Wednesday, 7 December 2011
More posts
I've also now reached the figure of 3200 blog posts on this blog alone... probably done 10 000 over the years. They don't call me GeoBlogs for nothing. I deserve some sort of lifetime achievement award, or then again, perhaps I don't...
Where does Christmas come from ?
For many families, Christmas (or at least the decorations, toys, food and other items) come from Waltham Point: the main distribution warehouse for Sainsbury's stores in the SE.
Waltham Point lies next to the M25.
Some good images in the Sainsbury's article which provide a lot of useful geographical background for this as a possible thing to explore: the whole area of transport has a key link. Some years ago when I did my degree at Huddersfield, there was a new degree course on Geography and Transport.
This GUARDIAN ARTICLE also links the contracts for producing materials for DISNEY.
Waltham Point lies next to the M25.
Some good images in the Sainsbury's article which provide a lot of useful geographical background for this as a possible thing to explore: the whole area of transport has a key link. Some years ago when I did my degree at Huddersfield, there was a new degree course on Geography and Transport.
This GUARDIAN ARTICLE also links the contracts for producing materials for DISNEY.
Mission:Explore Food - you can help make it happen
Last night at the Houses of Parliament, Mission:Explore came runner-up in the Educational Writers' Awards ceremony of the Society of Authors. Congratulations to the winner: 'Moon' by Stewart Ross.
We were described as having produced: 'A brave book which encourages children to explore the world around them, developing their curiosity, confidence and courage along the way…’
Mission:Explore Food will be a 320 page exploration of all things 'foody' in our own Geography Collective style, and with the fabulous illustrations of Tom Morgan-Jones. For example, here's our take on the importance of eating locally sourced food...
The funding for the book will hopefully come from crowd-sourcing, and we are using a website called PLEASE FUND US to co-ordinate this.
If you are able to support us at certain levels, there are some nice rewards, such as books, posters, an invitation to our launch party, and even the chance to feature in the book yourself.
Read more on the Geography Collective blog
When you're ready, please head over to our PLEASE FUND US page. We need a good chunk of money to make this happen, although it's manageable if we take it one bite at a time.
Look down the right hand side to see the options....
Thanks in advance for your support and look forward to launching the book at the Hay Festival in 2012.
Remember that Mission:Explore was a National Trust / Hay Festival Outdoors Book of the Year for 2011
We were described as having produced: 'A brave book which encourages children to explore the world around them, developing their curiosity, confidence and courage along the way…’
Mission:Explore Food will be a 320 page exploration of all things 'foody' in our own Geography Collective style, and with the fabulous illustrations of Tom Morgan-Jones. For example, here's our take on the importance of eating locally sourced food...
The funding for the book will hopefully come from crowd-sourcing, and we are using a website called PLEASE FUND US to co-ordinate this.
If you are able to support us at certain levels, there are some nice rewards, such as books, posters, an invitation to our launch party, and even the chance to feature in the book yourself.
Read more on the Geography Collective blog
Look down the right hand side to see the options....
Thanks in advance for your support and look forward to launching the book at the Hay Festival in 2012.
Remember that Mission:Explore was a National Trust / Hay Festival Outdoors Book of the Year for 2011
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Album covers on Street View
Google Street View can be used to locate many things: I use it to help me with a whole range of things from day to day...This GERMAN SITE has located the places that featured on a number of album covers.
This activity is worth developing further.
This fits with the Word Magazine Album Atlas.
Which locations can you identify on Street View ??
Teachshare on Assessment
Join me at 7pm tonight HERE for a VITAL CPD Teachshare on Assessment in Geography.
I'm going to talk through why assessment is needed, and also some ideas from Dylan Wiliam's latest book.
Feel free to come along and listen in, or contribute your thoughts...
UPDATE
If you missed this event, then please go to THIS LINK and you will be able to watch a recording and also get a prompt to download
I'm going to talk through why assessment is needed, and also some ideas from Dylan Wiliam's latest book.
