling day. constituency. 4. Campaign continues Campaigning continues up to 24 hours before election day. Candidates try to win citizens’ votes by making speeches, appearing in the media, holding rallies and advertising in newspapers and on billboards, etc. 5. Polling/Election day Citizens vote on polling day. All registered voters who want to vote go to the polling station in their constituency to vote for the candidate of their choice. Once they have made their mark in secret on the ballot paper they go to a ballot box and cast their vote (put the paper in the locked box). This is a secret ballot. Secrecy is important because it ensures that voters can make up their own minds and cannot be influenced by others. . 6. Winners announced After the polls are officially closed, the votes are counted and winners are declared. A returning of cer declares the winner of the seat. The winner is the candidate with most votes. However, if the results are close, recounting is done. Candidates have the right to ask for a recount if they feel that there are issues with the voting process. To ensure that the elections are free and fair, independent bodies observe election procedures. The stages in a general election Activity Work as a class. (Think back to what you learnt about leadership in Grades 4 and 5.) 1. Brainstorm the qualities required by good class leaders and head boy and girl of the school. 2. Brainstorm the qualities required by elected leaders at national level. 3. Hold an election. a) Nominate members of the class for leadership positions. b) Each nominated candidate creates a brief manifesto, with help from supporters. c) Each candidate campaigns for the votes of fellow students, with help from supporters. d) Students vote using a secret ballot. e) Votes are counted. 4. Elected leaders work together to write a constitution for the class or grade – a set of rules governing behaviour, rights and responsibilities. 113

6 Jamaica is also a constitutional monarchy. This means that the British Monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II) is the Head of State. A Governor General is appointed to represent the monarch in his or her absence. Neither the monarch nor the Governor General has any real powers, except in a time of constitutional crisis. Power is held by the government, elected by the people. Can you name any Jamaican occasion on Queen Elizabeth II on a visit to Jamaica which the Governor General represents the Queen? Central Government Jamaica’s central government is organised through three branches or arms: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. You can see the structure of our central government in the diagram below. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Monarch Governor General Privy Council of Jamaica LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EXECUTIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL BRANCH Parliament Senate House of Representatives Cabinet (Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers) Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (Lower House) Attorney General Court of Appeal (Upper House) Ministries Supreme Court 21 senators (13 nominated 63 elected members The Executive Resident Magistrates Court by the Prime Minister, – carries out the law The Judiciary 8 by leader of opposition – administers the law – dispenses justice from the courts and appointed by Governor General) The Legislature – makes the law – amends the law – approves ministerial budgets The executive The structure of government The executive consists of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party which wins the most constituencies in a general election and therefore forms the government. The Prime Minister is responsible for: • advising the monarch on the appointment of the Governor General • selecting the ministers, usually from among elected members of the winning party • recommending the appointment of other important officials, such as judges, to the Governor General • representing the country at important national and international events • chairing meetings of the Cabinet • national defence – they are in charge of the armed forces. 114

Cabinet in session 6 The Cabinet is made up of the Prime Minister and government ministers chosen by the Prime Minister. They hold regular meetings to decide on government policy. Each minister has responsibility for a different area, such as education, health or defence. Each area has a department of the civil service which advises the minister and implements policy. Activity 1. Research the different ministers and ministries in the current government: who are they and what do they do? 2. Create a table to show the names of the ministers, their ministries and a short description of their responsibilities. The legislature The legislature or legislative branch of government is our Parliament. It is made up of two houses or chambers: • the House of Representatives or lower house • the Senate or upper house. The legislature has responsibility for making laws. These laws guide how citizens should behave. The House of Representatives The House of Representatives (the ‘lower house’) is made up of 63 elected members who each represent a different constituency or area. The people who live in the constituency elect a representative from a political party to serve as their Member of Parliament (MP). Gordon House, residence of both the Senate and the House of Representatives 115

6 House of Representatives The House of Representatives is responsible for: • making representations to the government on behalf of their constituents (people who live in a constituency) • debating policies made by the executive (Cabinet) • voting to accept or reject policies made by the government • voting to accept or reject the introduction of new laws and suggesting amendments • voting to accept or reject international treaties between Jamaica and other countries. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is elected by the members of the House to chair debates and control proceedings in the House. The Speaker ensures that the members of the House follow the rules. The Opposition Jamaica is a multi-party democracy. This means that several different parties may contest a general election. The Opposition is the party which lost the general election but won the second highest number of seats and therefore has the second highest number of members in the House. The leader of this party is called the Leader of the Opposition. The Opposition monitors government policies to ensure that they meet the needs of the people. Opposition MPs contribute to government by speaking in debates, voting, serving on committees and in other ways. Some members of the Opposition have special responsibilities as members of the ‘Shadow Cabinet’ who shadow ministers of government. Why is it important to have an opposition? What does the term ‘shadow cabinet’ mean? The Senate The Governor General appoints the 21 senators (members of this ‘upper house’) on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The ruling party selects 13 members of the Senate and the Opposition selects the other 8 members. A president oversees the activities of the Senate. 116

