Geography Teaching Today

Advice needed from Geography Co-ordinators! I'm an experienced Primary Teacher with previous subject co-ordination experience but am applying for a Geography Subject Leader position in a middle school (years 5-8) teaching KS2. Though I know the KS2 bit how do I show my understanding of the KS3 bit. I have taught in KS3 but History and English! Any suggestions would be most welcomed. Thanks

Hi everyone,
I have noticed whilst using these excellent resources that they seem specifically geared for either year 7, 8 or 9. Is there any guidance as to which units should be taught to which year group please.
Chris Walker

Just wanted to add my thanks for the new KS3 resources, they are inspirational. Last term I used 'who do we think we are' and ' the geography of conflict' and they went down a 'storm' - they loved the activities.

Got a problem at the moment. I can't access the Geography Ning site and the problem doesn't seem to be with my computer set up. Anyone else experiencing the same probs?

Have just developed a new SOL - well almost finished...?! for the new A2 AQA Unit 3 on the physical option 'Plate tectonics and associated hazards'. Any one interested in collaborating/helping improve it I would be happy to share/exchange resources.

Thanks for the stimulating and high quality new KS3 resources. I have used a number of the the topics to a greater or lesser extent. Some that I have relied heavily on are 'Who wants to be a billinaire?' and 'Who wants to live forever?'. I am currently putting together a module based on the 'The Geography of Conflict' material, which looks brilliant. One problem I have noted with this however is that the links to downlaod resources and the plenary for the the Afghanistan lesson on how conflict affects development do not work at the moment.

I totally agree that the resources are excellent. At the risk of sounding cheeky but at the same time not wanting to reinvent the wheel as you say, is there any chance that I could have a copy of what you have done Greg?
Thanks
Matt
mjackson.rhs@barnsley.org

The schemes of work and resources provided on this website are excellent. This certainly saves us all reinventing the wheel!

So far I have adapted the Fantastic places and China Today schemes to include objectives, PLTs, differentiation and H/W activities.

Greg

The new QCA website has information on the new curriculum now http://curriculum.qca.org.uk/subjects/geography/index.aspx?return=http://curriculum.qca.org.uk/subjects/index.aspx

I'm a new HOD and am finding it hard to find some soild info about what the new curriculum holds - is there a better write up of the proposed changes than the GA doc posted on the net?
Thanks to anyone that can help, Jackie

To promote the value of geography in terms of progression and for future careers consider adding a video clip of a graduate geographer doing something which relates to each unit of study in KS3 eg planners , hydrologists, GIS specialists, environmental project workers etc .... we are putting plenty of examples on the careers pages of the ambassador section here on gtt. Work in progress but feedback appreciated.
ps Colin. Am loving the giant map /model idea.

In responce to Andy Knill dec. 06

For a study of the urban geography of central London students have used two copies of an AtoZ map book and a large sheet of MDF to creat a massive map of London (made by geography club students after school). This can then be used to examine such things as the site for the 2012 olympics. If you cover it in plastic students can use board markers to draw transport routes etc on to it for presentations. Makes a great display and kids are really interested to see where Twickenham, Wembley and the Millenium Dome actually are!

P.S you need two books as the pages are double sided!

We're currently revising our KS3 provison. Our pupils have a limited sense of place even though we have pupils from across the globe. Our new sscheme starts in January 07 and will be reviewed next December after its first full run of all units. We're returning to an area based study but ensuring that themes are visited a number of times to allow progression.

Any one with experience of good resources for :
- Havering
- Greater London
- France
- China
- Senegal
- USA

All ideas gratefully received.

'Geo-eleven' or 'Geo11'
In 2011 the first students through the new KS3 framework will either be deciding to opt for geography GCSE or not. This will be a significant year for us all - to see if ,as geographers, we have seized the opportunities a more flexible KS3 presents.
In relation to KS3 resources teachers in South Gloucestershire secondary schools met yesterday and are planning to use their best practice meetings to put KS3 high on their agenda. There are plans to work together between the 15 secondary schools on a new KS3 curriculum.
A conference in the Summer of 2006 will invite students to present their experinces and views (good and bad) of geography to teachers prior to joint curriculum planning. One idea is to pilot a number of 'geography experences' with Year 8 or 9 students in 2007-2008 - to co-review these with students before adapting them to form part of a new KS3 curriculum starting in September 2008. Local partnerships are one way of seizing the opportunities that KS3 will present.
What other models are out there that we can share?

I have developed my KS3 curriculum with two things in mind... the skills that students need for success at GCSE and A-level and covering certain key concepts (development, sustainability and globalisation in particular). I believe that once students have these building blocks then they can develop as geographers whatever the 'topic' they are being taught. One thing I do believe is that students should leave KS3 with a balnace of human and physical Geography.