Feel free to come along and listen in, or contribute your thoughts...
UPDATE
If you missed this event, then please go to THIS LINK and you will be able to watch a recording and also get a prompt to download
Inside the box...
Thanks to Jack Marsh for sending me some examples of 'landscapes in a box'. Landscapes in a box is one of the ideas that seems to have gone down the best of the things that I've shared over the years. The basic idea is to create a landscape within a box, perhaps a burger box (but could also be a shoe box)
This was featured in 'Teaching Geography' in 2009.
This was featured in 'Teaching Geography' in 2009.
Jack used the activity with his groups, and has sent me three excellent images of contrasting images from the students: an Antarctic scene, New York's Central Park, and Paris... Outstanding work !!
If you've used Landscape in a Box, why not share your students' work too...
Monday, 5 December 2011
Why study Geography ?
A useful report from The Independent....
"There has never been a more exciting time to study geography at university. It helps explain much of what is going on in the world right now, from climate change and the Arab Spring to globalization and natural disasters. Geographers have embraced new digital technologies and media in their field/laboratory work, making the knowledge and practical skills of the modern geographer very relevant to a wide range of employer needs. The employment stats for geography graduates are now better than for most other traditional academic subjects, so if you want to go places at university - and beyond - study geography.”
Martin Degg, head of geography and development studies at the University of Chester
"There has never been a more exciting time to study geography at university. It helps explain much of what is going on in the world right now, from climate change and the Arab Spring to globalization and natural disasters. Geographers have embraced new digital technologies and media in their field/laboratory work, making the knowledge and practical skills of the modern geographer very relevant to a wide range of employer needs. The employment stats for geography graduates are now better than for most other traditional academic subjects, so if you want to go places at university - and beyond - study geography.”
Martin Degg, head of geography and development studies at the University of Chester
Culture: the latest Digital Explorer site
I've been working with Jamie Buchanan Dunlop over the last few months, adding some new resources to the OCEANS DIGITAL EXPLORER website.
The Digital Explorer empire is now expanding to CULTURAL matters, linking in with the idea of Citizenship and (as always) a link with real world exploration.
Check out the new CULTURAL WEBSITE which has some superb resources.
The FILMS and PHOTOS section looks like being an amazingly useful resource for exploring Citizenship issues.
The Digital Explorer empire is now expanding to CULTURAL matters, linking in with the idea of Citizenship and (as always) a link with real world exploration.
Check out the new CULTURAL WEBSITE which has some superb resources.
The FILMS and PHOTOS section looks like being an amazingly useful resource for exploring Citizenship issues.
Live Earthquake Mashup
Always good to set up some search columns on Tweetdeck and read them once a day to see where your blog has been discussed or mentioned, or retweeted...
This took me to a useful link from a blog post by @SkipCody
It's an earthquake mash-up, which was produced in Germany by Jörn Clausen.
It shows the location of recent earthquakes on Google Maps.
Check the information page here, which explains how to identify the source of data that is used to produce the map (which therefore affects the overall finished map) - there's a useful timeline...
This took me to a useful link from a blog post by @SkipCody
It's an earthquake mash-up, which was produced in Germany by Jörn Clausen.
It shows the location of recent earthquakes on Google Maps.
Check the information page here, which explains how to identify the source of data that is used to produce the map (which therefore affects the overall finished map) - there's a useful timeline...
Road deaths map...
This map would need to be used with a bit of caution, but could enable some useful investigations of the clustering of accidents which might then be related to weather conditions, road layout etc.
It apparently shows every road death between 1999 and 2010 (which explains the need for caution, this is not a topic which should be treated lightly. The link with major roads and particular junctions could be explored in terms of developing some strategies for reducing accidents further. Would be relevant for units on sustainable transport / transport management...
Burnum Burnum
Finished off a major writing project last week which had involved a lot of research, which took me to some interesting places...
