An interactive map which shows you the route of the Olympic torch.
For example if I could be bothered, which I can't, I could go out on the 4th of July and watch it pass through Fakenham towards East Rudham...
Is it coming near you ?
Monday, 7 November 2011
New differentiatedgeography blog
Well done to Rebecca Pratap for her new Geography blog.
Differentiated Geography
Rebecca came along to a GA event that I was leading earlier in the year, and now that she is settled into her job, she has started to share her work with a nicely designed blog
At the moment, there are a few examples of differentiated work and ideas for teaching topics.
I look forward to seeing how it develops further.
Differentiated Geography
Rebecca came along to a GA event that I was leading earlier in the year, and now that she is settled into her job, she has started to share her work with a nicely designed blog
At the moment, there are a few examples of differentiated work and ideas for teaching topics.
I look forward to seeing how it develops further.
EBacc - GA Consultation
The GA's Curriculum consultation has ended, but there is a new consultation on the impact of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) in schools....
Give the GA your feedback on this page...
Here's a presentation that I used with some information on the EBacc when I did some sessions as a consultant for the SSAT (now Schools Network) earlier in the year. This will give you a bit more background information if you're not sure.
Give the GA your feedback on this page...
Here's a presentation that I used with some information on the EBacc when I did some sessions as a consultant for the SSAT (now Schools Network) earlier in the year. This will give you a bit more background information if you're not sure.
Triptico (cont.)
Back in August, I posted about a suite of tools for the creation of interactive resources, developed by teacher David Riley, and called TRIPTICO.
The site offers the download of a FREE Adobe Air application, which links through to a selection of over 20 tools.
A lot of these would be useful for the GEOGRAPHY classroom.
I've used the site with several groups of teachers since then and it's always proved to be a big hit.
My idea is to produce a set of basic resources as part of a project for a publisher, and then create a library of activities.
I've set up a discussion on the VITAL PORTAL that I manage too...
The site offers the download of a FREE Adobe Air application, which links through to a selection of over 20 tools.
A lot of these would be useful for the GEOGRAPHY classroom.
The website allows access to a download.
There is also a useful HELP GUIDE or MANUAL which describes the various tools. New ones have been added within the last week...
I've used the site with several groups of teachers since then and it's always proved to be a big hit.
My idea is to produce a set of basic resources as part of a project for a publisher, and then create a library of activities.
I've set up a discussion on the VITAL PORTAL that I manage too...
Sunday, 6 November 2011
VITAL Teachshare 3: Writing on the Map
The VITAL Teachshares are part of the VITAL Geography Portal which I am managing for the next few months.
The third of my Teachshare sessions is going to take place at 7pm on Tuesday the 8th of November.
Follow this link to access the room. You can sign in a few minutes before the session starts as there are a few bits of software that needs to be prepared before you can get access to the Elluminate session.
Also check the link to the PORTAL and sign up for a free 30 day trial, or pay five quid to access up to 3 subject-specific portals.
The session will look at ideas for literacy in Geography, and be a warm-up gig for Friday, when I will be doing a longer session at Earlston High School in the Scottish Borders for teachers from the region.
Writing the Earth is an area with great potential - there are plenty of cool tools to use....
The third of my Teachshare sessions is going to take place at 7pm on Tuesday the 8th of November.
Follow this link to access the room. You can sign in a few minutes before the session starts as there are a few bits of software that needs to be prepared before you can get access to the Elluminate session.
Also check the link to the PORTAL and sign up for a free 30 day trial, or pay five quid to access up to 3 subject-specific portals.
The session will look at ideas for literacy in Geography, and be a warm-up gig for Friday, when I will be doing a longer session at Earlston High School in the Scottish Borders for teachers from the region.
Writing the Earth is an area with great potential - there are plenty of cool tools to use....
Where in the World ?
Quick query related to a project that I'm working on...
Here's an image.
Where do you think this is, and what are you using to come up with your answer ?
Image copyright: Gerald Traufetter / DER SPIEGEL
Here's an image.
Where do you think this is, and what are you using to come up with your answer ?
Image copyright: Gerald Traufetter / DER SPIEGEL
Tsunami Revisited....
Thanks to Luke Kilvert for the tipoff to this site from CHANNEL 4 NEWS..
Video clips and other materials on the Japanese Tsunami - 8 months on...
Video clips and other materials on the Japanese Tsunami - 8 months on...
Panther - real ale with bite
Over to Reepham in Norfolk yesterday to visit family and just happened to pop in to Panther Brewery, which is tucked away in an unassuming industrial unit.
There was a range of ales and other beer-related merchandise and settled for some Panther Red after a few free taste samples.
If you're in the area, pop in and grab some local ale...
