Geographical Association

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A Different View: Promoting Geography

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Promoting Geography

Music credit: 'Release It' performed by Afro Celt Sound System, written by Emmerson/McNally/Russell/O'Lionaird, appears courtesy of Real World Records Ltd www.realworldrecords.com

A Different View Animoto Video

This Animoto video forms a lively introduction to A Different View and the themes within it. You can also view the video directly on the Animoto website or the longer version which features more detailed captions. Ideal to use at open evenings, with parents, governors, your leadership team or at options evenings.

Other ideas for promoting geography

Start in the classroom - the best possible selling point for any geography department is a participatory, enquiring, 'living' geography curriculum, in classrooms which prominently display student work.

Recognise the value of fieldwork experiences - the power of local 'real-world' visits as well as the 'wow' factor of more exotic locations.

Seize the moment - options evenings, open days, even parents' evenings are all opportunities to communicate a clear message about the enduring value of geography.

A student perspective is essential - canvass opinion, and publicise the nice things that people say about you. Harness students' ICT skills to create engaging promotional materials.

Set up extra-curricular activities - organise clubs and trips; invite guest speakers into school; deliver geographical assemblies; invite back former pupils to promote geographical careers.

Work to your strengths - use the Quality Mark framework to organise a geographically-themed day and exploit promotional opportunities.

Seek support – the GA and RGS-IBG offer members advice and resources for promoting geography. A joint Early Career Teacher membership is also available.

Geography Promotional Video

This excellent video was produced to promote geography at Barking Abbey School, a Specialist Sports and Humanities College in Greater London. It was produced by Stuart, their multimedia wizard, along with Pete Flaxman and other staff and students from the geography department. Thanks to Pete and the school for permission to share the video on this website. Please feel free to use it at your own open evenings, with parents, governors, your leadership team or at options evenings.

Hover your mouse over the video for sharing options

Start Early

One of the surest ways to ensure high uptake of geography at GCSE is surely to spark students' passion for geography as early as possible. Alan Parkinson has created this very useful slideshow that is full of ideas for the first half term of Year 7.

Weblinks

Option time resources created by the GA

Have a look at these excellent promotional videos created by GA members:

- Right Here, Right Now by Keith Phipps
- Geography Matters by David Rayner
- Geography is changing by Dan Raven-Ellison

Information about the Early Career Teacher joint membership offer

Invite a Geography Ambassador into your school

Richard Allaway has produced these sets of posters with quotations

Visit the GEOcube website for an innovative introduction to geography covering 54 topics in a unique and visually appealing style

A Different View has been produced and funded by the Geographical Association. The GA maintains its independence through the support of its members, whose subscriptions provide the GA's core funding and who give the GA its authority to speak for geography and its role in schools. If you are not already a member of the GA, you can join online now. We need your support!

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Primary Geographer

This issue focuses on refreshing the primary curriculum, offering advice on planning for integrated learning and using the concept of place as a focus. It also includes examples of how three schools have successfully combined art with geography.

GeogEd - Free online access for everyone

Teaching Geography

The Summer issue, which focuses on young people’s geographies, discusses how we can use students’ personal experiences to help make a geography curriculum which is meaningful and relevant to their everyday lives.

GeogEd - Free online access for everyone

Geography

This issue features a series of articles that attempt to demonstrate the value of a geographical perspective in facing up to the current global food crisis. Article topics include the EU sugar reform and its effects on Caribbean producers, aquaculture in Thailand, and the obesity 'epidemic'. The issue also features a Spotlight On article on the URBAN EARTH project.

GeogEd - Free online access for everyone