While writing some of the materials on the theme of exploration, I was reminded of the story of Burnum Burnum.
This was something that stuck with me, as it happened just as I started teaching, and I used it as an example of the nature of exploration and discovery. Burnum Burnum's claim was just as 'valid' as that of
He was originally born as Harry Penrith in 1936, and spent most of his early life in children's homes having been orphaned.
On the day of Australia's bicentenary, back in 1988, Burnum Burnum planted the flag of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia at the White Cliffs of Dover.
It's a reminder about the nuanced nature of 'exploration' which is why our Mission:Explore missions are as valid a form of exploration as any other...
An interesting blog post here
His declaration is pictured below...
Source: Wikimedia Commons
While writing some of the materials on the theme of exploration, I was reminded of the story of Burnum Burnum.
This was something that stuck with me, as it happened just as I started teaching, and I used it as an example of the nature of exploration and discovery. Burnum Burnum's claim was just as 'valid' as that of
He was originally born as Harry Penrith in 1936, and spent most of his early life in children's homes having been orphaned.
On the day of Australia's bicentenary, back in 1988, Burnum Burnum planted the flag of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia at the White Cliffs of Dover.
It's a reminder about the nuanced nature of 'exploration' which is why our Mission:Explore missions are as valid a form of exploration as any other...
An interesting blog post here
His declaration is pictured below...
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Transcript: "The Burnum Burnum Declaration England, 26th January, 1988
I, Burnum Burnum, being a nobleman of ancient Australia do hereby take posession of England on behalf of the Aboriginal people. In claiming this colonial outpost, we wish no harm to you natives, but assure you that we are here to bring you good manners, refinement and an opportunity to make a Koompartoo - 'a fresh start'. Henceforth, an Aboriginal face shall appear on your coins and stamps to signify our sovereignty over this domain. For the more advanced, bring the complex language of the Pitjantjajara; we will teach you how to have a spiritual relationship with the Earth and show you how to get bush tucker.
We do not intend to souvenir, pickle and preserve the heads of your 2000 of your people, nor to publicly display the skeletal remains of your Royal Highness, as was done to our Queen Truganninni for 80 years. Neither do we intend to poison your water holes, lace your flour with strychnine or introduce you to highly toxic drugs. Based on our 50,000 year heritage, we acknowledge the need to preserve the Caucasian race as of interest to antiquity, although we may be inclined to conduct experiments by measuring the size of your skulls for levels of intelligence. We pledge not to sterilise your women, nor to separate your children from their families. We give an absolute undertaking that you shall not be placed onto the mentality of government handouts for the next five generations but you will enjoy the full benefits of Aboriginal equality. At the end of two hundred years, we will make a treaty to validate occupation by peaceful means and not by conquest.
Finally, we solemnly promise not to make a quarry of England and export your valuable minerals back to the old country Australia, and we vow never to destroy three-quarters of your trees, but to encourage Earth Repair Action to unite people, communities, religions and nations in a common, productive, peaceful purpose.
Burnun Burnum."
GCSE Oceans Resources Pack
The GCSE resource pack that I co-wrote to accompany the other materials on the Digital Explorer Oceans site is now available to download.
You will need to register for free to be able to download the pack in PDF format, along with the accompanying resources.
While you're there, get the KS3 Geography Pack which I wrote too. Great work by Jamie Buchanan-Dunlop and the folks at Digital Explorer to get it all designed and produced....
While you're there, get the KS3 Geography Pack which I wrote too. Great work by Jamie Buchanan-Dunlop and the folks at Digital Explorer to get it all designed and produced....
Sunday, 4 December 2011
The News from Lake Wobegon
This is one of my weekly routines, and has been for many years. Garrison Keillor is a remarkable author, and produces this weekly update of the characters originally created in his book 'Lake Wobegon Days'.I am now able to listen to it on my Wunderadio App.