6 Why might it be useful to have an uneven number of Senate members? The main responsibility of the Senate is to review and revise bills passed by the House of Representatives before they become law. The diagram below shows how laws are made by Parliament. St age 1: Idea St age 2: Cabinet discussion St age 3: Bill A member of the House of The Cabinet discusses the idea If Cabinet approves the idea, a Representatives (the House) and whether to approve it. draft of the law is written. This or Senate has an idea for a law draft is called a Bill. and presents it to a member of the Cabinet. St age 6: Commit t ee discussion St age 5: Second reading St age 4: First reading A committee made up of Members of the House debate The Bill is introduced in the House members of the House of and vote on the Bill, suggesting of Representatives and made Representatives looks closely changes. This is called the Second public. This is called the First at the Bill and suggests changes. Reading. Reading. There is no discussion or debate in the House, but members of the public make their views known to their Representatives. St age 7: Third reading St age 8: Final House vot e St age 9: Senat e discussion and The House of Representatives Members of the House vote for approval debates the Bill with all the the last time on the Bill. If most Members of the Senate debate, changes suggested. This is called members vote for it, the Bill goes suggest changes and vote on the the Third Reading. to the Senate. Bill. The House must approve any changes the Senate suggests. How laws are made St age 10: Governor General’s assent – Bill becomes law When both houses have approved the Bill, it goes to the Governor General for his signature. This signature means the Bill is now law. Activity Choose one of the following activities: 1. Take part in a field trip to Gordon House and observe a sitting of the House of Representatives or the Senate. Write a report of your visit including the number of members present, what happened, the role of the Speaker or President, how the members addressed each other, the matters discussed. 2. Work with a partner to research the work of the Senate or House of Representatives: • Collect newspaper or online reports about their work. • Identify one or more new laws which are being discussed currently or have recently been passed. • Find out about the process involved and the issues. • Present your findings to the class. DC When collecting material online or from other sources, try to decide whether it is likely to be reliable and accurate or written from a biased point of view. Check which individual or organisation has written or posted the information. Ask yourself how reputable they are. Try to detect any bias as you read – does the information seem balanced and fair? 117

6 The judiciary The judiciary maintains law and order by interpreting and enforcing laws. It includes: • the police force, called the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF), which enforces the law • the courts, judges and lawyers that interpret and administer the law • the system of sanctions or punishments, such as prisons. Did you know? Scales are a common symbol of justice. They represent the careful weighing up of evidence in the case of someone who appears in court to be judged. Police officers FACT BOX The different courts St Ann’s Bay Courthouse • The Court of Appeal is the highest court. People who are dissatisfied with a decision made in other courts can appeal here. • The Supreme Court deals with criminal cases relating to murder, physical injury and burglary, and civil cases dealing with negligence, divorce, slander and libel. A judge and a jury consisting of men and women from the community listen to the cases. Jury members are randomly selected from the voters’ list. 118

6 • The Revenue Court deals with people who try to avoid paying taxes or disagree with the amount of taxes and duties they are asked to pay. • The Gun Court tries offences such as murder or robbery with the use of a firearm. These are punishable by the death sentence or life imprisonment. • The Family Court deals with issues affecting the family, such as adoption, custody or maintenance of children, and child abuse by parents. • The Traffic Court deals with traffic offences. • The Resident Magistrate’s Court deals with criminal and civil cases that are not very serious. It is also the first court to which all cases are brought before they go to the Supreme Court. Every parish in Jamaica has a Resident Magistrate’s Court. • The Petty Sessions’ Court is the lowest court. It tries minor offences such as thefts of small items, assault and use of indecent language. • There are also two other courts: the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which act as final courts of appeal. Activity 1. If possible visit a local court and observe the proceedings. Write a short report of what you observed and how justice was carried out. 2. Examine a case of injustice or discrimination. Collect information about it. Evaluate how it was handled and by whom. Draw your own conclusions about whether justice was done or not. Support your conclusion with evidence from the case. 3. Identify an act of discrimination or injustice in the school or community. State why it is unjust or discriminates. Gather and record evidence about it. Identify and record ways of dealing with the act. Select the best solution to the problem. PHOTO 155 LO RES Jurors being sworn in to examine the Lawyers represent the accused and the evidence and decide whether the accused prosecution and argue the case for is guilty or not and against 119

6 Activity Activity 1. Now that you have read about all three branches of government, draw your 1. As a class discuss how we can develop own illustrated diagram or chart to show criteria to judge the degree of fairness the structure of Jamaican government. in court decisions or other decisions Include pictures or symbols of the different concerning fairness at school or in the branches and brief descriptions of each community. one. Use word processing software. 2. Identify three specific crimes or 2. Looking at the chart, what can you say violations of citizens’ rights and suggest about the relationship between different fair outcomes for both the perpetrator people/positions shown? (the person who carried it out) and the victim. Government services In Grade 5 you learnt about the services provided by local government through the parishes. In this unit we will look at the services provided by central government, nationally. Our central government provides a great variety of services to citizens including: • security and protection through the Jamaica Constabulary Force (the police), the fire service, the coast guard, the customs service and the Jamaica Defence Force • e ducation (schools, curriculum, The Customs Department checks passengers and cargo teacher training, etc.) entering the country • h ealth services (hospitals, health centres, clinics, public health prevention) Health centres and hospitals Schools 120

