Water, landscapes and people

Geography

Secondary

Creative ways of working with maps in geography for KS3 and KS4

Discover how a secondary school has developed Key Stage 3 pupils' map skills in geography with the use of bingo and 3D models. When Emma Thom took on the role of head of geography at Kingsbury School and Sports College in Birmingham, she recognised a need to improve understanding of maps among the pupils. She found that text books and traditional lessons were putting some pupils off the subject. With her colleagues, Emma set about developing more creative lessons to both invigorate teaching and inspire the children. The teachers behind the project say it has created a new enthusiasm for geography among the pupils and achievement is up at Key Stage 4.

3D Maps, Coordinates and Bingo

A Year 9 Class learns about oceanography on a voyage across sea

Year 9 pupils at Sandown High School take a trip on board the research Vessel Callista in which they learn about sea life and oceanography. Pupils get the chance to learn about light penetration and use some of the vessels' equipment, examining the boat's daily catch of fish, squid and plants. Pupils also learn about the tiny creatures that live in the mud on the sea bed, and nourish the food chains in our oceans. As the crew explain that the oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the earth's surface, and hold over nine-tenths of the planet's water. Pupils learn the importance of the ocean and the clues it holds to our history, and our future, many of which remain undiscovered.

A Taste of the Sea

Four innovative ideas to help with planning KS4 geography lessons

Four imaginative lesson ideas for KS4 geography are demonstrated by three teachers. This lesson-planning resource addresses environmental change and sustainable development; and water, landscapes and people. For teaching students about population, Mal Burden's first lesson uses jelly babies to demonstrate population structure and changes. His second idea helps students understand the reasons behind migration by getting them to move around the class in response to changing conditions. To help students understand the idea of different groups in society, Maria Larkin shows how role play can get students thinking about who these different groups might be. Finally, the benefits of using a kinaesthetic learning activity when teaching the GCSE unit Climate, Ecosystems and People, are demonstrated by Graham Goldup. He gets groups of secondary students to identify the characteristics of animals and plants in different ecosystems. They then use modelling clay to make models and explain to the class what they've done and why.

GCSE Geography: Population, Employment and Ecosystems

Using data loggers for GCSE geography

A short video highlighting how data loggers can be used in a Yr 10 geography lesson. Teacher Helen Young takes a group of Year 10s out into the Friary School grounds equipped with probes and data loggers to investigate the local microclimate. Suitable as a resource for KS4 geography students.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Subjects

> Secondary Geography

> Water, landscapes and people

3D Maps, Coordinates and Bingo

A Taste of the Sea

GCSE Geography: Population, Employment and Ecosystems

Secondary Geography - Using ICT - Using data-loggers with Year 10