The monologue is part of a radio show called the 'Prairie Home Companion'. It usually starts with the weather forecasts which sets the scene for the stories that follow. Little 5 to 10 minute journeys to a familiar world.
If you've never heard it before, you'll need to listen to a few episodes to get a sense of the cast of characters and familiar family names. The stories will make you laugh and cry by turns. Garrison Keillor is a genius.
Blickling Hall
Over to Blickling Hall today, which all set up for Christmas, with decorations in the Hall, and various craft stalls in the courtyard. The second-hand bookshop at Blickling is excellent, and there was a good range of old geography books. I didn't have any cash with me, otherwise I may have come out with a good range of textbooks and teacher books from the 90s. Lots of names which were unfamiliar to me then, but with who I have now worked from time to time.
If you get a chance to go over to the hall next weekend do so, it's been very nicely decorated and will get you dreaming of a white Christmas...
They also have copies of Mission:Explore in the shop.
We find out tomorrow evening at the Houses of Parliament whether Mission:Explore has won the Educational Writers' Award for 2011.... exciting !!
If you get a chance to go over to the hall next weekend do so, it's been very nicely decorated and will get you dreaming of a white Christmas...
They also have copies of Mission:Explore in the shop.
We find out tomorrow evening at the Houses of Parliament whether Mission:Explore has won the Educational Writers' Award for 2011.... exciting !!
Mushy peas compulsory...
An interesting story on the BBC news website a few days ago, which related to the idea of globalisation / glocalisation.
Harry Ramsden's fish and chip shop in Guiseley was the original shop in what has now become an international chain.
It has since spread to South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as many locations around the UK.
Unfortunately, the first shop is going to be closed down, as it is not profitable.
At one point, the shop was actually the largest fish and chip shop in the world !
Harry Ramsden's fish and chip shop in Guiseley was the original shop in what has now become an international chain.
It has since spread to South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as many locations around the UK.
Unfortunately, the first shop is going to be closed down, as it is not profitable.
At one point, the shop was actually the largest fish and chip shop in the world !
Exam results and geography nightmares...
A few of my Twitter network were discussing some findings about the potential impact of major sporting events being held during the period when students are revising for GCSE exams.
This Daily Mail article also describes another issue with the Euro 2012 tournament: the location of England's training ground compared to the ground(s) where they play their matches.
Also this quote from the article:
"England fans will have to use all their GCSE geography knowledge when they travel to the tournament with matches scheduled at venues hundreds of miles apart."
This Daily Mail article also describes another issue with the Euro 2012 tournament: the location of England's training ground compared to the ground(s) where they play their matches.
Also this quote from the article:
"England fans will have to use all their GCSE geography knowledge when they travel to the tournament with matches scheduled at venues hundreds of miles apart."
Arthur Christmas
Some nice geography bits in this Aardman animation, which I saw yesterday...
I liked the letter from the girl at the start which said "If you really live at the North Pole, how come I can't see your house when I go there on Google Earth ?"
Also good aerial shots of Cornwall and the village of Trelew in the snow... can't find any online.
Also good infographics in the mission control centre during the present delivery sequence, and the GPS confusion over Trelew.
Worth seeing if you have young kids.
I liked the letter from the girl at the start which said "If you really live at the North Pole, how come I can't see your house when I go there on Google Earth ?"
Also good aerial shots of Cornwall and the village of Trelew in the snow... can't find any online.
Also good infographics in the mission control centre during the present delivery sequence, and the GPS confusion over Trelew.
Worth seeing if you have young kids.
Cr*pteacher Blog
If you haven't caught up with this blog yet, and don't mind a bit of effing and jeffing, there's a lot to admire. For example, here's an accurate dissection of the old 'card sort'...
Although it may take a while to set up, once all the passages of text have been meticulously cut up and placed into the little envelopes, the set can be used time and time again by successive year groups. The reality is very different. If, by the time the very first cycle of the carousel, your envelopes and slips aren’t scattered over the entire classroom, stuck on the bottom of shoes or covered in obscene drawings of various genitalia, then either something of a miracle has occurred, or you are teaching in a grammar school.