6 • justice through our judicial system and courts • representation in other countries embassies and passports so citizens can travel overseas • piped water, sewerage and electricity • transport and communications roads, highways, ports, airports, telecommunications North Coast Highway Electricity and running water • protection of our natural environment such as Activity National Parks • trading and quality standards for consumers Draw up a chart or table to compare • welfare benefits such as old age pensions local and national government. • cultural and recreational facilities such as Compare the functions and services. museums, stadia, concert halls, youth centres • our currency notes, coins and banking. The Bureau of Standards checks to ensure quality, health and safety Activity Work in a small group. Choose two or three of the areas or functions of central government (focus on one or two ministries or departments). a) How well do you think government is providing these services/carrying out these functions? b) Do some research to find out if there are any inadequacies. You could ask citizens what they think and research newspaper and online reports. c) Discuss your findings and suggest strategies to improve government services. Consider whether you think improvements could be made without spending more money. 121

6 Taxes Government gets the money to pay for these services through collecting taxes. The government department which collects taxes is called the Inland Revenue. Revenue is the money government receives. Does your parent/guardian pay any taxes to the government? If so, which ones? Citizens and companies operating in Jamaica pay taxes: • income tax paid by workers as a percentage of the incomes they earn • corporation tax paid by companies on the profits they make • sales or general consumption tax, paid on everything that is bought or sold • property or land taxes paid by owners of property, such as capital gains tax • vehicle and drivers’ licence fees paid by drivers. The government also sometimes borrows money to pay for services. Activity 1. Identify the goods and services provided by government. 2. Explain how the government gets the money to pay for these. 3. Research the different taxes most people in Jamaica pay. Make a list. How decisions are made The Inland Revenue Office in Kingston At home and at school Who is responsible for decision-making in your home? Decision-making in the home varies with the type of family. Decisions are made by the head of the family, by both parents or by the responsible adult or sibling. As children grow older they may also be asked to share in certain decisions, for example, the choice of school, food and their clothing (depending on what the family can afford). At school, ‘top level’ decisions about what is taught and how the school is run are guided by Ministry of Education directives, regulations and policies, and by groups established for the protection of children. Although decisions may be made by one person, or by the senior management teams in meetings, others like the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) also play a vital role in decision-making. Classroom teachers can decide on the most effective strategies to help their students achieve their learning goals. Sometimes the views of the non-teaching staff or students are taken into account. For example, students are guided in making decisions about classroom rules, new look uniforms, places of interest for trips and selection of student leaders. 122

6 In the community The community is a wider setting than the home or school, so at the community level decision-making is done by organized groups such as Citizens’ Associations, Neighbourhood Watch, the Community Development Agency, churches and businesses. The heads of these institutions may take decisions individually or lead meetings where decisions are made. Sometimes after discussion, a vote is taken to decide on a matter that will benefit the community in some way. By government Our representatives in government make decisions for us by discussing problems and suggesting policies to resolve them. They will discuss possible solutions with the public and anyone who has an interest in the matter. If a new law is needed then the matter is debated and voted on in Parliament. Often new laws are not necessary and the appropriate Ministry can issue guidance. During this process anyone with an interest in the problem and its solution can put their views to their representatives. It may be discussed in newspapers, on TV or online in websites and on social media. When our government makes a decision, it intends to bring about a change of some sort. These are the ‘intended consequences’ of the decision or policy. But sometimes a decision has ‘unintended consequences’. It affects people or their behaviour in an unintended way. And sometimes decisions are made which favour particular groups in our country. For example a tax cut may be given for the richest people and does not benefit the poorest in any way. What might be the unintended consequences if, in order to encourage the public to support Jamaican products, the government decides to impose more tax on imported fruits and vegetables? Activity Work in a small group. 1. Research to find out how decisions are made in different settings: at home, at school, in the community, in government. Who makes the decisions and what process do they use? 2. Choose one decision made by the government recently. It could be a new law passed or a change in policy. 3. Find out why the government made that decision using newspapers and other media. Or write and ask your MP. 4. What were the intended consequences? Have there been any unintended consequences to that decision? 5. Evaluate the decision – has it been a good thing for Jamaicans or not? Activity 1. Hold a class debate on the motion: ‘The decisions made by our leaders are more helpful than harmful to the people.’ 2. Before you begin the debate research and prepare at least three arguments for each side. 123

6 Extension activities 1. Find out the name of your MP, the name of the constituency, and the location of the constituency office. 2. Find out about the work of your MP in the constituency. 3. Find out the name of the Custos in your parish and his or her responsibilities. 4. Collect photographs of MPs and senators. Make a chart of them, with their names and any special responsibilities or positions they have. Display the chart in the classroom. Summary •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  124

