Grade 4 marks the beginning of Social Sciences (Sosiale Wetenskappe) as a formal subject, which is divided into Geography and History. For learners taking the subject in Afrikaans, the curriculum focuses on understanding the physical world, from local settlements to the map of South Africa.
This guide outlines the 2026 Geography (Afrikaans) Annual Teaching Plan (ATP), providing a structured weekly roadmap to help teachers guide learners through concepts like simbole en sleutels (symbols and keys), boerdery (farming), and the watersiklus (water cycle).
Geography (Afrikaans) Grade 4 ATP 2026
The curriculum is divided into four terms, with each term focusing on a specific theme related to the learner’s environment and the broader world.
Kwartaal 1: Plekke Waar Mense Woon (Places Where People Live)
Focus: The first term explores different types of settlements and the needs of the people living there.
- Weke 1–4: Mense en Plekke (People and Places)
- Soorte Nedersettings: Distinguish between a farm (plaas), village (bieredorpie), town (dorp), and city (stad).
- Werk: Jobs people do in different places.
- Geboue: Buildings and their uses (houses, animal shelters, shops, schools, clinics, banks, factories).
- Infrastruktuur: Roads and footpaths (paaie en voetpaadjies) and how they are used in settlements.
- Weke 5–7: Bakens en Roetes (Landmarks and Routes)
- Bakens: Identifying landmarks — both natural (natuurlike) and human-made (menslike).
- Roetes: Describing and drawing a short journey, such as the route to school.
- Rigtings: Explaining how to get from one place to another using concepts like left (links), right (regs), and straight (reguit).
- Weke 8–9: Mense en hul Behoeftes (People and their Needs)
- Basic needs for all people: Water, food (kos), shelter (skuiling), healthcare (gesondheidsorg), and energy (energie).
- Assessering: Formele Assessering (Toets: paragraaf skryf) – 25 Punte.
Kwartaal 2: Kaartvaardighede (Map Skills)
Focus: The second term introduces the technical skills required to read and draw maps, moving from local views to a world view.
- Weke 1–2: Aansigte (Views)
- Sy-aansig en Planaansig: Understanding the difference between a side view (sy-aansig) and a plan view/top view (planaansig) of simple objects like a cup, hat, or table.
- Weke 3–5: Simbole en Sleutels (Symbols and Keys)
- Using symbols (pictures/letters) to represent objects on a map.
- Using a map key (sleutel) to understand symbols on a large-scale map.
- Reading a map of a farm or village using symbols.
- Weke 6–7: Ruitverwysings en Kompas (Grid References and Compass)
- Ruitverwysings: Understanding alpha-numeric grid references (e.g., A3, B2) on a simple grid.
- Kompasrigtings: Learning the four main directions: Noord (N), Suid (S), Oos (O), and Wes (W).
- Weke 8–10: Die Wêreld en Suid-Afrika (The World and South Africa)
- Kaart van Suid-Afrika: Identifying oceans, provinces, and capital cities (hoofstede).
- Die Aardbol: Understanding the world is round (globe) but maps are flat. Identifying continents and major oceans (Pacific/Stille, Atlantic, Indian).
- Assessering: Beheer Toets (Control Test) – 25 Punte (Covers Term 1 & 2).
Kwartaal 3: Voedsel en Boerdery (Food and Farming)
Focus: The third term examines how food is produced in South Africa and the different types of farming.
- Weke 1–2: Mense en Voedsel (People and Food)
- Classifying food from plants and animals.
- How people get food: buying (koop), growing (verbou), collecting (versamel), fishing (visvang), or hunting (jag).
- Weke 3–5: Soorte Boerdery (Types of Farming)
- Bestaansboerdery: Farming for self and family (Subsistence).
- Kommersiële Boerdery: Farming crops and animals to sell (Commercial).
- Gewasboerdery: Growing crops (vegetables, fruit).
- Veeboerdery: Keeping animals (stock farming) like cattle and sheep.
- Weke 6–7: Verwerking (Processing)
- Onverwerkte vs. Verwerkte Voedsel: Difference between unprocessed and processed foods.
- Methods: How and why we process food (cooking, drying, mixing).
- Process: From farm to factory to shop to home (e.g., wheat to bread).
- Assessering: Beheer Toets (Control Test) – 25 Punte.
Kwartaal 4: Water in Suid-Afrika
Focus: The final term looks at water as a vital resource, how it is collected, and the importance of saving it.
- Weke 1–2: Watergebruike (Uses of Water)
- Daily uses in personal lives.
- Industrial uses: factories, mines, farming, and electricity generation.
- Weke 3–4: Water as ‘n Hulpbron (Water as a Resource)
- Soutwater vs. Varswater: Salt water (sea) vs. Fresh water (rivers, rain).
- Die Natuurlike Watersiklus: The natural water cycle (from sea to land and back).
- Weke 5–7: Toegang tot Water (Access to Water)
- Berging: How people store water (dams, tanks, buckets).
- Verkryging: How people get water (rivers, boreholes, taps).
- Weke 8–9: Besoedeling (Pollution)
- Personal and factory waste polluting water.
- Afvalwater: Wastewater and recycling sewage.
- Assessering: Beheer Toets (Control Test) – 25 Punte (Covers Term 3 & 4).
FAQ: Geography Grade 4 (Afrikaans)
Q: Wat is die verskil tussen ‘n sy-aansig en ‘n planaansig? A: A sy-aansig (side view) is when you look at an object from the side, like seeing the legs of a table. A planaansig (plan view) is looking at it from directly above, like seeing only the top circle of a cup.
Q: Watter kompasrigtings moet leerders ken? A: Learners must know the four cardinal points: Noord (N), Suid (S), Oos (O), and Wes (W).
Q: Is daar ‘n projek in Graad 4 Geografie? A: Unlike History, the Geography ATP for Grade 4 focuses heavily on Control Tests (Beheer Toetse) and Assignments (Opdragte) involving map work and source-based questions rather than a large research project.