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Secondary Resources
For updates relevant to all key stages visit our News and Resources pages.
Sample pages from the Toolkit series can be downloaded from the Classroom Resources section below, while samples and extra resources from Planning Your Key Stage 3 Curriculum are available on the KS3 Resources page.
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Every year the GA's International Working Group organises an overseas study tour to introduce teachers to key aspects of the contemporary geography of the destination country. The 2009 tour will take place in Southern India from 26 July - 9 August, and participants will visit Kochi, Sangam, Mysore and Bangalore. The trip costs £1750 and this year two bursaries of £500 are available for one primary and one secondary teacher. Further information and booking forms are available on the India 2009 page. (23.02.09)
The TDA website features a comprehensive section on CPD, including tips on self-evaluation and reviewing your school's CPD policy, what makes effective CPD, and a list of sources of CPD. (03.01.08)
The GA has a number of curriculum-making courses available as free online CPD units on the Geography Teaching Today website. (21.11.07)
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Top Ten Ideas
Every half term, the GA's secondary phase committee produces a 'top ten' of ideas for helping you teach the secondary curriculum. Here are the ones produced so far:
Ten Top ideas for getting your students out of the classroom during the summer term (added 07.05.09)
Top Ten ideas for promoting GCSE geography (added 19.01.09)
Top ten ideas for your new KS3 (added 28.10.08)
A page about the new GCSE was added on 04.11.08. The page is designed to help you decide which of these new GCSE specifications you will teach from September 2009.
See Choosing your new GCSE specification. (04.11.08)
It may be that your geography department is already thinking about which of the proposed new GCSE specifications it will deliver from September 2009. But have you thought about the potential for giving your students a say in the decision making process? These two documents, prepared by Emma Johns of the Secondary Committee, form the basis of a pupil consultation exercise in which students will be asked what they would like to see from the GCSE. The first document is a PowerPoint that takes you step by step through the consultation exercise. The PDF summarises all of the new GCSE specifications as proposed by the various exam boards. This latter will also be a useful resource for teachers. (24.10.08)
Download: Consultation Exercise Presentation (PPT, 162k)
Download: The New GCSE Specifications - An Overview (PDF, 32k)
A Think Piece on GCSEs is now available. This Think Piece considers some of the issues surrounding GCSE and the changes that are occuring due to the introduction of new specifications. Issues considered include examinations, controlled assessments, and planning for progression. There are also a number of activities that will help you to carry your thinking forward. (09.10.08)
Go to Think Piece - Thinking About GCSE
Paul Weeden, secretary of the GA's Assessment & Examinations Working Group, has prepared a short summary of the 2008 geography GCSE results. It shows that although the number of entries are down, reflecting an overall drop in GCSE entries in 2008, there has been an overall increase in the standards of performance. (01.10.08)
Download: GCSE Geography Results 2008 (PDF, 229k)
The Secondary Phase Committiee has prepared a document containing a series of case studies and advice for departments planning and developing their new KS3 curriculum. (16.06.08)
Download: Planning a new Key Stage 3 curriculum? (Word, 889k)
SPC member Emma Johns has prepared a document comparing the draft GCSE specifications from the various examining bodies. Note: This document is based on the draft specifications, as the final versions are now available this document may be out of date. (added 24.04.08)
Download: New GCSE Specification Comparison (Word, 109k)
From September 2008, you will be expected to take on the new KS3 Programme of Study in your school. But what will this mean? How should you interpret the new requirements? New GA publication Planning Your KS3 Geography Curriculum by Eleanor Rawling is designed to help you answer these questions (and many more) and involve you in curriculum development. The book is available to buy now priced £14.99 or £9.99 to GA members. Extra resources to accompany the book are available to download here. (08.04.08)
Members of the Secondary Phase Committee have prepared several documents on the new 14-19 Diplomas and how geography (and geography teachers) will be affected. (Updated 07.02.08)
Download: Diplomas: Where is the Geography? (47k)
Download: Diplomas: One school's experience (25k)
Download: Diplomas: Links with Geography (49k)
The Geographical Association is working with CfBT to provide support for the implementation of the new KS3 geography curriculum in schools. Find out more... (18.10.07)
Download the new Programme of Study for KS3 Geography below. Find out more about the new Secondary National Curriculum on the QCA website.
Download: Key Stage 3 Geography Programme of Study
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Key Stage 3 Geography for the 21st Century |
The new programmes of study will be available in September, giving one year in which to prepare for first teaching of the new KS3 (from September 2008). Online CPD and face-to-face conferences will be provided to help you prepare - check back for further announcments. In the meantime here is the Keynote from the recent SfE/GA conference:
Download: SFE/GA PowerPoint Presentation (529k)
Keith Phipps has kindly done some background research on 'Shift Happens' shown during this presentation. He writes:
"... The origin of the slide show was a High School teacher in the USA, who created the original as a thought piece for an induction event for new students. This was done in 2006 and by July 2007 it had been fashioned into a series of versions by a number of people.