6 Unit 6 Assessment Choose the correct answer. 1. A person born in Jamaica of Jamaican parents becomes a citizen by: A. Adoption B. Naturalisation C. Marriage D. Descent 2. Democracy is being demonstrated in all of the following scenarios except: A. The students of Independent Primary are voting to elect their Head Boy and Head Girl for this academic year. B. The teacher and students of Grade 6 at Happy Way Prep have decided on a set of class rules for the school year 2019-2020. C. D uring the staff meeting at St Runway Primary the Principal told the teachers she wanted Mr Willis to be their staff representative. D. At our last house meeting everyone voted for house captain and Marvin became captain because he won the most votes. 3. Four persons are filling out a document and are at the section that asks for Nationality. Who should not put Jamaican? A. Xavier, who was born in Jamaica of Jamaican parents B. Kadesha, who was born in the Bahamas but was adopted at aged 3 by a Jamaican couple C. Mrs Simpson, who is a Spanish teacher from Cuba who has married a Jamaican D. Natalia, who was sent from the USA 10 years ago to work at the USA Embassy 4. Which of the following civic responsibilities is a legal duty? A. Voting in elections C. Paying taxes B. Taking part in community affairs D. Becoming well informed about national issues 5. Study the table below. Identify the one Right or Responsibility that is incorrectly placed. Rights Responsibilities Practice religion of choice Participate in voting for leaders Freedom to sit in public parks Pay property tax Vote to elect the government Obey the traffic signs while using the roads Get a fair trial in a court of law A. Vote to elect the government C. Obey traffic signs while using the roads B. Get a fair trial in a court of law D. Freedom to sit in public parks 6. Mrs Johns and her children were playing in their yard when a vendor pushed open her gate and started harassing her to buy his wares. What right was being violated? A. Right to life C. Protection from inhumane treatment B. Freedom of movement D. Right to privacy 7. What statement is true of the Senate? A. The Opposition selects 10 members. B. The people elect the members of the Senate. C. The Governor General selects eight of the 21 members. D. The ruling party selects 13 members of the Senate. 125

6 8. At a general election Mrs Johnson is trying to decide between four candidates. Which candidate would be her best choice? A. M r W is a successful businessman but there are questions about where he got his money. B. Mrs X has served well as Mayor in the local area where she lives. C. Miss Y is young, inexperienced and seems pleasant. D. Mr Z is a clever lawyer who has never stood for office before. 9. The Finance Minister is at a meeting with the Prime Minister and other Ministers of government. He is most likely to be at a _____________ meeting. A. Cabinet B. Parliament C. Senate D. Committee 10. Mr Clarke is canvassing for votes in a general election. Which of the following is he trying to win? A. A district B. The country C. A parish D. A constituency 11. Examine the list of rights and responsibilities below. A fair trial Freedom of Expression Paying taxes Voting in a general election Serving on a jury Freedom of discrimination a In your notebook, create a table and list each concept under one of the following headings: ‘Rights’, ‘Responsibilities’, ‘Both’. b Explain why you categorised each concept the way you did. c Pick two concepts from the ‘Rights’ group and state the responsibility that complements those rights. d Identify three other rights of Jamaican citizenship. 12. a N ame the government Some goods services shown in the and services web diagram. b Explain how the government gets money to pay for these services. Include at least two examples of money paid and by whom to support your explanation. 13. The Blue People’s Party won Blue Island’s general election by promising to greatly improve the country’s social welfare system. a Which two of the following types of tax would NOT help the Blue People’s Party to deliver their promise? A. Income tax  B. Corporation tax  C. Vehicle tax  D. Sales tax E. Land tax b Explain the choices you made. 126

Theme: The physical environment and its impact on human activities 7 Factors which influence climate Focus question: What are some of the key factors that influence climate and how do these factors influence climate? Key terms: latitude, climate, climatic zones, belt, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Equator, Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle, frigid, temperature, altitude, maritime, humid, arid, tropical, temperate, polar, marine, global warming, climate change Objectives • Develop working definitions and use correctly the concepts: climatic zones, altitude, latitude, climate change. • Classify areas into climatic zones. • Label a diagram showing the climatic zones of the world. • Name and locate on a world map the climatic zone in which Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean are located. • Name and describe the type of climate experienced in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean. • Interpret simple climate graphs. • Locate and name two countries in each climatic zone. • Compare the characteristics of the main climatic zones. • Formulate questions about why climate varies in different places and use evidence from various sources to explain how the interaction of factors determines the climate of places (latitude, altitude and distance from the sea). • Examine information from multiple sources on how human activities are determined by the climatic zone in which they live and justify their adaptations. • Gather evidence from multiple sources about the effects of climate change in the Caribbean then design strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on territories. • Evaluate sources used by distinguishing between fact and opinion. • Participate in activities and take individual action to reduce the negative impact of human activities on climate. Climate varies across the world The shape of the Earth, the direction it is tilted in, and its movement around the Sun all cause a variation in the amount of heat and sunlight that different places on the Earth’s surface receive from the Sun at different times of year. This affects the day-to-day weather of a place and therefore its climate. In Grades 4 and 5 you learnt about the Earth and lines of latitude and longitude. Which are the main lines of latitude? 127