Go to the top of the class !
Although it may take a while to set up, once all the passages of text have been meticulously cut up and placed into the little envelopes, the set can be used time and time again by successive year groups. The reality is very different. If, by the time the very first cycle of the carousel, your envelopes and slips aren’t scattered over the entire classroom, stuck on the bottom of shoes or covered in obscene drawings of various genitalia, then either something of a miracle has occurred, or you are teaching in a grammar school.
Go to the top of the class !
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Crime Map App
Thanks to various folks for telling me about this updated version of an earlier website, which would be really useful for anyone teaching about the Geography of Crime.
Crime Map App
The app is free, and for an additional 69p you can add an 'augmented reality' feature to the camera tab of the app, which shows the crimes that have happened in your neighbourhood, along with the distance and direction from your home.
Would be good to have some comparisons of various crimes that may have happened in the area around different schools.
Crime Map App
The app is free, and for an additional 69p you can add an 'augmented reality' feature to the camera tab of the app, which shows the crimes that have happened in your neighbourhood, along with the distance and direction from your home.
Would be good to have some comparisons of various crimes that may have happened in the area around different schools.
Google Map skinned
Thanks to @KeirClarke for another nice mapping tip-off...
This one creates a nice 'folded paper map' style image...
This one creates a nice 'folded paper map' style image...
Christmas Trees
Over to Fakenham today for the annual Christmas Tree Festival in the churchThere are Christmas trees decorating the church - loads of them. Each one represents a different charity, and are decorated accordingly: boats on the RNLI one, knitted nurses on one for a local hospital... some with bunting made from OS maps, which I quite liked...
If you're in the area, it's on until the 8th of December.
Mobile Phones
Mobile Phones make a rather good context for various kinds of learning.
This Guardian Eyewitness photo is remarkable... A Maasai warrior making a call...
OCR Geography link too
This Guardian Eyewitness photo is remarkable... A Maasai warrior making a call...
OCR Geography link too
WeTopia
WeTopia is a site which merges online gaming and social good...
Details here from Good Magazine
Details here from Good Magazine
Currently, you can support a range of products in Haiti....
New NQT Geography Blog
Nice work by Ed Fraser, who was obviously inspired by his recent day spent with me for the GA NQT event :)
NQT Geography blog...
NQT Geography blog...
StoryCubes 3
Regular readers of the blog will know of my love of Rory's Story Cubes. I use these in my CPD sessions, and link them in with the creation of geographical narratives: geography as 'writing the earth'.
The latest set of cubes is now available to purchase from the Creativity Hub website, and will be in shops in the UK in a few weeks time.
Story Cubes Voyages is a whole new set of dice for story-telling which can be used in combination with the previous sets, or by themselves...
My cubes are on order...
The latest set of cubes is now available to purchase from the Creativity Hub website, and will be in shops in the UK in a few weeks time.
My cubes are on order...
Friday, 2 December 2011
IB Examining
Heard today that I've been accepted onto the team for examining International Baccalaureate Geography papers.
So the good news is that if you teach the IB Geography in your school I might be marking your students' exam papers, and the bad news is that if you teach the IB Geography in your school I might be marking your students' exam papers....
So the good news is that if you teach the IB Geography in your school I might be marking your students' exam papers, and the bad news is that if you teach the IB Geography in your school I might be marking your students' exam papers....
Winter trees
At this time of year, the trees lose their leaves and expose their structure against the winter skies...
The WOODLAND TRUST has produced a guide to identifying trees by their bare branches rather than by their leaves...
Good for doing MISSION EXPLORE nature missions
The WOODLAND TRUST has produced a guide to identifying trees by their bare branches rather than by their leaves...
Good for doing MISSION EXPLORE nature missions
GEMMA: another new map tool...