There's been a real growth in micro-breweries in the last few years, and it's always good to see another local ale to sample.
The geography of brewing was something that was part of my degree (some time ago now) and I remember the way that much of the local variety was lost as the large chains took over most of the pubs and production plants, and also how technology such as the keg, and the replacement of the shire horse and dray teams enabled beer to be transported much longer distances away from the brewery.
Reminds me of my long planned unit on the geography of whisky, which is no nearer getting started on, but is there in a folder waiting for a future time when I have no deadlines to meet...
Cheers !
There was a range of ales and other beer-related merchandise and settled for some Panther Red after a few free taste samples.
If you're in the area, pop in and grab some local ale...
There's been a real growth in micro-breweries in the last few years, and it's always good to see another local ale to sample.
The geography of brewing was something that was part of my degree (some time ago now) and I remember the way that much of the local variety was lost as the large chains took over most of the pubs and production plants, and also how technology such as the keg, and the replacement of the shire horse and dray teams enabled beer to be transported much longer distances away from the brewery.Reminds me of my long planned unit on the geography of whisky, which is no nearer getting started on, but is there in a folder waiting for a future time when I have no deadlines to meet...
Cheers !
Fireworks 'do'...
Had our annual fireworks do over at CJD's last night... as always good company, a great bonfire, fireworks from JC and Robbo (who also brought a barrel of home brew), food from Joy and a lovely fire to sit by and catch up with ex-colleagues and roast chestnuts and toast marshmallows...
Image: Alan Parkinson
Friday, 4 November 2011
GA Conference 2012 - very early bird option...
Prices are also held at 2009 levels.
It's also worth noting that prices are significantly lower for GA members, which would more than make it worth your while joining even if you only attended the conference.
I'll maybe see some of you there...
Image: Alan Parkinson
MediaCity/Salford Quay Fieldwork
A post on SLN forum recently asked about the fieldwork opportunities of the new developments at Media City / Salford Quays which are also within striking distance of various other great urban fieldwork opportunities - for example, a visit to Granada Studios to do a traffic survey on Coronation Street ?
There is a related issue here which is the ongoing transfer of BBC activity from London to Salford.
Stephen Schwab suggested a suitable enquiry question: "Is it grim up North ?"
Report on BBC impact - about 2500 staff moving (PDF download)
Over £800 million cost of move has also been mentioned. Other possible things to focus on include the potential impact on other existing retail and leisure developments in the area.
Impact on:
- retail sector, including Lowry Outlet Mall
- house prices
- transport (congestion on neighbouring roads)
- transport (congestion on neighbouring roads)
Some materials on the AQA NING that have been placed there by members.
New RGS website: an idea for how to use it...
I mentioned the WALK THE WORLD website a few days ago, and used it yesterday with colleagues in Norwich.
Here's something I added to Slideshare with the suggestions for its use.
Will be fascinating to see the walks as they're added...
A great project for local geographies widening to global geographies...
Echoes Doreen Massey's 'global sense of the local'...
Here's something I added to Slideshare with the suggestions for its use.
Will be fascinating to see the walks as they're added...
A great project for local geographies widening to global geographies...
Echoes Doreen Massey's 'global sense of the local'...
Postcode Plants Database
Came across this website while researching something the other day.
Handy for those exploring the MEET THE SPECIES project of the Cultural Olympiad...
Postcode Plants Database will tell you what plants you can find in and around your postcode. Good for Biogeography...
Handy for those exploring the MEET THE SPECIES project of the Cultural Olympiad...
Postcode Plants Database will tell you what plants you can find in and around your postcode. Good for Biogeography...
KS3 Curriculum
| Curriuclum | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
| An introduction to Geography. | Our Passion for Food. | Earth’s Blooming Rainforests! |
| Earth’s Crumbling Coastlines. | Our passion for fashion. | Our Unfair World? |
| Our settlements in the UK. | Earth - Our Dying Planet? | Earth’s violent Volcanoes! |
| Investigating Japan and Kenya | Earth’s wild weather and crazy climates. | Earth’s Shakes, ‘quakes and Tsunamis! |
| Earth’s Winding Rivers. | Earth’s dramatic landscapes. | Our leisure time – investigating tourism. |
Southlands High School, Lancashire
I like looking at schools' KS3 layouts.
They give a sense of how the teachers have taken the curriculum document and made it their own....
Curriculum titles, and the way that units merge together are also interesting to see.
Would be an interesting (though lengthy) job to go through as many school websites as possible and identify what is taught in particular year groups and what the most common KS3 curriculum could be as a composite of all schools...
Wonder what the curriculum of 2013/14 will look like ?
