Geography Teaching Today

This section expands the content of Primary Geography Handbook Chapter 14

Contrasting Localities

by Greg Walker (pp.195-203)

Getting started

1. Visit the town in advance
2. Write risk assessment (Download)
3. Plan route, questions to ask and activities to complete (Download)
4. Prepare a map of the route and maps to use whilst there (Multimap)
5. Prepare I-Spy to use on the journey (Download)

Children's issues and misconceptions

Consider stereotypes.

'...research suggests that they (children) often develop attitudes to other people and countries before they have appreciable knowledge of them'
Maureen Weldon (2004) p.205

Maureen has written a useful chapter in the Primary Geography Handbook entitled 'The Wider World'.

• Do children know where France is in relation to UK?
• Are they aware of how we can get to France?

Using and making maps

• Use Globes and maps at different scales to identify and locate the place to be visited.
• Equip children with a map of their route from Herne Bay to Rang du Fliers.
• Use given maps to show how different transport will be used for the journey.
• Use internet mapping programmes such as Google Earth, Quikmaps or Multimap to look at maps and aerial images.
• Use write-on whiteboards of the world to locate the UK and France and adjoining countries.

www.openstreetmap.org

Read Chapter 8 of the Primary Geography Handbook, 'Mapwork Skills' by Colin Bridge, p.105. Download this extract which describes how children relate to maps.

Primary Framework opportunities

'The national curriculum specifies how pupils' understanding of geography can be developed through the study of localities as they progress through the primary school.' (DfEE/QCA, 1999)
(p.181)

'Studying places beyond their local area provides great opportunities to capitalise on children's natural interest in and curiosity about people and places.'
(p.205)

Activity ideas

Questions to ask:

• What is France like?
• What will be the same?
• What will be different?
• What would you like to find out about Rang du Fliers?

See lesson plans. 

Children's voices

• Involve pupils in taking responsibility for their safety before the visit. Use aerial photographs and images of places and hazards and ask pupils to discuss and write their own. Download this risk assessment activity.
• There are many opportunities for children to express their feelings and share their ideas. These could include discussions about the people, schools, culture and food in France... similarities and differences.
• Ask pupils what they feel is important to share about their own lives with people and other pupils they might meet.
• Use an enquiry approach to develop pupils' interests and natural curiosity.
• Make provision for pupils to evaluate the trip and how it could be improved for future visits.
• In addition, children will practise using the French they have learnt. (See lesson plans).

ICT

• Before going, look up Rang du Fliers and Berck sur Mer on the internet.
• Pupils can use a digital camera or video recorder to record what they see.
• Use a tape recorder to record conversation.
• Use online mapping programmes such as Google Earth, Quikmaps or Multimap.
• Use internet searches to gather information before the visit using pupils' questions.

Assessment for learning

• Use Target buddies as peer support to assess individual activities.
• Use supported questioning and talk to assess what pupils already know, the misconceptions they hold and the progress they make throughout.
• Use a 'Rate Yourself' sheet for pupils to complete using criteria drawn from the Attainment Targets.
• A presentation to parents/sponsors about the visit, using variety of media, will provide plenty of opportunities to assess what the children have gained from this experience.

Displays

On your return, use the experience for pupils to create a presentation to parents/sponsors about the visit. This could include a display of photographs, samples of food, art work, talks about what happened during the day and what surprised and intrigued them (similarities as well as differences).

Additional resources

• Variety of maps of different scales
• Brochures
• Key words in French
• Gifts for the French children
• Completed scrap books

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