Geography Southwest Newsbites April 2024
Welcome to the April 2024 Geography Southwest Newsbites! Sun has replaced rain in most places as schools return after a rather wet and windy Easter break. Our free Geography Southwest conference 2024 is on Monday 17 June at University of West of England. (UWE). Bookings are now open online. Do book early to avoid disappointment. Bookings can be made on this website SW Geography Teachers' Conference Tickets, Mon, Jun 17, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite Details of the programme are at SW Geography Conference 2024 - Geography South West
Looking for links to new classroom resources to support your curriculum? Do look in the Geography Resources section of our Monthly Newsbites for January, February and March 2024 on this website for lots of ideas.
Geography events:
The Geographical Association: Look out for these courses provided by the GA this summer term.
Wednesday 17 April to 13 June: Quality secondary geography for non-specialists - Online This course will provide key skills at secondary level for non-specialist teachers of geography, teaching assistants and those newly transitioning to the subject. Quality secondary geography for non-specialists
Wednesday 17 April to Wednesday 22 May: To 2025 and beyond: Sustainability, climate literacy and action for your school – Online. A series of six webinars focussing on the DfE requirement for sustainability and climate action plans in schools by 2025. The series will be accompanied by a toolkit.
To 2025 and beyond: Sustainability, climate literacy and action for your school (geography.org.uk)
Thursday 18 April to 16 May: Enhancing your geography subject leadership- Online. This course will enable delegates to feel empowered to improve the quality of geography provision across their schools with valuable insights and practical strategies from our expert educators. Enhancing your geography subject leadership
Tuesday 30 April: Improving geography fieldwork provision and outcomes – Online. A 4-week course exploring how and why it is important to plan for the progression of fieldwork enquiries from years 7 to 11 by embedding it within the curriculum, and how this can improve outcomes. The other dates are 7, 14 and 21 May.
Improving geography fieldwork provision and outcomes
Tuesday 7 May: Setting up the geography NEA - Online. A very relevant course aimed particularly at A level students setting up the NEA but also very useful for teachers.
Wednesday 8 May: Building fieldwork confidence: support for ECTs - Greenwich Park. The Geographical Association and Field Studies Council are working together to provide a day of online training to support Early Career Teachers with geography fieldwork. This course is also on 15 June and 12 July.
Building fieldwork confidence: support for ECTs - Greenwich Park (geography.org.uk)
The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) programme of talks and events for teachers can be found on their website: Royal Geographical Society - Browse our events (rgs.org). Note that some events are in-person only and there are charges for certain events.
Wednesday 8 May: Choosing the right university and geography course online. A twilight session aimed at students to help them chose a University and geography course.
Choosing the right university and geography course - RGS
Wednesday 22 May: Going further with GIS - Manchester Metropolitan University (in person day course). A follow-up course for teachers who have previously completed the teach with GIS course. Going further with GIS - Manchester Metropolitan University - RGS
Monday 17 June: Harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for teaching history and geography (in person day course, London). This is a joint event from the Historical Association and Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) suitable for primary and secondary teachers of history and geography. Harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for teaching history and geography - RGS
Is your department or school involved in an environmental project either in rural or urban areas. Somerset Wildlife Trust Home | Somerset Wildlife Trust has provided a Funding round-up with several opportunities for funding for projects in the West Country.
See March Newsbites for full details. Geography Southwest Newsbites March 2024 - Geography South West
Geography resources:
GA Conference papers: Several presentations from the GA’s Annual Conference 2024 in Manchester are now available online, and more will be added in the next few weeks. Manchester 2024 session downloads - Geographical Association (geography.org.uk)
Teaching about Global Governance and the Arctic? Check out Professor Klaus Dodds presentation ‘Learning with the Arctic: a case of and for ‘passionate geopolitics’ from the GA Annual Conference 2024. Arctic-GA-talk-Klaus-Dodds.pptx (live.com)
Teaching about the water and carbon cycle and floods? The Spring of 2024 has been exceptionally wet in many areas. The Environment Agency’s Monthly Water Reports provides a range of data to investigate issues arising from Spring 2024. Water situation: area monthly reports for England 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), and the rainfall and river flow weekly reports for the last 3 months. Rainfall and river flow: weekly reports for England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The latest update on the Bude flood defences, habitats and river restoration provides a useful basis for a case study in a town vulnerable to both river and coastal flooding. Bude: improving flood defences and habitats - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Teaching about Coasts? The Dorset Coast Forum has added to its website a detailed section on Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs). Shoreline Management Plans | Dorset Coast Forum
Alongside an overview of SMPs links to details of the two SMPs in these areas, The Poole and Christchurch Bays SMP and the South Devon and Dorset SMP. These provide an overview, maps and data which could support case studies in the classroom or as extension activities for students. These include the detailed subsections on case study areas such as Dawlish Warren, the Exe Estuary and Sidmouth.