7 80°N North Arctic Circle 66 1 °N 60°N Pole 2 In this unit we will learn how the world is 90°N divided into climatic zones depending on 40°N latitudes. You can see the major lines of Tropic of 1 latitude on the diagram on the right. 2 Cancer 23 °N FACT BOX Climate is the average weather 20°N conditions for a place over a long period of time (more than 30 years). Northern Hemisphere Climatic zones (or belts) are regions 0° Equator 0° of the Earth’s surface based on average rainfall and average temperatures. The 20°S Southern Hemisphere three major climatic zones are the tropical, temperate and polar zones. Tropic of 40°S Capricorn 60°S 1 23 2 °S 80°S 90°S Antarctic 1 South 2 Pole Circle 66 °S Lines of latitude Climatic zones of the Polar zone Arctic Circle 66½°N world The Earth is divided into Sun’s Temperate zone Tropic of three main climatic rays Tropical zone Cancer zones: the tropical zone, Tropical zone 23½°N the temperate zone and Equator 0° the polar or frigid zone. Temperate zone The major lines of latitude Tropic of are used to separate Capricorn the Earth’s three main 23½°S climatic zones. Antarctic Circle 66½°S Polar zone World’s major climatic zones Activity 1. Identify the five main lines of latitude on a globe or wall map. Name the climatic zones. 2. On a blank map of the world draw the five main lines of latitude. Use appropriate colours to shade the climatic zones. Create a key for your map and label the major climatic zones. 3. Use digital drawing tools to draw a diagram of the major world climatic zones. The tropical zone This is where the concentration of the Sun’s rays is at their highest. The tropical zone lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, extending from 23.5° North of the Equator to 23.5° South of the Equator. 128

7 The tropical zone experiences a warm, sunny Find the Tropic of Cancer and the climate all year round. Tropic of Capricorn on a world map. Can The tropical zone includes areas such as you name some countries in the tropical South Mexico in North America to Paraguay zone, between these two lines? in South America, the Caribbean, all of Central Africa and from South India to North Australia. The temperate zone The temperate zone is located on either side of the tropics and is divided into north and south temperate. The north temperate zone lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle, extending from 23.5° N to 66.5° N. The south temperate zone lies between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle, extending from 23.5° S to 66.5° S. In this zone temperatures are lower than the tropics. The temperate zone is the only climatic zone that experiences all four seasons. The temperate zone includes areas in the Tokyo is in the temperate zone northern hemisphere such as the USA and Canada, North Africa and Europe, China and North India. Can you name some countries in the south temperate zone? The polar or frigid zone Ice sheets in Greenland in the north This region is divided into north polar and temperate zone south polar zones. The north polar zone extends from the Arctic to the North Pole 129 66.5º N to 90° N and the south polar extends from the Antarctic to the South Pole 66.5º S to 90° S. The word frigid is also used to describe the climate of this zone. Polar climates are cold all year round and always extremely cold close to the poles. There are two seasons: summer and winter. The summer has continuous sunlight and the winter continuous darkness. Places in the polar zone include Greenland and Siberia in the northern hemisphere and Antarctica in the southern hemisphere.

7 Activity 1. Answer the questions. a) Which continents have countries in the tropical zone? b) Which continent has most of its countries in the tropical zone? c) Which continents have countries in the temperate zone? d) Which continent has the largest area in the temperate zone? e) Which continent has land in all three climatic zones? f) Which continents have land in the polar zone? 2. Identify and name two countries in each zone. 3. Use your atlas to help you place these countries in their climatic zones: Guatemala, Uruguay, Ethiopia, Thailand, Japan, New Zealand, Turkey, Iran, Iceland, Philippines, Indonesia, Belize, Argentina, Greenland, Syria, Italy, Alaska, Korea, Mexico, England, Indonesia. Factors which cause variations in climate Activity 1. Before you read the next section work in a group to make a list of questions about why climate varies in different places. 2. Find evidence from different sources to explain how latitude, altitude and closeness to the sea interact to determine the climate of a place. Latitude Distance through atmosphere 90° N Latitude is probably the increases with latitude North Pole most important factor in determining the climate Equal rays Area covered by of a place. the Sun’s rays increases with Light and heat from the latitude Sun reach the Earth like a beam of light from 0° Equator a flashlight. But the spherical shape of the The influence of latitude on temperatures. What do you notice Earth causes some areas of about the light and heat reaching the Earth’s surface at the Earth to be further away Equator and nearer to the Poles? from the Sun’s rays and so they receive less light and heat than other places. At the Equator the Sun’s heat is greatest as the Sun’s rays strike the Earth vertically at a 90° angle all year round. 130

