Geography Southwest Newsbites October 2022
The Geography Southwest October 2022 Newsbites includes details of forthcoming events this autumn term, new resources and recent news items.
We hope you are enjoying the new additions to the website including the October Primary Newsbites pdf, edited by Alan Parkinson and Emma Espley.
In the Visit SW area of the website, Paul Berry has added new walks and places to visit around Hartland Quay, Portreath, Saunton, Baggy Point, Westward Hi! And West Bay. You can download detailed descriptions complete with superb maps. Do take the opportunity to explore some of these locations this autumn.
https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/visit-sw/places-to-visit-in-the-sw/
https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/PTW-Baggy-Point.pdf
The autumn term is a busy time for CPD and student events. Highlights are featured below.
Geography events
The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) is running a series of events for students. Details can be found on their website. Royal Geographical Society - School student events (rgs.org)
These in-person events in London are aimed at both students and teachers. They include Going Places with Geography KS3 on 17 October and 14 November, Going Places with GCSE Geography on 20 October and 18 November, and Choosing Geography at University on 26 October. On Wednesday 30 November, there is an A level study day update lectures and presentations. Students can attend either the morning or afternoon sessions. Royal Geographical Society - A Level Study Day – Morning session (rgs.org)
On Monday 28 November there is an after school lecture both on-line and in person for RGS school members, 39 Ways to save the Planet with Tom Heap and Dr Tamsin Edwards.
The RGS programme of teacher events in the autumn term includes:
- Stretch and Challenge in Geography, 16 November, online, 5.00pm-6.30pm, members £30, non-members £40
- Creativity in the Geography Curriculum, 23 November, online, 5.00pm-6.00pm, free
The Geographical Association has a range of autumn term events. Search the Geographical Association events and courses (geography.org.uk)
Geography know how: KS3 subject updates provides six 40 minute webinars starting on Tuesday 1 November. GEO: A level subject knowledge updates (geography.org.uk) has six 40 minute webinars focussing on core A level topics.
Hodder are running their new Hazards Conference for A level students at three locations in November, providing the opportunity to inspire your students with a day of insights from leading geographers working on the latest academic research and Hazards topics. The 2022 Hazards Student Conference - Hodder Education
- Albert Hall, Nottingham: Friday, 18th November 2022
- Audacious Church, Manchester: Wednesday, 23rd November 2022
- Aldwych Theatre, London: Friday, 25th November 2022
Hodder Education's expert panel will inspire your students with the most contemporary research, giving them real-world insights that they can turn into greater knowledge and apply in their studies.
Discover the World Iceland inspection visit:
Discover the World’s annual inspection visit for teachers is now open for booking. The 6-day visit to Iceland in 2023 includes full accommodation and travel within Iceland and will visit the spectacular sites of the south and west. Teacher Inspection Trips (discover-the-world.com)
Connecting the Culm Forum #5! From "What If" to "What Next"
Connecting the Culm will be holding their next forum at the Cullompton Community Centre at 7pm on Thursday 17th November, Rob Hopkins will lead the discussions looking at Vision for the Culm and the Blueprint Action Plan that will make that Vision a reality. You can book your place here.
ESRI UK have a series of on-line events in October and November on teaching with GIS, starting on October 15th, 2022. Teach with GIS UK
Opportunity to be involved in the implementation of a climate change school curricula. Dr Tuba Gokpinar at UCL Institute of Education is looking for secondary school teachers to have a short conversation about implementation of climate change in the school curricula (KS3 and KS4 years) across the associated subjects and year groups. The aim is to improve students’ scientific literacy and science understanding around climate change so that they have the knowledge and ability to make evidence-based decisions about scientific issues. This research project led by Professor Vaille Dawson, from the University of Western Australia sets out to investigate and compare climate change curricula in secondary schools across Australia, Israel, Finland, England, and Indonesia. Tuba is the collaborator of the project in England and is going to arrange a short virtual interview/conversation (about 30mins, via Zoom/Teams) with teachers who are interested in being involved. Please contact him at t.gokpinar.14@ucl.ac.uk for more information.
