Geopacks Teaching Resources CD

Many specifications for GCSE, AS and A2 offer Rivers as an option. The aim of this resource is to provide a detailed, illustrated case study of a British River for students to use either on a PC or Interactive Whiteboard.

This can be used at both GCSE and as part of an ICT based presentation task at AS Level. At GCSE students can be given the blank record sheet (careful not to give them the completed revision guide by mistake!) and go through the slide show in three stages. First show the upper course section then pause the show. Then discuss what should be put into the left hand column on the record sheet.

This can be used as a whole class lesson. It takes about 50-60 minutes to cover all three stages with some discussion.

At Key Stage 3 as well as offering the opportunity to look at a simple Geographical Information System this topic supports the studies of physical and human processes and environmental interactions, and offers opportunities for students to 'Solve Problems and Make Decisions'.

Mrs Hartley's Farm is probably best used at Key Stage 2 or 3 to introduce the idea of how farmers make decisions on how best to use their land based on what the fields offer and the specific requirements of crops and animals. This program introduces the ideas of aspect, altitude, soil type, drainage and accessibility in the decision making process.

This presentation is a two-part game. In the first part you can select one of four coastal images (covers a range of themes... erosion, deposition etc) and choose how difficult you want to make the jigsaw by defining the number of columns and rows to use. These range from 3 by 3 to 6 by 6. BEWARE, although it looks inviting, the more challenging jigsaws can be DESPERATE if the maximum number of columns and rows are used.

To do the jigsaw you swap pieces by dragging and dropping them. On starting the jigsaw a timer starts and the number of moves you make are counted. You can always see the 'picture on the box' to see what you are aiming for by selecting 'See Picture' button.

On completion you are offered the option of adding labels to the completed jigsaw. This is the geography bit really, but the labelling is not always as easy as it may first appear in some cases. If you wish you can print out the un-labelled images for completion as a 'paper based task' or the completed ones for reference.

This resource can be used at any level really, but it is probably best suited to Key Stages 3 - 5. The 'Basic' level is fine, and covers pressure, temperature, clouds, winds and 'weather' (rain etc). The 'Advanced' version splits clouds in to cloud type and cloud cover, and winds into wind speed and wind direction (finished screen displays can be printed out).

These resources work really well when combined with the animation of the passage of a depression "Weather Fronts" detailed above.

Bingo is always popular as either a starter or a plenary, or even as a revision activity. Used with Year 7 for OS Mapwork symbols work and is equally effectively within a GCSE mapwork revision module in Year 11.

There are two components...

1. The bingo cards for individual use as a 'player'.
2. A 'caller' module which generates symbols at random in the same way a bingo caller would pull the numbers out of a hat.

The Finger of Fate is a fun application which allows you to load data files containing lists of students you teach and amaze them by selecting their names at random in question and answer sessions, discussions, quizzes etc.

Included are two sample data files for you to play with. Tutor Group.txt is a single class data file, and Sample_Classes.txt is a sample file of classes from a range of age groups. The notes on the CD tell you how to construct your own data files.

This Flash presentation is a two-part game; in the first part you can select one of three difficulty levels (12 pieces, 24 pieces or 48 pieces). The 48 piece jigsaw is a bit of a pig. Have a go, you can always abandon it in favour of an easier one.

To do the jigsaw, simply drag the pieces to where you want them to go. There’s a 'watermark' version of the picture in the frame to help you locate the positions for the pieces. On starting the jigsaw a timer starts and the number of moves you make are counted.

On completion you are offered the option of adding labels to the completed jigsaw. This is the geography bit really, and the labelling is not always as easy as it may first appear in some cases. If you wish you can print out the un-labelled images for completion as a 'paper based task' or the completed ones for reference, just right-click on the display and select 'Print' from the menu.

Bingo is always popular as either a starter or a plenary, or even as a revision activity.

This can be used in two ways.

Secondly, if there is only one computer available, print out the bingo cards (see EU Bingo Cards.doc) and issue these to the students. The teacher can then act as the caller and the students cross off, or cover up, the symbols on their cards as they are displayed or called out. When someone has a full house they call out 'EU Rules OK!' and the game pauses. There is a facility for checking which flags have been used, and the order of their use, for checking purposes. Once the number of flags used reaches 14 (the number of symbols used on each card) a 'Stop' button appears. Clicking this allows you to display used flags in the order they have been called. This allows disputes to be solved fairly!

Describing O.S. maps 'in context' and instead of a separate O.S. map question these skills are now being tested within other questions. For example, there could be an O.S. map of a coastal area as part of a more extensive written question on Coastal Environments.

Although the 'skills' of mapwork such as an appreciation of scale, direction and relief etc. are important, many students find it difficult to blend these ideas together into a coherent description of the map in the context of the topic. These tasks allow them to practice this.

Each topic has two tasks. In the first task they are presented with one map. They complete the description by dragging-and-dropping the correct answer into the spaces in the description... an interactive 'close' exercise.

In the second task they are asked to compare two maps by completing two paragraphs. This is done by selecting the correct answer from a pair of words or phrases.

Hopefully this will give the students practice in both reading maps and structuring descriptions. Both formats can be printed so paper versions can be offered. Could make a good plenary or homework task.

Many GCSE specifications require students to be able to describe O.S. maps 'in context' and instead of a separate O.S. map question these skills are now being tested within other questions. For example, there could be an O.S. map of a coastal area as part of a more extensive written question on Coastal Environments.

Although the 'skills' of mapwork such as an appreciation of symbols, scale and direction etc. are important, the one which many students find difficult is the idea of visualising the shape of the land from a two dimensional contour map.

The introductory screen shows 6 of the most common landforms and by running your mouse over these maps cross sections of each one can be displayed.

The main screen allows you to see the landscape as an O.S. map and/or an air photo and draw a labelled cross section between any two points.

The finished cross section and its associated map can be printed out if required.

Don't forget, you can also print ANY screen you see in these Geopacks resources by right-clicking the display then selecting Print from the drop-down menu.