What do you buy a geography teacher for Christmas?

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Geography teachers are amazing creatures. They are talented, intelligent, attractive and funny, so what do you buy the person who has everything? Worry not, we’ve put together a list of must-have gifts for the geography teacher in your life.

1. Stocking fillers

This reusable coffee cup, made from recycled plastic, is ideal for geography teachers on the go!

If your geography teacher enjoys the great outdoors, an elzle Solar Charger 26800mAh and powerbank 15W(5V/3A) provides energy on the go, is fast charging and waterproof. 

2. Floating Globe
The e-plaza C shape Floating globe with LED lights magnetic field levitation education globe for home/office decoration looks cool. Be sure to opt for the 4″ version as it spins!

3. Drone

Another great Christmas present for the geography teacher in your life has to be a drone. If your budget is tight considered a tello drone or if you want to splash the cash consider a DJI Mavic Pro 2. The newly released, mid-budget, Mavic Mini is also worth a look!



4. Ordnance Survey Puzzle Tour of Britain book
Cheap, cheerful and guaranteed to keep them occupied, the new Ordnance Survey Puzzle Tour of Britain Book will keep them quiet during the festive period.

5. Ordnance Survey Colouring Book
For the more creative geography teacher treat them to an OS map colouring book. If you need to, throw in some colouring pencils. Just make sure they don’t go over the lines and the shading is in one direction.

6. Ordnance Survey OS Maps online subscription
A subscription to OS Maps will win the heart of the geography teacher who loves the great outdoors. They can plan routes online, check them out in 3D and use their mobile phones to stay on the right path in the great outdoors. Of course, don’t bother if you’re after losing them! Find out more about OS Maps online subscription.

7. A good read
We’ve compiled a list of books that should be on every geography teacher’s bookshelf. Take a look at our favourite reads.

8. A personalised OS Map
The Ordnance Survey offers a personalised map service. Focus on their favourite area or create a unique gift with folded, flat or framed maps. Show the instantly recognisable style of the OS Explorer and OS Landranger leisure maps.



9. Anemometer
Sit and watch them blow it until they’re blue in the face. If it’s peace and quiet you are looking for, look no further than an anemometer.

10. Geography Teacher Mug
Perfect for break-time refreshments, treat them to a mug

11. Tooth Brush Holder
Finish off their bathroom with the perfect toothbrush holder

12. Gin
What more could the gin-loving geography teacher want? Yes, you guessed it, more gin! Mother’s ruin will help them plough through marking on an evening. Take a look at these craft gins.

13. Beers
Let them travel the world with their taste buds. Beer Hawk has put together a great collection of world beers. Staying closer to home you won’t go wrong with Marston’s classic ales.

14. Geography Stationery
Who doesn’t love a bit a nice stationery? Throw in a geographical theme and the geography teacher in your life will love it. You might consider:

15. Globe
It sounds obvious but why not go for a light-up globe? Alternatively, this floating globe with LED lights is pretty impressive.

16. Globe Drinks Cabinet
The best of both worlds! Drinks + globe = happy geography teacher. Treat your geographer to a globe-shaped mini bar drinks cabinet

17. A GPS Device

18. T-shirt
Geography teachers are loud and proud about their subject. Help them shout about it with a geography-related t-shirt.

19. An anorak
Ok, walking jackets are a lot more sophisticated now than they were in the past. Why not look after them and keep them warm with an insulated coat or dry with a waterproof jacket.

20. Virtual Reality
A VR headset will get them turning heads (sorry, that was shocking). A VR headset combined with a smartphone and Google Earth VR puts the whole world within their reach.

Tweet Treats #12

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This is the twelfth collection of useful tweets relating to #geography and #geographyteachers. The world of Twitter can be a busy place so I’ve pulled together some tweet treats from the last week that are worth having a look at. Tweets are in no particular order.

A useful strategy for re-visting learning. This example is for RE but could be easily adapted for geography. Miss Lyons has been kind enough to share this resource on Internet Geography.

 

A great article on how arid environments are taught by David Preece. Well worth a read!