Hurst Spit to Durlston Head SMP15 | Shoreline Management Plans (data.gov.uk)
Durlston Head to Rame Head SMP16 | Shoreline Management Plans (data.gov.uk)
Teachers and students can also study the Swanage Town Coastal Protection Scheme, including a YouTube video of the Community Art Trail about the scheme. Flooding Swanage with Art a coastal community project (youtube.com)
Teaching about Iceland? Rayburn Tours have produced a short introductory video to Iceland with very enthusiastic participants which would be appropriate for an introductory lesson looking at physical and human geography in Iceland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKPHowSJ2bU&t=5s
Teaching about climate change, marine ecosystems and the oceans: The National Oceanography Centre has a link to a detailed article with statistics about coral bleaching and how it is linked to high ocean temperatures. The data includes two graphs showing increasing ocean temperatures considered to be responsible for mass coral bleaching. Mass Coral Bleaching Is Latest Sign of Incredibly Hot Oceans - Bloomberg
Teaching ecosystems or running environmental projects? The Devon Wildlife Trust website has details of Sign up to 30 days wild, which will take place in June 2024. 30 Days Wild is the UK’s biggest nature challenge run by The Wildlife Trusts, Schools can get involved and there is a pack and a range of inspiration activities to take part in. 30 Days Wild | Devon Wildlife Trust
There is also a short 5 minute video about the Beavers on the River Otter which provides a good introduction to the importance of keystone species and the beavers potential role in regulating river flow. https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/beavers
Geography in the news:
Lower Otter Restoration Project update: The Lower Otter Restoration Project was completed in 2023 and was officially inaugurated in February 2024 when the announcement was made that it would become an extension of the Pebblebed Heaths National Nature Reserve. Lower Otter Valley to be declared a National Nature Reserve | Exmouth Journal
The Lower Otter Restoration Project was carried out by the Environment Agency in partnership with the landowners Clinton Devon Estates. The aim was to reconnect the River Otter's historic floodplain by removing 300-year-old river management structures. Allowing the sea to flood into the Lower Otter at high tide has created around 55 hectares (nearly 136 acres) of carbon capturing wetland, As well as providing greater resilience to sea level change and flood events, the area should become important as an internationally important area for wildlife, particularly migrating wading birds.
Plymouth urban regeneration: The City of Plymouth is spending over £ 16 million improving the appearance and infrastructure of the city centre. The scheme began in 2021 and has recently received a boost of £12 million from the Transforming Cities Fund. The city redevelopment provides a useful case study for AQA Changing Places.
Old Town Street and New George Street | PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/four-projects-set-transform-plymouth-8670888.amp
Sidmouth landslides update: The combination of heavy rain and wave erosion from storm waves has resulted in further landslides in the Sidmouth area. In March 2024, a landslide west of Jacobs Ladder beach prompted warnings to visitors and local people to keep away from the cliffs. Sunny days can also trigger slope failure as the sunshine dries out the cliff opening up cracks. Video footage can be seen on this website: Warning to stay away from 'unstable cliffs' after collapse at Sidmouth | ITV News West Country
Expert issues warning after Sidmouth cliff collapse - BBC News
Landslides have occurred along this section of coast for several years as there is little beach to protect the base of the cliffs. In 2021, five significant landslides occurred on the same day with one being captured on film. Warning after five cliff falls along Devon coast in one day - BBC News