7 Because of this, places in the tropical zone, between 23.5° N and 23.5° S, have higher temperatures than places further north and south of the Equator. Further away from the Equator, the Sun’s rays strike the Earth’s surface at an angle that makes the Sun’s heat less concentrated. The same amount of heat is spread over a greater area. Because of this, temperatures fall as you move away from the Equator towards the North and South Poles. Activity Here are some places within the tropical zone that are near to the Equator. Find out: •  their latitudinal position from the Equator   •  their average temperature. Look for differences and similarities among them. Discuss your findings. a)  Yaoundé, Cameroon c)  Nairobi, Kenya e)  Lima, Peru b)  Brazzaville, Congo d)  Quito, Ecuador f)  La Paz, Bolivia The position of the Earth in relation to the Sun causes the seasons. The Earth is tilted on its axis at an angle of 23.5°. This means that for some of the year parts of the Earth are tilted towards the Sun and other parts are tilted away from the Sun. When the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, the southern hemisphere is tilted away. So the Sun is overhead at different places on the Earth’s surface at different times. You will learn more about this in Unit 8 (see page 170). In addition, the lengths of days and nights vary at different latitudes. Places on the Equator always have 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. The longest days and nights are found at the poles when there are 24 hours of daylight for the short summers. When days are longer, the amount of heat received from the Sun is greater. However, because the Sun’s rays are not directly overhead and have to pass through more of the atmosphere, temperatures at the poles do not get very high. Although the climate of a place is influenced by its latitude, that is not the only factor that determines the climate. Activity 1. Work in a small group. a) Use a model of the Earth, such as a globe, ball or grapefruit, and a flashlight to represent the Sun, to demonstrate the reasons for different temperatures at different places on the Earth’s surface. Shine the light on the Equator while the Earth is rotating and revolving. Make deductions about the amount of light and heat at the Equator and at the Poles. Note your observations. Draw diagrams to show how latitude affects temperature. b) Explain why it is cold at the North and South Poles at certain times of year and warm at the Equator all year round. 2. Identify the climatic zones where you would find the following locations: a)  55° N b)  27° S c)  85° N d)  72° S e)  30° N f)  5° N 131

7 Case study: The May family Christmas The May family lives in England. Mom and Dad are professionals. Their two children Sasha and Gary are at university. In December the family was invited to a wedding in New Zealand. However, Mom and Dad had already made plans to come to Jamaica to spend Christmas with relatives. So Sasha and Gary went to New Zealand by themselves. They all left England on December 20. When they left England, it was freezing cold and the temperature was 5 °C; trees were covered with snow. The days were short, dark and dull. Sasha and Gary were very relieved when they arrived in New Zealand. It was sunny and the temperature was warm. The trees were green and everything was flowering. It was a beautiful time of the year for a wedding. Mom and Dad were happy to be in Jamaica too. The weather was great and they did not need winter clothes because it was warm and sunny. 1. What season was it in England when they left? 2. What season was it in New Zealand when they arrived? 3. What season was Jamaica experiencing? England and New Zealand are both in the temperate zone. They both have four seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn, but they do not experience the same season at the same time. Activity Read about the May family Christmas above. Use a map of the world or a globe to identify the positions of Jamaica, England and New Zealand. In groups, discuss: 1. Why was there a difference between the weather in New Zealand and England, although they are both in the temperate zone? 2. Why were both Jamaica and New Zealand experiencing warm sunny conditions, although they are in different climatic zones? 3. Why were both Jamaica and New Zealand experiencing warm, sunny conditions, even though they are in different hemispheres, while Jamaica and England are in the same hemisphere but were experiencing different conditions? 132

7 Altitude Altitude is the elevation or height above sea level. You learnt about the effects of altitude on weather when you studied mountain environments in Unit 4. Do you remember what you learnt about the differences in climate between Kingston, Port Antonio and Cinchona Gardens in Unit 4? Activity Look carefully at the table below showing average temperatures in February at six different places in Jamaica. Location Altitude in metres High °C Low °C Blue Mountain peak 2,256 15 14 Cinchona Gardens 1,585 20 12 Kingston 65 30 21 Montego Bay 12 28 20 Morant Bay 22 28 22 Port Antonio 2 28 19 Jamaica Social Studies Curriculum document 1. Identify the relationship between the altitude of a place and its temperature. 2. What happens to temperature as altitude increases? 3. Write statements that describe the relationship between altitude and temperature. The atmosphere is denser near to sea level and absorbs more heat from the ground. As you go higher, air pressure decreases and gas molecules spread out, making the air less dense. When the air is less dense, it holds less heat. At higher altitudes, the air receives more radiation from the Sun but it is thinner, so heat passes through it quickly. As you go up into mountainous areas, it gets colder. For every 1,000 metres higher you go, the temperature will fall by 6.5 °C. Even within the tropical zone, a place at a higher altitude will experience much lower temperatures compared to a place at sea level. Places at higher altitudes also usually have more rainfall, as cool air can hold less water vapour than warm air. As air rises over high land, it is cooled and rain falls. 133

7 Activity 1. Find La Paz, Bolivia and Brasilia, Brazil on a map of South America. You will see that they are both in the tropical zone, at about the same latitude, 16° S. Then find Rio de Janeiro, which is further from the Equator. 2. Use the information in the paragraph above to help you explain the different climates at La Paz, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro. La Paz is 3,650 metres above sea level. It has an average temperature of 8 °C and a mountain climate with cold, dry winters and cool summers. Brasilia is 1,061 metres above sea level and has an average temperature of 21.5 °C. At Rio de Janeiro, further south at latitude 23° and at an altitude of just 3 metres above sea level, the average temperature is 23.8 °C. Distance from the sea Distance from the sea also causes variation in climate. The land heats up faster and cools quicker than the sea. So the sea makes places near the coast cooler than those inland in summer, and warmer in winter. It also makes them warmer at night and cooler during the day. Places near to sea have more stable temperatures, with less variation, and this is referred to as the maritime effect. Places near the sea are usually more humid than those inland. Onshore winds can bring rainfall. Places near the western edge of Europe in the temperate zone are all affected in this way. How are the Caribbean islands influenced by sea breezes? Places which are further inland, in the interiors of large continents, have extremes of temperature because they are too far from the sea to feel the maritime effect. These inland climates are called continental type climates. In the temperate zones they experience very cold winters with snow and warm or hot summers. For instance, Moscow in Russia has a mean summer temperature of 17.6 °C and a mean winter temperature of –9 °C. How far do you live from the sea? Does that have any effect on your weather? How does the Caribbean Sea affect the temperatures in Jamaica? 134

