Geography Study Notes - The Way We Shop and Flood Unit (Year 8 Term 3)

Transition from small grocer to larger supermarkets driven by convenience, wider range, and cheaper prices.
Reasons a small shop might close:
- Competition from a new superstore
- Changes in population/shopping patterns (e.g., fewer people, online shopping)
- Convenience of big stores and online shopping reducing footfall
Key terms:
- Convenience goods: everyday items bought frequently (bread, milk, toothpaste)
- Comparison goods: higher-value items bought less frequently (clothes, furniture, appliances)

Modern supermarkets are typically:
- Much bigger than traditional grocers: ext{bigger}
- Located in towns/cities; grocers more often in villages
- Offer a wide range of goods; grocers focus on everyday items
- Attract more customers; many shoppers travel by car to supermarkets and by foot to grocers
Shopping patterns:
- Grocers: convenience-focused, local access
- Supermarkets: broader range, price competition, value for money

Task concept: understand how shopping has changed over decades via interviews
How to approach:
- Interview an older family member; ask about shop appearance, why it closed, and comparison to today
- Take notes; write a short summary of how shopping has changed
Convenience vs Comparison goods (definition recap):
- Convenience goods: everyday items used regularly
- Comparison goods: more expensive items bought less often; shoppers compare prices
Choosing stores based on goods:
- Convenience goods: likely at a village grocer or local shop
- Comparison goods: often at town/city centres or out-of-town superstores

Stores considered: Village grocer, Main Street shopping centre, Out-of-town superstore
Item categories (typical mapping):
- Bottle of milk → Convenience
- New pair of sunglasses → Comparison
- Bag of oranges → Convenience
- Loaf of bread → Convenience
- New laptop → Comparison
- Jewellery → Comparison
- Dog food → Convenience
- Formal shoes → Comparison
- Rug for the lounge → Comparison
- Fresh home-baked cake → Convenience
Principle: match item types to store suitability and whether they’re convenience or comparison goods

Online shopping process (summary):
- Place order via internet on a device
- Add to cart
- Enter payment details
- Receive order confirmation
- Order is prepared and sent to the retailer
- Order is delivered to your home
Why some people are nervous about online shopping:
- All of the above: credit card security, product perception vs. reality, delivery reliability
How the internet helps buying decisions:
- Price research and product reviews across sites
- Convenience in browsing; easier price comparison
Online shopping is very useful for convenience shopping: True
Advantages vs. Disadvantages (quick summary):
- Advantages: convenience, ability to stay at home, exact product search, price comparison
- Disadvantages: risk of bank fraud, delays in delivery, cannot touch the product

What is flooding?
- A flood is a massive body of water covering land, caused by various factors, leading to damage
Causes of floods (core factors):
- Heavy rainfall and storms
- River/stream tributaries adding water flow
- Steep slopes that speed water down
- Lack of trees to slow runoff
- Insufficient river embankments to contain water
- Developed drainage areas that funnel water quickly to rivers
The Environment Agency (EA):
- Monitors river levels and rainfall
- Issues flood warnings (Watch, Warning, Severe Warning)
- Coordinates response and public information
Flood risk concepts:
- Flood probability increases near rivers and floodplains (low-lying areas close to rivers)
- Contour maps help identify flood risk areas (areas with contours absent are often flat and near rivers)
How floods happen (pattern):
- Heavy rainfall → river levels rise → rivers burst banks → flooding
The flood warning codes:
- Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Beware.
- Flood Warning: Flooding of homes/businesses/main roads expected. Act now!
- Severe Flood Warning: Severe flooding is expected. Danger to life and property. Act now!
- All Clear: Water levels receding; it’s safe to return

Concept map idea:
- Central: FLOOD DISASTER
- Branches: Causes, Effects, Responses
Emergency flood kit (essential items):
- Insurance documents, bottled water, cell phone, portable radio, batteries, torch, canned food, gas stove, gumboots, blanket
Why keep insurance documents in a flood kit:
- To claim compensation for damages after a flood
Power outages and preparedness:
- Torch and extra batteries are vital
Food and water supply during floods:
- Pack canned food, bottled water, and a portable stove for cooking
Communication and updates:
- Cell phone and portable radio keep you informed
Safe practices during floods:
- Do not walk or drive through flood water
- Move valuables upstairs; turn off gas/electricity/water
- Evacuate when advised
Why towns near rivers are at risk:
- Rivers provide water and transport; proximity to water makes flooding more likely during heavy rainfall

Why towns near rivers were historically built there:
- Water supply and transport access
Contour map use:
- Identify areas at risk vs no risk of flooding (areas with no contour lines near rivers are typically flat and at higher flood risk)
Exercise example: label coordinates as at risk or no risk (conceptual, use contour features and proximity to rivers)

Steps: Rainfall → river levels rise → river banks breach → floodwaters spread across land
Factors that exacerbate risk include heavy rainfall, steep slopes, lack of trees, lack of river embankments, urban development and multiple tributaries

Key terms: Convenience goods, Comparison goods
Differences: Grocer vs supermarket, location, range of goods, shopping patterns
Online shopping steps and cautions
Flood terminology: Watch, Warning, Severe Warning, All Clear
Flood responses: EA monitoring, evacuations, emergency kits
Mapping skills: contour lines indicate flood risk near rivers
Critical sequence: Flood watch → flood warning → severe flood warning (as rainfall and river levels change)
Practical tasks you might be asked to perform: classify items by store type, discuss shopping changes via interviews, draft a concept map, interpret simple rainfall/river data graphs

Pie chart quarters and percentages: 0 ext{\%},\, 25\%,\ 50\%,\ 75\%,\ 100\%
Flood warning thresholds (illustrative): 5.5\ ext{mm},\ 7\ \text{mm},\ 9\ \text{mm}
Notation for ranges and steps can be written numerically as shown above when you prepare your own charts.