A nice new map tool : GEMMA
Another tool from the wonderful folks at CASA at UCL
It's an easy way to generate a map, which can then be exported as a PDF...
Say 'Hello' to GEMMA from Steven Gray on Vimeo.
One of the exciting prospects is the ability to link the GEMMA maps with data collected on an iPhone app, which will be in the app store 'soon'...
Another tool from the wonderful folks at CASA at UCL
It's an easy way to generate a map, which can then be exported as a PDF...
Say 'Hello' to GEMMA from Steven Gray on Vimeo.
One of the exciting prospects is the ability to link the GEMMA maps with data collected on an iPhone app, which will be in the app store 'soon'...
Don't read this blog post...
Several people have been talking in my Twitter feed about the latest PATAGONIA ad.
This blog post is a useful summary of the background to the ad's creation, and the psychology of telling people not to buy your products when obviously that's exactly what you want them to do...
Patagonia was one of the first companies to put a lot of effort into its corporate social responsibility.
Their latest COMMON THREADS initiative would make a useful context for exploring environmental sustainability, as well as marketing.
Patagonia has produced a nice interactive tool which allows you to follow some of their products and the places involved in their production.
This would be an excellent resource for exploring the idea of carbon footprints, but also the product life-cycle: how the raw materials are just part of the total 'impact' of manufacturing any product...
This idea of FOLLOWING also connects nicely with the FOLLOW THE THINGS project, which I have mentioned several times before.
This blog post is a useful summary of the background to the ad's creation, and the psychology of telling people not to buy your products when obviously that's exactly what you want them to do...
Patagonia was one of the first companies to put a lot of effort into its corporate social responsibility.
Their latest COMMON THREADS initiative would make a useful context for exploring environmental sustainability, as well as marketing.
Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle
The 5th 'R' is re-imagine...Patagonia has produced a nice interactive tool which allows you to follow some of their products and the places involved in their production.
This would be an excellent resource for exploring the idea of carbon footprints, but also the product life-cycle: how the raw materials are just part of the total 'impact' of manufacturing any product...
This idea of FOLLOWING also connects nicely with the FOLLOW THE THINGS project, which I have mentioned several times before.
GA Black Country Branch
Thanks to Ian Dixson and colleagues at High Arcal and King Edwards for their hospitality yesterday in hosting the GA Black Country branch lecture.
Reminder to students that the notes that I handed out can be used as a template for case studies on any natural hazards. Copies in electronic form are available on request.
Thanks to staff and students who came out on a chilly night to see me speak. Thanks for the kind words, and just to let you know that I got home safely just before midnight.
Reminder also that the next lecture at that branch is with Bob Digby on the 'Sustainability of the Olympics' on February the 28th
Reminder to students that the notes that I handed out can be used as a template for case studies on any natural hazards. Copies in electronic form are available on request.
Thanks to staff and students who came out on a chilly night to see me speak. Thanks for the kind words, and just to let you know that I got home safely just before midnight.
Reminder also that the next lecture at that branch is with Bob Digby on the 'Sustainability of the Olympics' on February the 28th
High and Dry
View more presentations from GeoBlogs
Update: This is the version of the presentation that I used in Worcester.
Update 2: Check out some photos from ShelterBox of their work in Thailand (over 60 000 homeless)
Update: This is the version of the presentation that I used in Worcester.
Update 2: Check out some photos from ShelterBox of their work in Thailand (over 60 000 homeless)
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Winter Teaching Ideas
As we move into December, and the chance of some snow ahead, a reminder of the winter teaching ideas that the GA compiled and published this time last year, when the temperatures were well below freezing, and the snow was like Santa's favourite pizza: deep and crisp and even...
World Aids Day
There are plenty of useful teaching resources available to explore the geographical impact of HIV / AIDS infection, and the various projects aimed at reducing its incidence.
Check out this GUARDIAN TEACHER BLOG post.
Use the MERKADOR Google Earth layer to explore the global spread.
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