Sea Land Summer Land is heated Winter 7 up more than As air over land is the sea Sea is warmer than Land heated, an onshore the land in winter, sea breeze is formed, Land so onshore winds which cools the land warm the land Sea breeze cools the land Sea Sea The maritime effect in winter and summer Winter tSAheeacliats nwidvairinmtweyrintthearn, so onshore winds wWaromrkthine alansmd all group. 1. Identify three places at different distances from the coast in one climatic zone. 2. Find out their altitude and average temperatures. 3. Compare the average temperatures experienced at each. 4. TrySteoaexplain the similarities and difLfaenrednces you find. 5. Share your ideas with the class. DC When using a search engine try to be as specific as possible about your search and try using the advanced search features to enable more accurate and quicker searching. How do you think these factors influence Jamaica’s climate? 135

7 Different climates within the climatic zones Although the climate of the world is divided into three main climatic zones, the factors you learnt about above interact with one another to create differences in climate even in the same zone. Now we will look in detail at the climates of some very different places in different zones. You can see the places located on the world map below. N 80° N Arctic Circle Verkhoyansk SIBERIA 60° N NORTH London EUROPE AMERICA 40° N Atlantic ASIA JAPAN Ocean In Salah Tropic of Cancer Indian Pacific Ocean Ocean 20° N AUSTRALASIA Kingston, Jamica AFRICA NEW ZEALAND Equator 0° GHANA 20° S SOUTH AMERICA Tropic of Capricorn 40° S Prime Meridian 60° S 0 2000 4000 km Antarctic Circle 140° W 120° W 100° W 90° W 80° W 60° W 40° W 20° W 0° 20° E 40° E 60° E 80° E 100° E 120° E 140° E 160° E 180° E FACT BOX Climate terms: • Annual means yearly • Arid means very dry, too dry for plants to grow • The mean temperature or rainfall is the average over a month, a number of months or a year • The range of temperatures is the difference between the highest and the lowest. 136

7 The tropical zone 1. Kingston, Jamaica Rainfall Kingston, Jamaica Temperature Activity in mm in °C 300 Look at the climate graph for 40 Kingston. 1. Which two months experience 270 30 the highest temperature? 240 20 2. What is the temperature 210 10 range? 3. Which months have the 180 0 highest rainfall? 150 –10 4. Use the data to identify the 120 –20 wet and dry seasons and the warm and cool seasons. 90 –30 60 –40 30 –50 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D –60 Months Climate graph for Kingston 2. In Salah, Algeria Rainfall In Salah, Algeria Temperature in mm in °C 300 40 270 30 240 20 210 10 180 0 150 –10 120 –20 90 –30 60 –40 30 –50 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D –60 Months Climate graph for In Salah Algerian Desert 137

7 Activity Find the location of In Salah in your atlas or on a world map or digital map. Look at the climate graph for In Salah. 1. Which four months experience the highest temperatures? 2. What is the temperature range? 3. Use the data to identify the wet and dry seasons and the hot and cold seasons. The temperate zone 1. London, United Kingdom Rainfall London, United Kingdom Temperature Activity in °C in mm 40 Look at the climate graph for 300 London. 30 1. Which months experience the 270 highest temperatures? 240 20 2. What is the temperature 210 10 range? 3. Which months have the 180 0 highest rainfall? 150 –10 4. Use the data to identify the 120 –20 wet and dry seasons and the 90 –30 hot and cold seasons. 60 –40 30 –50 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D –60 Months Climate graph for London London has very changeable weather, there is rainfall all year round 138

2. Japan 7 Russia N Hokkaido 40° N Japan Honshu Sea of Japan Shirakawa village Shinano Tone South Japanese Alps Tokyo Korea Mount Fuji Shikoku Pacific Ocean 30° N 0 Kyushu 140° E 130° E 600 km Japan’s physical features Key Metres 1000–2000 0–500 500–1000 Over 2000 Mountain peak Typhoons bring heavy rain and strong Snow in Shirakawa village in winter winds to Japan Find the three islands of Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu on the map of Japan above. 139

7 Look at the map of Japan on page 139 or a map in your atlas to see where these places are located and compare location with temperature. Variation in temperature within Japan Winter average Hokkaido Tokyo Okinawa Summer average –5 °C 5 °C 17 °C 18 °C 24 °C 28 °C Rainfall Tokyo, Japan Temperature Activity in mm in °C 300 Find Tokyo on the map on page 139 40 and look at the climate graph. 1. Which months experience the 270 30 highest temperatures? 240 20 2. What is the temperature range? 3. Which months have the highest 210 10 rainfall? 180 0 4. Use the data to identify the wet 150 –10 and dry seasons and the hot and cold seasons. 120 –20 90 –30 60 –40 30 –50 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D –60 Months Activity Cherry blossom viewing is a popular pastime among Japanese people in spring 1. Find the location of Japan in your atlas or on a world map or digital map. 2. Why does the climate in Japan vary so much from south to north? 3. Compare the temperatures in Japan with those in Jamaica and in London. 4. How many seasons does each place have? 5. Which season in Japan do you think you would most enjoy? 140