Geography Awareness Week
Thanks to Dan Ellison for the tip-off to this post on the MY WONDERFUL WORLD BLOG about the forthcoming Geography Awareness Week in the USA.It's fantastic to think that there are people on the other side of the Atlantic using the booklet of missions that Dan and I wrote and (apparently) enjoying them so much... as this photograph suggests.
If you haven't seen the booklet, check it out...
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Norwich School - Cathedral Close.. very close
Had a good day today with a select group of colleagues at Norwich School for a full day of geography chat and an introduction to some tools and resources that all emerged from work that I've done over the last few years.
I am grateful to Matthew Hopgood and colleagues in the Geography department for hosting the day, and Paul Baker for the organisation.
We had a wide-ranging look at a whole host of tools, and also had the surprise of seeing the Catlin Arctic Survey resources for KS3 Geography for the first time.
We included QR Codes (lots of interest there), Google Docs, Mission Explore, Walk the World, Teacher's Toolkit, Triptico and the latest HDI report.
A good chance to trial some of the material for the NQT Conference by the GA in London on the 17th of November. Still chance to book a place.
As always, any queries get in touch :)
We had a wide-ranging look at a whole host of tools, and also had the surprise of seeing the Catlin Arctic Survey resources for KS3 Geography for the first time.
We included QR Codes (lots of interest there), Google Docs, Mission Explore, Walk the World, Teacher's Toolkit, Triptico and the latest HDI report.
A good chance to trial some of the material for the NQT Conference by the GA in London on the 17th of November. Still chance to book a place.
As always, any queries get in touch :)
Digimap is 1 year old (nearly)
The service won the GA's GOLD AWARD at our 2011 conference, and I was there when the award was handed over to Vanessa Lawrence.
It offers the opportunity for schools to access Ordnance Survey mapping at a range of scales for the whole country.
I'm currently writing an article for the GA's journal 'Teaching Geography'
If you are using DIGIMAP FOR SCHOOLS in your school, I'd be grateful for any thoughts on the tools and maps, and examples of how you've made use of them...
Oceans Digital Explorer
The KS3 Geography materials that I authored for this website are now available to download.Jamie and the team have turned my ideas into a rather cool 47 page booklet which can be obtained for free as a PDF.
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Geography Teaching Today Website - update
Important changes to the GTT website at the end of November
From the end of November 2011 all your favourite materials that are currently on Geography Teaching Today will be relocated onto the respective websites of the GA and RGS-IBG.
Everything you've previously used will still be available and free to access. However, you may wish to check any bookmarks you previously had to specific pages or resources on GTT and upload the new shortcuts - which will be available from the end of this month. We are conscious that many colleagues may have embedded link to various GTT materials - such as the KS3 units - in their SofW and wouldn't want people to suddenly get a load of broken links.
With the funding for the Action Plan for Geography having come to an end in April 2011 we are relocating these materials to ensure that they continue to be available for you and other colleagues to use in the future.
Best wishes
Geographical Association and Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
via SLN and Steve Brace
From the end of November 2011 all your favourite materials that are currently on Geography Teaching Today will be relocated onto the respective websites of the GA and RGS-IBG.
Everything you've previously used will still be available and free to access. However, you may wish to check any bookmarks you previously had to specific pages or resources on GTT and upload the new shortcuts - which will be available from the end of this month. We are conscious that many colleagues may have embedded link to various GTT materials - such as the KS3 units - in their SofW and wouldn't want people to suddenly get a load of broken links.
With the funding for the Action Plan for Geography having come to an end in April 2011 we are relocating these materials to ensure that they continue to be available for you and other colleagues to use in the future.
Best wishes
Geographical Association and Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
via SLN and Steve Brace
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Discovering Places
The DISCOVERING PLACES website has now launched... part of the CULTURAL OLYMPIAD for 2012.
Good to see the Geography Collective down as one of the project partners too - we've spent a lot of time working on this one and putting in the usual level of creativity.
There are plenty of interesting ideas in all of these websites.
The three projects featured are:
Walk the World
Meet the Species
Discover Explore
Walk the World
The challenge here is to create a walk which includes connections with a range of countries. The aim is to try to connect with as many of the 206 Olympic and Paralympic nations as possible, by planning a walk and bringing out the global connections, which may be historical as well as geographical. The website was launched by Nick Crane. There are some examples already provided, and walks contributed by visitors are already starting to come in. This would make a great local geography project, or something to focus on when visiting a new city.
Meet the Species
Try to identify as many of the 2012 species on the list as possible.
Discover Explore
An online game based along the Great Glen in Scotland, developed by the Geography Collective.
Plenty to explore here over the coming months as part of the Cultural Olympiad.
I am going to work out a few walks for WALK THE WORLD too, as the site has great potential.