The original version can be seen on the blog of the author, Karl Fisch.
It has spawned a series of versions including short movies. These can be seen and downloaded from the Shift Happens Wikispace. The teacher tube version is good because it uses globe graphics to make the 'shift happens' point. However it adds a bit of American education politics at the end. We could cut off the bit we didn't want... "
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The Action Plan for Geography team have developed a Professional Glossary of key terms relating to the geography curriculum. The list is not exhaustive and feedback is welcomed. View the Glossary on the Geography Teaching Today website - a downloadable version is also available. (13.06.07)
A document entitled Suggested Fieldwork Enquiries for Common Entrance and Scholarship Candidates has been prepared by the GA's Independent Schools Working Group. Download it free from the ISWG page.
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The Secondary National Strategy's Whole School Initiatives (WSIs) focus on the 'whole school' improvement of teaching and learning via suites of generic professional development materials. To support subject departments and teachers, following 'whole school' training, each WSI (apart from 'Pedagogy and Practice') provides subject specific development materials. The GA, in collaboration with the Secondary National Strategy, has developed this matrix to further support geography teachers in applying the WSIs to a geography context and developing inspirational, creative geography learning.
The matrix links specific elements of WSIs to a range of GA publications, in particular the brand new and awesomely comprehensive Secondary Geography Handbook, which should have a prominent place in the 'toolkit' of both teachers and strategy advisers.
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The Matrix
(64k)
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note: this file requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
If you do not have this you can get it free from the Adobe website. |
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The Matrix
(109k)
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note: this file requires Microsoft Word. |
The GA's Education Committee has produced a discussion paper on using Level Descriptions for Assessment. We're interested in your views – join in the forum discussion to let us know what you think!
The GA's Assessment & Examinations Working Group provide a summary of their thoughts on the value of coursework in GCSE Geography. Find out more about the AEWG.
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Encounters at the End of the World is the latest film by acclaimed German director Werner Herzog. In the film, he interviews people who work on McMurdo base in Antarctica. Amongst other things, the film explores the relationship between people and the environment, the idea of sustainability and the scientific endeavour which is taking place in this remote location.
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A Key Stage 3 unit of work about the USA is now available to download. This unit, prepared by Jeff Stanfield, County Inspector Geography of Hampshire LA, takes as its starting point an investigation into the life of Barack Obama and his journey to become president. It then introduces students to the physical and human geography of the USA and the impact that this country has on our lives in the UK. A list of literacy and numeracy links and ICT opportunities that this unit presents is also provided.
Download: Welcome to Obama's United States of America (PowerPoint)
(19.03.09)
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Let students discover the relevance and importance of agriculture to everyday life with the NFU's Why Farming Matters teaching packs. The packs have been produced in conjunction with education charity FACE (Farming and Countryside Education) and cover a wide range of farming topics. They contain three sets of picture cards and a DVD containing interviews with farmers about their lives and work. They include booklets containing a series of activities for children. The packs can be ordered for free from the FACE website.
(21.01.09)
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Looking for GCSE lesson ideas that make the most of ICT? The GA has launched an exciting new project site that seeks to share ideas regarding the use of digital learning resources in supporting subject learning and teaching at Key Stage 4. The project site, funded by BECTA, contains a number of innovative lesson ideas and activities that have been generated by project team members all of whom are members of the Geographical Association and/or the Royal Geographical Society with IBG. All of the ideas have been designed with the new GCSE specifications, commencing September 2009, in mind.
Enter KS4 ICT project site >>>
(23.10.08)
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The KS3 Geography Teachers' Toolkit is designed to help you meet the challenges of teaching the new Key Stage 3 curriculum. Each title in the series illustrates ways of exploring a place, theme or issue of interest to young people and of geographical significance in the 21st Century, through approximately ten hours' worth of lesson plans.
The first three titles in the series are now available to buy priced £14.99 (£9.99 GA members). Sample pages from each one can be downloaded below:
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Once again the GA has teamed up with the BBC to help your KS3 students bring geography to the screen. My World in 60 Seconds is a film project to create an alternative guide to our world, a guide that is created by you. We want to re-present the world as people know it, so we're looking for young people to make short films that are thought provoking, insightful and engaging. Further information, entry form and posters are available on the My World in 60 Seconds page.
(06.10.08)
The BBC News School Report and the GA have teamed up to create a unique opportunity for geography teachers and their KS3 students - the chance to create an online news report, a podcast or a video news clip which will be linked nationally to the BBC News School Report website with the chance to have it broadcast live on local/national radio or tv on 26 March 2009. Full details and teacher resource packs are available from the BBC News School Report website. You can find out about the GA's involvement in this leaflet.
