Geographical enquiry and skills

Geography

Secondary

An uncut lesson looking at environmental issues

Claire Mckenzie, a fast track geography teacher from a North Somerset school, takes her Year 7 class through the question of farmers, hedgerows and their impact on the environment. Claire uses brainstorming, role play and advocacy, through which the class can explores the advantages of and problems with hedgerow removal, and empathise with farmers. The pupils also create mind maps. Later in the lesson Claire uses a different technique to encourage the class to complete their own assessment about where they stand on the issue This programme shows a complete lesson, uninterrupted and unedited with the intention of developing classroom observation skills. Part of our uncut series of lessons, providing a fresh insight into teaching with a real time, real action classroom.

Four teachers demonstrate geographical field work in Antarctica

Explore the geology of glaciers and learn about the challenges of field work in extreme climates as a group of intrepid teachers go on a four-week expedition to Antarctica. The first half of this programme looks at glaciers, using case studies of glaciers in both Norway and the South Pole. It also looks in more detail at Antarctica and the geography of the continent. It then looks at the experience of a group of British teachers conducting geographical field work in Antarctica. While studying the abundance of cryoconite holes on a glacier, the teachers discover how tough it can be to undertake field work in a harsh climate.

KS3 Antarctica - Geography Teachers in the Freezer

Making local geography relevant to students

In this programme, we explore the Where Will I Live? project set up by the Geographical Association and CABE to encourage the learning of citizenship skills through geography. David Beresford, an AST at Colderidge Community School in Cambridge, helped to develop the scheme. Here, we see how his pupils have set out to answer the question, "Where will I live?" By studying their local community and housing market, the students become equipped with the knowledge needed for future big decisions, thereby demonstrating the relevance of geography today.

KS3/4 Geography - Engaging With Their World: Where Will I Live?

A group of pupils visit Iceland to study geographical features

A group of KS3 and KS4 geography pupils take a trip to Iceland to enhance their learning and to see local features. On the trip the pupils learn about and get an up close view of geographical features such as geysers, waterfalls, volcanoes and glaciers. Follow them on their adventures to see what they saw and learn what they learnt, as well as seeing the benefit of taking a field trip to Iceland.

KS3/4 Geography - Iceland - The Sights

Making the most of geographic information systems

How can you make the most of Geographic Information Systems in your classroom? Dr Gerard O'Sullivan, an advanced skills geography teacher from Homewood School in Tenterden, Kent, offers creative ideas, technical advice and teaching tips on how to work with this powerful tool. From field trip to computer laboratory and classroom, and with some help from a GIS software professional, he provides a guide to the benefits of its use. We also hear views on GIS from other members of the geography department, each with varying teaching and IT skills and experience.

KS3/4 Geography - Using GIS

A Year 12 group visit Dale Fort on the Pembrokeshire coast

This programme follows a group of Year 12 students as they spend a week studying plant and animal life at the Field Studies Council's centre at Dale Fort. The centre is situated on the beautiful and rugged Pembrokeshire coast, at the very south westerly tip of Wales. It provides access to exposed beaches ravaged by wind and sea in addition to sheltered coves and rock pools. Each day the pupils, from Highams Park School in London, visit a different marine environment. They also visit the Gann Salt Marsh, a site of special scientific interest for its diverse ecology. The intensive, residential course combines formal teaching in Dale Fort's classrooms with hands-on work in the field, followed by analysis and discussion of results; it is a productive and rewarding experience, certainly not just a seaside holiday!

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Subjects

> Secondary Geography

> Geographical enquiry and skills

Geography

KS3 Antarctica - Geography Teachers in the Freezer

KS3/4 Geography - Engaging With Their World: Where Will I Live?

KS3/4 Geography - Iceland - The Sights

KS3/4 Geography - Using GIS

Pembrokeshire Field Studies