Tectonics is the way forward, well at least until Christmas that is! Year 10 will have the added advantage over Year 9 in that they are older and wiser in terms of their physical geomorphology knowledge and so to be even more intellectually prepared the US Geological Survey website is a veritable cornucopia of interesting facts and information, this is Earthquake centre for all you budding seismologists.
Two case studies for earthquakes will be L'Aquila the 2009 earthquake in Italy, and for those of you who's memories don't quite go back that far a comprehensive list of websites is provided.
Scientific American, did a technician correctly predict the earthquake?
Emergency aid for the people and also some of the more basic facts about what happened and why
The BBC, always a wealth of information has provided a very informative interactive map which gives some excellent information. BBC L'Aquila
The other earthquake study for an LEDC I have yet to decide upon, although Izmet in Turkey or Bam in Iran are looking very likely.
However before we start getting ahead of ourselves we first have to recap on the basics that hopefully you will remember from KS3. The structure of the earth, plate tectonics and convection currents. Dont start panicking if all this sounds like a foreign language, all will be revealed and much more besides over the next few weeks.
If you cant wait how stuff works offers some good introductory information.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Geography Dictionary
Frequently we will use words or terms that you may be unfamiliar with or you might have to use words that were explained to you in lessons but now you have forgotten them, Don't Panic because the Geography Dictionary is here to help you solve all of those geographical terminology questions that you are stuck on!
Happy Days!!
Happy Days!!
Tectonics Introduction
I am trying to get myself organised for the next half term and that means sorting through all of my tectonics files in order to teach it effectively to your eager young minds!
As a geologist tectonics and rocks are a particular favourite of mine so that makes it difficult to know exactly where to start. Although this is unlikely to influence our thinking too much!
The structure of the earth, the rock cycle and an introduction to geological time feels like a good introduction. The BBC Geology Toolkit is particularly good for introducing basic geology and basic rock types the interactive rock cycle animation is also quite handy and we shall be using it in class to explain some of the basics.
My music tastes are considered by some to be a bit suspect however this is so cheesy and fabulous that I just couldn't resist it.
We will then look at how tectonic plates have formed and no doubt you will be stunned into awed silence as I wax lyrical about Pangea and such like. For those of you who are particularly interested the following websites are worthwhile to peruse with a slice of cake and a cup of tea!
Alfred Wegner and his theory of plate tectonics
Plate tectonic forces
Plate Tectonics - an introduction
Plate boundary animations
As a geologist tectonics and rocks are a particular favourite of mine so that makes it difficult to know exactly where to start. Although this is unlikely to influence our thinking too much!
The structure of the earth, the rock cycle and an introduction to geological time feels like a good introduction. The BBC Geology Toolkit is particularly good for introducing basic geology and basic rock types the interactive rock cycle animation is also quite handy and we shall be using it in class to explain some of the basics.
My music tastes are considered by some to be a bit suspect however this is so cheesy and fabulous that I just couldn't resist it.
We will then look at how tectonic plates have formed and no doubt you will be stunned into awed silence as I wax lyrical about Pangea and such like. For those of you who are particularly interested the following websites are worthwhile to peruse with a slice of cake and a cup of tea!
Alfred Wegner and his theory of plate tectonics
Plate tectonic forces
Plate Tectonics - an introduction
Plate boundary animations
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Mexico to the USA migration
There are so many interesting resources out there that it is difficult to know where to start, but there was such a good response to the videos we used in school that I though it would be good to post them for your edification and delectation!
This website also has arather nice video that looks at the issue of immigration from a slightly different point of view and is worth a peek if only for a giggle, Mexicans to the USA.
I quite liked the premise behind this website in that it proposes that due to the remittances sent to family back home the greater majority of immigrants, legal or otherwise are heroes. This forces us to view these eople as something other than people who are in America purely for their own benefit. Superheroes.
This website also has arather nice video that looks at the issue of immigration from a slightly different point of view and is worth a peek if only for a giggle, Mexicans to the USA.