Sign up today and showcase what you and your KS3 geography students can do!
A Ning (social networking website) has been set up to offer teachers taking part in the project the chance to ask questions and to provide advice and support for each other.
If you have any questions about taking part, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I will provide as much support as I can to help geography departments take part.
David Rayner
Email: david.rayner@blueyonder.co.uk
(GA Geography Consultant liaising with the BBC News School Report team)
(01.10.08)
A catalogue of all the KS3 to Post-16 resources published by the GA is now available to download. The catalogue includes details of all the GA's new KS3 publications for 2008. All of the resources in the catalogue can also be purchased online at the GA shop.
Download: Geography Resources for Key Stage 3 to Post-16
Teachers TV has two new videos about climate change aimed at KS3 but also providing an excellent introduction to the topic at KS4. The videos examine concepts such as carbon sinks and deforestation, and the links between climate change and countries' topography and geography. They also look at why climate change can appear to be controversial and how scientists can ensure their research is valid.
Climate Change - The Causes
Climate Change - The Impacts
Globes and Atlases: an overview considers why the use of globes and atlases is still important in the classroom and suggests some ways in which they might be effectively used.
Download: Globes and Atlases: an overview (PDF, 163k)
Download: Eckert IV projection (PDF, 1.48M) one of the most popular equal area maps used in schools.
Visit the GA's Geography of Disease project pages where teacher-created resources are now available to download. This Wellcome Trust funded project aimed to enhance students' ability to reason with numerical data and make better-informed decisions about disease spread and risk-taking behaviour. (22.05.08)
A new CD Rom from the Department for International Development called 'Race against Poverty' helps to make the concept of world poverty accessible and meaningful to young people in the UK. This free teaching resource has been developed for two different age groups, 11-13 year olds and 14-16 year olds. It includes lesson plans, suggestions for homework and research projects. Any requests for this teaching pack, which will be sent to you completely free of charge, must be submitted by 14 May. To apply email or apply online at the Rapport Group website. (28.04.08)
As part of the Year of Food and Farming a number of teaching materials have been made available on the campaign website. If you register you will also receive teacher newsletters that are packed full of inspiring ideas and activities that are linked to the curriculum. (28.02.08)
Visit the GA's new section on Managing Flood Risk, developed in conjunction with the Environment Agency. The resources are suitable for KS4 and AS/A-Level, and each case study includes original material, high quality downloads and a range of classroom activities. (22.01.08)
Following on from the success of the CoRWM Schools Project, the London Grid for Learning 'RADwaste' project has been created to challenge schools to engage with the highly complex issues surrounding nuclear waste management in the UK. This is a full and comprehensive resource for the Decision Making Exercise compulsory paper on GCSE Geography around the topic of 'What should we do with radioactive waste?'. Radwaste includes lesson plans, downloadable resources, video clips (C4 News, interviews with CORWM officials) and videos of teachers and students talking about their experiences using the resource. Visit website. (10.07.07)
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We've teamed up with GeographyPhotos.com to offer GA members discounted access to a photo gallery containing almost 4000 high quality images. The photos are organised into geographical categories and the site includes search and slide show functions. All images are freely available for subscribers to download and use in the classroom.
Secondary schools are being offered an annual subscription rate of £55 representing a substantial discount on the normal price - simply state your GA membership number when signing up. If you're not a GA member, join now to take advantage of this special offer.
Subscriptions to GeographyPhotos.com can be purchased using e-Learning credits.
Visit www.geographyphotos.com for further details.
The GA has also developed its own photo gallery featuring a selection of images taken by members for members.
Visit the GA Photo Gallery >>>
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| Classroom Resources - Downloads |
Ancient Tree Hunt
Visit the Woodland Trust website for three KS3 geography resources on space, place and environmental interation.
Starter poems
Mark Cowan sent in these poems to use as starter activities:
The Flood - for use with Year 8 students.
The Rainforest Guardian - about Chico Mendes, the murdered Brazilian rubber tapper and political activist. For use with Key Stage 3 or GCSE students.
Soils - for use with Year 13 or more able GCSE students.
Investigating coasts through PowerPoint
Peter Fox provides an example of the creative use of PowerPoint for a Year 8 unit on coastal erosion and deposition. The first presentation shows the unordered slides, the second presentation shows the correct order for the slides and a handout provides guidance for students. The slides and handout descriptions could also be amalgamated into coasts dominoes.
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What is it that makes a mystery a valuable learning tool? Find out by downloading this document, then have a look at some of the mysteries on the Staffordshire Learning Net geography pages.
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| If the law says it’s a river, it’s a river! |
Liz Taylor (GA ICT Working Group and Cambridge University) outlines ideas suggested by teachers for using the Chobe River (Botswana/Namibia) case study. This was delivered during a workshop at the GA Conference 2003, and was linked to and followed on from a lecture given by Keith Richards.
