Aims of session

• To explore the key issues in the teaching and learning of school geography;

• To become familiar with the Geography National Curriculum;

• To recognise the contribution of own subject knowledge, understanding and skills to teaching geography lessons;

• To know where to look for support when expected to teach geography.

Geography in the school curriculum: key issues in

teaching and learning.

What is geography?

Geography is…..

• Contested and negotiated

• Dynamic

• Multi-faceted

“ the source of geography’s uncertain position in the curriculum is the lack of clarity among not only the public but also teachers of geography as to the identity of the subject.”

Lambert, 2003.(President of the Geographical Association)

SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY UNDER THREAT ?

• Numbers of students taking geography to GCSE and AS/A Level are dropping

• When compared to most other subjects geography at KS3 has had lower standards of achievement, progress and quality of teaching (OFSTED, 2004)

Most boring subject?

Rote learning of facts and figures about countries;

Working through the textbook – turn to p43 and answer the questions;

Colouring in maps.

However – recognised good practice offers a different

experience.

Some features of effective geography teaching. (OFSTED)

• Use of topical and local issues;• Encouragement to think about controversial issues

with sensitivity and objectivity;• Use of wide range of geographical material

(books, maps,photos,artefacts,buildings,ICT)• Development of the skills of geographical enquiry

(questioning, decision-making, considering values and attitudes.)

Quotes from school students…(from Newsround web site, 2004)• We go on good field trips out of school;

• We do case studies about what’s going on in the world at the moment;

• Our geography lessons are very varied and we do things like note-taking, discussions, role play, quizzes and loads of other stuff.

• It’s very much related to real life.

Teaching about the tsunami, 2004

Sense of place:Location;Countries affected.Maps, photos

Cause:Earthquakes,plate tectonics.Maps, diagrams.

Impact:Deaths and destruction;Poorest in society;Tourism.Photos, maps, data, eye witness accounts. Human response:

Prediction;Removal of mangroves;Population distribution.Decision-making exercise

Could a tsunami, like the one in 2004, be prevented?

NC coverage: 1 & 2 (enquiry and skills); 3a,d & e (places); 4a & b (patterns & processes); 6b,c,i & j (Themes).

Where to look for advice on teaching geography

• The National Curriculum for England: www.nc.uk.net

• The QCA/DfEE Geography schemes of work for KS3: www.qca.org.uk

• The Geographical Association – publishes a wide range of resources to support geography teaching: www.geography.org.uk