Good to see the Geography Collective down as one of the project partners too - we've spent a lot of time working on this one and putting in the usual level of creativity.
There are plenty of interesting ideas in all of these websites.
The three projects featured are:
Walk the World
Meet the Species
Discover Explore
Walk the World
The challenge here is to create a walk which includes connections with a range of countries. The aim is to try to connect with as many of the 206 Olympic and Paralympic nations as possible, by planning a walk and bringing out the global connections, which may be historical as well as geographical. The website was launched by Nick Crane. There are some examples already provided, and walks contributed by visitors are already starting to come in. This would make a great local geography project, or something to focus on when visiting a new city.
Meet the Species
Try to identify as many of the 2012 species on the list as possible.
Discover Explore
An online game based along the Great Glen in Scotland, developed by the Geography Collective.
Discover Explore helps young people and their families discover hidden, extraordinary, important and historical stories and places in cutting-edge and engaging ways.
The website encourages families to get outdoors and become involved in inspirational, personalised and creative activities. Using the lastest online technologies, explorers use the website to find missions. They then head off on adventures set along the Great Glen Way between Fort William and Inverness. This pilot project will take in over 400 million years of natural and human stories.
Discover Explore will engage you with the historic environment in new ways – expect to discover the art of the Picts, track elusive Scottish wild cats and investigate the stories of people who have used the Great Glen Way to spread influence, power and the important Olympic theme of truce.
If you are a heritage organisation working in the Great Glen and would like to be involved in the project or have any questions please visit www.discoverexplore.co.uk.
Plenty to explore here over the coming months as part of the Cultural Olympiad.
I am going to work out a few walks for WALK THE WORLD too, as the site has great potential.
Road closed due to jokulhlaup...
It's getting to be the time of year when the weather changes, and the first snows and frosts remind us that we can't rely on travelling around quite so easily.
I spent some time yesterday working on a resource on ICELAND and made a good discovery. Up in Iceland there's a great resource that will be helpful during the winter months for all those who live in (or are visiting) the country. It has been put together by the Icelandic Road Administration
They have an interactive map that is regularly updated. This shows an update on the weather conditions and any particular problems on each of Iceland's main roads, and also a count of how much traffic has passed along it in certain time intervals. These would make a useful basis for exploring the impact of bad weather.
Click the small map top right to access these maps.
Click the small map in the left hand column to access a large range of webcams...
There's also this interesting YouTube video which provides guidance on 'How to drive in Iceland'.
There's also a useful brochure that can be downloaded (PDF download) that includes some useful guidance on mapping and Icelandic road signs.
They have an interactive map that is regularly updated. This shows an update on the weather conditions and any particular problems on each of Iceland's main roads, and also a count of how much traffic has passed along it in certain time intervals. These would make a useful basis for exploring the impact of bad weather.
Click the small map top right to access these maps.
Click the small map in the left hand column to access a large range of webcams...
There's also this interesting YouTube video which provides guidance on 'How to drive in Iceland'.
There's also a useful brochure that can be downloaded (PDF download) that includes some useful guidance on mapping and Icelandic road signs.
Sarah Outen's Journey
Digital Explorer have been working at producing new teaching resources for the Catlin Arctic Survey, but have also been working on another project.
Sarah Outen has been travelling from London to London under her own power, and is currently well into the journey. Check out the resources and other opportunities for schools.
Sarah Outen has been travelling from London to London under her own power, and is currently well into the journey. Check out the resources and other opportunities for schools.
HDI - the latest...
Just spent a while on the UN Human Development Index site, where there is a range of material for geographers.Also worth checking out various other elements of the educational element which are at the bottom of the main page.
The HDI data (and an explanation of how it is derived) is also available from the site...
The latest report for 2011 is published TOMORROW, which will of course provide the latest news on the progress being made by some of the less developed nations. Last year it was Norway that came top, and Zimbabwe that came bottom.
Work with the Geography Collective
WORK WITH US
This is your chance to get in on the MISSION EXPLORE action...
There are a range of options for you or your school / organisation to get involved with creating and placing missions....
This is your chance to get in on the MISSION EXPLORE action...
There are a range of options for you or your school / organisation to get involved with creating and placing missions....
#MOVEMBER
I am taking part in the #MOVEMBER challenge this year to raise money for cancer awareness.
I am part of the TASHTASTIC GEOGRAPHERS team. along with other noted colleagues.
Click the link or scan the QR code to go to my page and donate.
I shall put up some pictures during the month so that you can see how bad I am at growing a moustache....
I am part of the TASHTASTIC GEOGRAPHERS team. along with other noted colleagues.
Click the link or scan the QR code to go to my page and donate.
I shall put up some pictures during the month so that you can see how bad I am at growing a moustache....
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