Geography resources
ESRI UK have a range of resources on their website for those getting started with GIS. They include interactive GIS resources on topics such as natural hazards which enable students to explore topics such as hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires. Teach with GIS UK (arcgis.com) There are also case studies on using GIS to investigate tectonics, tsunamis and the recent La Palma volcano eruption.
The Regenerators, from BBC Bitesize is a new series of short videos focussing on green themes. Key Stage 3 teachers will find these 3-5 minute videos help set the scene and explain some key concepts.
The Regenerators – Green Themes Explained - BBC Bitesize
New Antarctic region resources on ocean circulation for KS 4 and 5: Teacher feedback from the presentation at the June 2022 South West Geography teacher conference highlighted the need for more free resources for teachers covering complex topics including ocean currents covered in Key stages 4 and 5. These conversations with teachers sparked an idea to create a webpage providing introductory information about this topic including the global distribution of heat and atmospheric and ocean circulation. This webpage uses ocean circulation examples from the Antarctic region talking about the Antarctic Circumpolar Current with very clear and relevant diagrams and maps. There is also a direct link to the Royal Holloway Geography Department’s TeacherHub page, which has a lecture on atmospheric and oceanic systems, a recorded Q&A, and an interactive StoryMap for students to learn from. You can find the link to the webpage, and all of its contents here: https://www.antarcticglaciers.org/glaciers-and-climate/ocean-circulation/
New Metlink resources. The Royal Meteorological Society has some relevant resources for COP27 focussing on solar energy in Egypt and also the issues raised by population growth and construction. MetLink - Royal Meteorological Society Resources for COP27
The Metlink website has a range of other resources for teaching weather and climate MetLink - Royal Meteorological Society Teaching Resources
Gov.UK resources: The Gov.UK website has two useful updates on projects in the South West. First, a report on the Lower Otter restoration project summer 2022 work:
New footbridge and cricket club lead next step of restoration at Lower Otter - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The second report is a short case study update on the £ 2.1 million scheme to improve the River Neet flood defences and enhance wildlife habitats in Bude, Cornwall. Bude: improving flood defences and habitats - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Their website also has a report on the completion of the Stokesley flood scheme to protect over 500 homes from flooding. Multi-million pound Stokesley flood scheme is complete - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Discover the World Classroom Resources (discover-the-world.com)have added to their range of free resources including interactive GIS Maps of Iceland & Mallorca and classroom resources, bringing the sights and sounds of these destinations to your classroom. Informative videos including our popular case studies on Eyjafjallajökull and Solheimajokull, and a new case study resource pack on Fagradalsfjall, the new volcano on the Reykjanes peninsular which renewed its eruptions in summer 2022. Fagradalsfjall Case Study Resource Pack (discover-the-world.com)
Discover the World’s Summer geography quiz is available on-line with some exciting rounds which will challenge geography classes. The Big Summer Geography Quiz 2022 (discover-the-world.com)
Geography news
English Heritage plans to protect coastal castles from erosion. English Heritage announced an appeal in September to protect six historic castles from coastal erosion. Five of these sites are in the south and southwest and would make interesting case studies on priorities for coastal management. They are Tintagel Castle, and Garrison Walls, Scilly in Cornwall, Bayard’s Cove Fort at the mouth of the River Dart in Devon, and Calshot Castle and Hurst Castle in Hampshire. Coastal Heritage at Risk | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)
Exeter Solar Farm nears completion: Exeter’s solar farm and battery storage facility is nearing completion alongside the Marsh Barton trading estate. The project will supply the Council’s fleet of electric vehicles and is a key part of the strategy to make Exeter a Net Zero Carbon City by 2030. The solar farm will create more than 1 MW of clean energy from 3,700 solar panels and is due to become operational at the end of October 2022. This link includes an air photo and a short video about the project.
Solar farm will generate and store green energy to power electric fleet - Exeter City Council News