John Sayers Geography Blog

Sunday, 24 April 2011

Geocaching

This is a fantastic co-ordinates game using a GPS, mapping skills treasure hunt. A geocaching is a great addition to any dog walk, cycle ride, walk or even outdoor learning adventures. The principle is simple. Go to the website or download the app for geocaching. £4.99 on iTunes app store (a free introduction app is available it limits a search to the 3 nearest placed geocaches to you). The app will place your phone GPS to your current location and you can search to see if there are any geocaches in your area. Then simply using the co-ordinates and using a map you can hunt them down or more simply you can let the GPS on your phone close in to the co-ordinates. You can change the setting to show you a compass to try and match your co-ordinates with that of the location of the geocache. Then it is down to you to hunt out the box / casing. You should see a container with the geocaching official symbol and it should have paper and a pencil for you to write your name and date you found it. Some have an object in them. You can add something to the container of equal value.
Overall great fun:)

Friday, 22 April 2011

Some useful iPhone apps for a geographer

See the full gallery on Posterous

Here is a collection of some of my folders on my iPhone that I have found useful as a geography teacher.
Download them and have a play is the best advice I can give. The majority are free!
Some might be controversial like the gun apps but for a murder mystery lesson they can add a bit of drama. Talking Tom helped shy learners get confidence to talk. Priority boarding was a mapping exercise. Where most of the airports listed in developed countries. A tally chart and graph and map later and we'd evaluated the app.
If you have any queries about how to use any of the apps let me know and I'll describe and explain how I use them.

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

The Forbidden Corner

Follow the link http://www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk/
A great day out for the explorational family:)

Energy activities mainly oil

A collection of activities on Oil and moves on to a good wind farm activity I found online.

World_Peak_Oil_Production_Theory_Graph.doc Download this file

Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Thinking hats mat to use in a lesson.

Thinking Hats Mats to use during a lesson, enquiry etc.

Thai_Tourism_Towers_branksome.docx Download this file

The BioDaVersity Code site

follow the link http://www.daversitycode.com/ A good introduction to food chains etc. And more importantly sustainability. get your school to come up with some sustainability projects. Walk to school day, ride to school, school make a bag for life and donate to local shops. etc

Ammonium Dichromate Volcano Experiment in class

Virtual Quarry ICT activities

follow the link http://www.virtualquarry.co.uk/

From watching the virtual quarry flash and completing the activities during it. The site has a Rock spot section introducing places to visit and some good activities. Students can restore a quarry and rescue visitors in danger as an interactive game.There is a rock cinema with some interesting and informative video clips. If you want more structure the site has a teacher's desk with units that the site can be used in conjunction with.

New7Wonders ICT actvities

follow the link http://www.new7wonders.com/en/

Lots of possible activities on here from voting for your 7 wonder of nature, to creating your own list of entries, to getting involved in a project, to creating a new campaign or suggesting additional entries to existing campaigns. The site has information sections on geography topics like erosion etc. Overall a site that canker a student/teacher/class involved.