Impossible places
No Admittance, Forbidden places
The last lesson in this module is inspired by the "The importance of geography" statement in the revised Programme of Study. There is a strong element of Citizenship. Human activities have made some parts of the planet uninhabitable. Students undertake independent research into forbidden places using web based tools. They complete a short project and respond creatively to their chosen location. Finally they consider the nature of forbidden places in their local area.
Key questions:
- Why some are places forbidden?
- What would it be like to visit a forbidden place?
Key Concepts:
Place
Interdependence
Cultural understanding and diversity
Why some are places forbidden?
Some places are restricted because of past or present military activities. Places may also be ‘forbidden' for cultural, political or environmental reasons.
What would it be like to visit a forbidden place?
Click on an activity:
Starter
Main activity
Plenary
Downloads
Links:
Starter activity:
Visions Of Pripyat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YljS2JfkWk&mode=related&search
Forbidden Places resources:
Wikipedia entry for Pripyat:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pripyat,_Ukraine
Wikipedia entry for Gruinard:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruinard_Island
Bikini Atoll:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikini_Atoll
Nevada Test site:
http://www.nv.doe.gov/nts/tours.htm
Sedan Crater:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedan_(nuclear_test)
Area 51:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51
Hawthorn (nuclear bunker):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorn,_Wiltshire
Vozrozhdeniya:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vozrozhdeniya_Island /
http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/island-tomb-of-forgotten-diseases.html
Centralia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania /
http://www.offroaders.com/album/centralia/centralia.htm
Korean Demilitarized zone:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Demilitarized_Zone
Imber:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imber
Nanda Devi Sanctuary:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanda_Devi
Mecca (for non Muslims)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecca
Guantanamo Bay:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_Naval_Base
Chagos Islands:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1005064.stm
Diego Garcia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Garcia
Foreign Office travel advice website:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/
Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1095423800990
(Thanks to SLN users for some of the above suggestions)
Rambler's Association (Right to Roam):
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/freedom/
National Geographic lesson plan for primary children:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/
13/gk2/boundaries.html