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| Numeracy and ICT opportunities for year 7 |
| Teaching the geography of China |
Sarah Maude (GA International Committee) has compiled a list of resources for teaching about China, from key stage 1 to key stage 4 and beyond. View a range of images of China here.
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| Ideas for lesson starters and plenaries |
The GA's Secondary Education Section Committee provide a range of quick ideas both for starters and plenaries. These cover a variety of topics and can be adapted to other topics.
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| Using geography textbooks |
Textbooks form part of the resource ecology of every geography classroom. In this paper John Widdowson and David Lambert discuss the role and use of textbooks in geography. This paper forms the basis of a chapter in the forthcoming Secondary Geography Handbook.
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John Harrison offers a worksheet for students. This web-based worksheet is used as an introduction exercise with year 8s on deforestation.
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| Using PowerPoint for collaborative work |
Getting started with PowerPoint? Liz Taylor (Cambridge University) describes an effective approach to using presentation packages in the geography classroom. Liz also provides two handouts for students: one a guide to starting up with PowerPoint and the other slide planner on acid rain.
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| A rough guide to teaching a 'thinking skills' style lesson |
Members of the SESC provide a guide to the stages of a thinking skills lesson, debriefing and what can be learned from thinking.
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| Thinking about climate graphs 1: climate graphs detective |
As part of the ICT with Geography in Key Stage 3 initiative, Sarah Watts has produced a lesson plan and resources designed to encourage year 9 students to produce climate graphs using Excel and then think about the location of the data.
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| Developing questioning skills |
As part of the ICT with Geography in Key Stage 3 initiative, Lynda Evans (Gosforth High School, Newcastle upon Tyne) has prepared a lesson plan and a presentation on questioning skills. The lesson includes differentiated activities for year 9 students preparing PowerPoint presentations.
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| Locating a settlement in ancient Britain |
As part of the ICT with Geography in Key Stage 3 initiative, Jenifer Roberts has produced a lesson plan and accompanying student spreadsheet which focuses on locating a settlement. The lesson plan is for use with year 7 or year 8 students and includes the use of Excel spreadsheets.
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| A Sunday supplement on Japan |
As part of the ICT with Geography in Key Stage 3 initiative, Lynda Evans (Gosforth High School, Newcastle upon Tyne) has provided a series of lesson plans and supporting resources and advice for part of a year 9 course that links a unit on ‘Development and Interdependence’ one on ‘Comparing Countries’. ICT research, presentation skills and group work are all combined by groups to produce a Sunday Supplement entitled ‘Focus on Japan’.
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As part of the ICT with Geography in Key Stage 3 initiative, Noel Jenkins offers a sequence of lessons designed to engage year 7 pupils in geographical enquiry through fieldwork and the use of ICT with a focus on the collection, mapping and analysis of data on street crime using a geographical information system (GIS) package. The Street Crime worksheet and other resources can be downloaded from the Advisory Unit's website. Install the free Aegis 3 Viewer on the site to open and search the worksheet. (Please note that you cannot save, print or edit worksheets using the Viewer).
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Another five geography lesson plans and supporting materials can be downloaded from the DfES Standards website. The additional lessons demonstrate how you can use ICT to investigate: geography in the news, congestion and geomorphology as well as for comparing countries and investigating environmental hazards.
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A new resource entitled ICT in secondary schools: a short guide for teachers has been published by the GA. Produced with the support of the RGS-IBG and Becta, the guide outlines some of the most important ICT available for teaching and learning geography, both in and outside the classroom.
Download: ICT in secondary schools: a short guide for teachers
David Mitchell and David Lambert have produced a guide to help you to get the best from your geography budget. This can be used in a number of way, for example, it can inform the agenda for a departmental meeting, and it will be useful in forming the basis for departmental policy.
Fred Martin (GA, Secondary Education Section Committee) asks How is the ethos in your geography department? Although ethos is hard to define and you can't measure it, you know it is there. Fred offers tips on how to approach evaluating your department's ethos and effectiveness.
King James's School (Kirklees LEA) provides its racial policy for other schools to utilise.
Considering undertaking fieldwork overseas? This article discusses why it's worth considering an international destination when planning and undertaking fieldwork and includes useful links and sources.
The Key Stage 3 Secondary Geography Quality Mark is a framework which has been developed by the Geographical Association to enable subject leaders to raise the standards of geography in school, supporting the teaching of quality geography and promoting department leadership and management.
Members of the Secondary Phase Committee have compiled a selection of materials providing advice and suggestions based on their own experiences of completing Self-Evaluations. If you would like further information contact either Co-Chair of the Secondary Phase Committee, Alan Kinder or Sarah Watts.
The GA has produced several resources designed to help you enourage students to continue studying geography and to offer advice on possible careers. Visit the Option Time page for information and downloads. |
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