7 3. New Zealand In Japan, which is in the northern hemisphere, temperature increases as one travels south. In New Zealand, temperature decreases as one travels south. Can you explain why? Monthly temperature in New Zealand, comparing Dunedin in southern South Island with Auckland in North Island Month Mean temperature Activity Daily maximum °C 1. Check that you know where Auckland Dunedin the cities of Auckland and Dunedin are on the map on January 23.3 14.9 page 142. February 23.6 14.8 2. What is the difference in temperature between March 22.5 13.5 Auckland and Dunedin in January? And in July? April 19.8 11.1 3. What is the hottest May 17.0 8.4 temperature in Auckland? June 14.8 6.2 4. What is the coldest temperature in Dunedin? July 14.0 5.9 August 14.8 6.9 September 16.0 9.0 October 17.6 10.7 November 19.6 12.2 December 21.6 13.6 141

7 Rainfall Auckland, New Zealand Temperature in °C in mm 300 40 270 30 240 20 210 10 180 0 150 –10 120 –20 90 –30 60 –40 30 –50 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D –60 Months Activity Find Auckland on the map on the right and look at the climate graph above. 1. Which months experience the highest temperatures? 2. What is the temperature range? 3. Which months have the highest rainfall? 4. Use the data to identify the four seasons. Average rainfall in New Zealand All the months in New Zealand are moderately wet, with the average annual rainfall varying between 600 and 1,500 mm. It is generally wetter in the west and drier in the east. The map above shows how rainfall varies in different places. Activity 1. Compare the rainfall map of New Zealand Flock of sheep grazing on a South with a physical map showing the country’s Island pasture mountains. Find a physical map in your atlas or online. 2. With a small group or with the teacher, discuss the rainfall pattern. Which areas receive the highest rainfall? Why do you think this might be? 142

7 The polar zone Siberia, Russia Find Siberia and the Arctic Circle on the map on page 136. Reindeer herders’ winter camp 143

7 Why is it colder in north Siberia than south Siberia? Rainfall Verkhoyansk, Russia Temperature Activity in °C in mm Look at the climate graph for 300 40 Verkhoyansk. 1. Which months experience the 270 30 lowest temperatures? 240 20 2. Which months experience the 210 10 highest temperatures? 3. What is the temperature 180 0 range? 150 –10 4. Which months have the 120 –20 highest precipitation? 5. Compare the amount of 90 –30 precipitation received with 60 –40 that in Kingston. 30 –50 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D –60 Months Climate graph for Verkhoyansk Activity Now look back over the different climates you have learnt about. Look again at the climate graphs. 1. Compare the temperatures at Kingston with those at a) In Salah   b) London, UK   c) Verkhoyansk, Russia. 2. Which place has the coldest temperatures and how cold are they? 3. In which months do these coldest temperatures occur? Can you explain why? 4. Which place has the hottest temperatures? Can you explain why? 5. Which places are hotter and which colder than Jamaica? 6. How many seasons does each place have? 7. Identify the wet and dry seasons and the hot and cold seasons at each place. Use the information to create a table showing when each season is experienced in each climatic zone: tropical, north temperate, south temperate and north polar. 144

7 The climate of Jamaica and the Caribbean Jamaica and the Caribbean are located in the tropical zone. There are similarities and differences in climate between different countries in the Caribbean. Activity Identify and locate on a world map or globe the position of Jamaica and the Caribbean. 1. Which two major lines of latitude do they lie between? 2. Mark the position of Jamaica on the world map or diagram of climatic zones you drew in the activity on page 128. FACT BOX Jamaica’s climate The annual rainfall is between 1,500 and 6,000 mm, depending on where you are on the island, and temperatures range from 22 to 31 °C. The temperature varies in different parts of the island. Cinchona Gardens, high in the Blue Mountains, has temperatures below 20 °C while Kingston on the plains has an average of 26 °C. There are wet and dry seasons. The rainy season begins in May or June and extends through November. The heaviest rainfall is in September and October. Jamaica’s climate is influenced by two types of winds. The north-east trade winds blow all year round and bring relief rainfall. Between November and March cold winds called Northers blow from North America, bringing cooler temperatures and rain. The climates in these countries are similar to that of Jamaica. This is because they are located in the same climatic zone. The Caribbean lies between latitude 4° N and 27° N. It is located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator in the tropical zone. So what are the characteristics of the Caribbean climate? High temperatures for most of the year Like other places in the tropical zone, countries in the Caribbean are close to the Equator and the Sun is directly overhead for most of the year. That is why we experience high temperatures for most of the year. Tropical marine climate Closeness to the sea is a factor that affects all Caribbean countries since they have shores on the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The word marine means related to the sea. The effects of both closeness to the sea and the closeness to the Equator mean that the region experiences a tropical marine climate (also called tropical maritime). 145