I quite liked the premise behind this website in that it proposes that due to the remittances sent to family back home the greater majority of immigrants, legal or otherwise are heroes. This forces us to view these eople as something other than people who are in America purely for their own benefit. Superheroes.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Holiday Homework
Year 9 have a rather interesting piece of work from the UNHCR which is a game where you work your way through various different scenarios that a potential refugee might face.Against all Odds an interesting and worthwhile exercise to while away a few hours over the half term.
Year 10 are particularly stressed over their IGCSE maths exam so the only holiday homework that I am setting is to ensure that all notes are fully up to date and in order so that I can check and mark them the first week back after the holidays.
Actually I lied about the no homework bit, I am obsessed with collaborative thinking at the moment and feel that this is the best way forward to enable year 9 and year 10 to work together and effectively pick each others brains without having to sit in a classroom together. To this end you are all invited to a party..... at my wall!
You are to post a question that you want answering about tectonics and an interesting fact that you know and want to share with like minded Geographers. This could be the start of something wonderful, you never know! All you have to do is click on the site below and follow the ensructions, you can even post photographs or video clips to make it more exciting.
Year 10 are particularly stressed over their IGCSE maths exam so the only holiday homework that I am setting is to ensure that all notes are fully up to date and in order so that I can check and mark them the first week back after the holidays.
Actually I lied about the no homework bit, I am obsessed with collaborative thinking at the moment and feel that this is the best way forward to enable year 9 and year 10 to work together and effectively pick each others brains without having to sit in a classroom together. To this end you are all invited to a party..... at my wall!
You are to post a question that you want answering about tectonics and an interesting fact that you know and want to share with like minded Geographers. This could be the start of something wonderful, you never know! All you have to do is click on the site below and follow the ensructions, you can even post photographs or video clips to make it more exciting.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Mass Movement
Some quite interesting news articles on the impact of earth movement are enabling year 10 to finish off Weathering as a topic before half term, and because they have all worked so hard since the start of September this might even mean that there will be no homework for the half term break....... well maybe!
Essential viewing for understanding the awesome power of moving earth.
The 2006 Southern Leyte Landslides are an excellent case study and we have also looked at the two BBC newspaper articles in the lesson relating some of the information covered to deforestation in Tropical areas and the potentially catastrophic effects. Mud wipes out Phillipines village a photo story and What caused the Phillipines landslide?
Essential viewing for understanding the awesome power of moving earth.
The 2006 Southern Leyte Landslides are an excellent case study and we have also looked at the two BBC newspaper articles in the lesson relating some of the information covered to deforestation in Tropical areas and the potentially catastrophic effects. Mud wipes out Phillipines village a photo story and What caused the Phillipines landslide?
Population Change
Year 9 have worked incredibly hard this term and we have covered the biggest topic within the IGCSE syllabus very quickly and with no problems in their understanding of the major issues.
The Malthus and Boserup homework was difficult but the work on Easter Island I feel helped considerably with the overall level of understanding of this particular element of population change.
Migration is also an element of population change but can also be considered as a separate element of population studies. It is important here that we are all comfortable with the basic terminology that we learn last week and that also we fully understand both of the major case studies that we shall be working on. Mexico to the USA economic and illegal migration and the refugee crisis in Darfur. Some of you will also remember the end of year 8 exam that you did on the boat people from North Africa going to the Canary Islands and the different attitudes expressed by the tourist, local people and the boat people themselves..... see, nothing in Geography is ever wasted!
Mexico is a particular favourite of mine because there are so many good resources out there, not that this video is one of the best but it is rather funny and looks at immigration from a different point of view, which is what us Geographers are always interested in, especially as we didn't quite manage to see it in the lesson!
Worldmapper has an excellent subversion of the world in relation to the overall proportions of refugees and IDP's (Internally Displaced Persons)
We started the week with this photograph and considered the five W's in relation to the man, and what I found particularly interesting was after the initial laughter had died down you all seemed quite sad that a man would be so desparate to be forced to resort to such desperate measures just to get into America.
The BBC has a series of interesting news articles on this issue Mexican migrants locked in a lorry and the migrant trail through Mexico some of the information in this Mexico country profile might give you a better understanding as to why so many people will risk all that they have just to get out of Mexico.
These videos are all very visual representations of the Mexican economic migrants issue but what is so interesting is that they are all from very different viewpoints.
The Malthus and Boserup homework was difficult but the work on Easter Island I feel helped considerably with the overall level of understanding of this particular element of population change.
Migration is also an element of population change but can also be considered as a separate element of population studies. It is important here that we are all comfortable with the basic terminology that we learn last week and that also we fully understand both of the major case studies that we shall be working on. Mexico to the USA economic and illegal migration and the refugee crisis in Darfur. Some of you will also remember the end of year 8 exam that you did on the boat people from North Africa going to the Canary Islands and the different attitudes expressed by the tourist, local people and the boat people themselves..... see, nothing in Geography is ever wasted!
Mexico is a particular favourite of mine because there are so many good resources out there, not that this video is one of the best but it is rather funny and looks at immigration from a different point of view, which is what us Geographers are always interested in, especially as we didn't quite manage to see it in the lesson!
Worldmapper has an excellent subversion of the world in relation to the overall proportions of refugees and IDP's (Internally Displaced Persons)
We started the week with this photograph and considered the five W's in relation to the man, and what I found particularly interesting was after the initial laughter had died down you all seemed quite sad that a man would be so desparate to be forced to resort to such desperate measures just to get into America.
The BBC has a series of interesting news articles on this issue Mexican migrants locked in a lorry and the migrant trail through Mexico some of the information in this Mexico country profile might give you a better understanding as to why so many people will risk all that they have just to get out of Mexico.
These videos are all very visual representations of the Mexican economic migrants issue but what is so interesting is that they are all from very different viewpoints.
Weathering and Erosion
Limestone has been the rock of choice and the focus has been on ensuring that you all understand exactly what it is made of and the impact that all of that nasty acid rain has on it.
Wikipedia is a great place to start http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestone and has lots of the more general information on Karst scenery and formations. This video is a bit cheesy but it does show GCSE students getting to grips with and explaining Limestone features at Malham Cove which was our main case study and the area which we have covered especially in relation to mapwork interpretation of geological features.
Limestone Pavements accompanied by a photograph or diagram are a popular topic for short questions at IGCSE so it is a very good idea to familiarise yourself with the hows and whys about their formation and the type of upland landscape that they create. Just remember that not all geographers are like this presenter!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
What if they had a Facebook profile?
I was racking my brain to come up with an interesting homework for
weathering as all that geology and chemistry can get a little heavy
when Tony Cassidy did the job for me. Social networking is all the
rage and most of my students are astounded that I don't twittter,
tweet or am on facebook. So if a humble Geography teacher needs
to get a social life then so should all of those lovely rocks out there.
This is not quite the same a my pet pebble but it could be
considered to be one step further up there on the social scale!
What if they had a Facebook profile?
View more presentations from TonyCassidy.
Weathering and Erosion
the precise difference between weathering and erosion has been the order of the day for this week and I found a rather natty little movie that explains it all in appropriate super hero terms!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Population and Resources
This is good general introduction to the principal theories and ideas of Malthus and Boserup and it should help you with the homework which is due on the 12th of October all about their theories and ideas.
We came at the ideas of man and his relationship with resources from a historical perspective using the excellent Easter Island case study by Helen Edmundson and it really seemed to capture the imagination of year 9 students, especially the creepy bits! The fundamental principal is how a mighty civilization can fall due to over use of resources. Some of you started to grasp the parallels with modern society today. As someone said "there are enough resources in the world for mans need but not for mans greed"
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