 

Michael Chiles has shared a great fieldwork workbook to download for free.

 

Another free download from Michael Chiles who has shared some statistical skills resources.

 

Festive origami with OS maps anyone?

 

These summary grids look great!

 

We’re loving this independent study guide for a-level students.

 

These knowledge test retention resources look superb.

 

These retrieving and learning physical features using longitude and latitude resources look great!

 

A really useful resource linking OS maps and photographs. Mrs Reed has kindly shared this resource on the TES website for free.

 

Some great aerial footage showing fluvial environments.

 

Really useful resources for developing skills of evaluation here.

 

Superb case study builder to encourage students to develop their explanations.

 

Looking for some end of term fun resources? Look no further!

 

Some lovely ideas for approaching climate change.

Tweet Treats #11

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This is the eleventh collection of useful tweets relating to #geography and #geographyteachers. The world of Twitter can be a busy place so I’ve pulled together some tweet treats from the last week that are worth having a look at. Tweets are in no particular order.

You can download Kirstie’s living world revision grids here on Internet Geography.

Synoptic Links in Geography Revision

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The aims and learning outcomes of the AQA GCSE Geography course focus heavily on students thinking, studying and applying like a geographer. This includes students making links and applying their knowledge to a range of real-world contexts.

The Assessment Objectives in geography clearly reflect these aims and learning outcomes. AO2, for example, involves students demonstrating an understanding of the interrelationships between places, environments and processes. Also, AO3 covers the application of knowledge and understanding to make judgements. Combined, these two assessment objectives account for up to 70% of the assessment weightings in the AQA GCSE Geography course.

Therefore, it is critically important, not just in creating good geographers, but also in raising achievement that students develop the ability to make synoptic links in geography. Some students will have an innate ability to think like a geographer and make connections in the world we live in. However, others will need support in developing their ability to do this.

The document below encourages students to connect their learning to the wider world. The example covers the synoptic links that exist between The Living World unit and the other main units in the AQA GCSE Geography specification. This could be used once the Living World unit has been completed, using the additional guidance on the second page to support, along with a textbook. Alternatively, it could be used once all the major units have been completed as a summary revision activity.

Synoptic Links Revision Activity

Synoptic Links Revision Activity

The students draw lines representing synoptic links between The Living World and other units. An example of this is shown below. Students should be encouraged to further develop links that address multiple units.

Synoptic Links Revision Activity Support

Synoptic Links Revision Activity Support

There are synoptic links support resources available for students to access on Internet Geography.

Download the A3 Living World Synoptic Links revision document

Living World Revision Grids

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Recently Kirstie Bowden (AKA @kirstiebowden) posted a revision grid covering AQA Geography The Living World, inspired by history teacher Amanda Raddon (@AJRRaddon).

The resources are ideal for retrieval practice and could be further developed to incorporate dual coding.

Other examples have also been shared on Twitter.

Kirstie has kindly agreed to share these resources on Internet Geography. Kirstie has also provided the instructions for using the resource. You can download these below:

Please be sure to thank Kirsty on Twitter or in the comments below!

Geog Your Memory

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On 20th November 2019, Josh Liversidge, AKA @Geog_HA shared an excellent set of Geog your memory revision sheets (see below).

Josh has kindly agreed to share these on Internet Geography for anyone to download. These are currently available in MS Published format. We are working on other formats and will make them available very soon!

Be sure to show your appreciation to @Geog_HA on Twitter or in the comments below!

Internet Geography Plus

Tweet Treats #10

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This is the tenth collection of useful tweets relating to #geography and #geographyteachers. The world of Twitter can be a busy place so I’ve pulled together some tweet treats from the last couple of weeks that are worth having a look at. Tweets are in no particular order.

Geography Myth Busters

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Misconceptions? Who you gonna call? Geography Myth Busters! 

I recently asked geography teachers for the most common misconceptions that crop up in the classroom. As usual, the geography teacher community came up trumps with lots of suggestions. To return the favour, I’ve collated some of the most common misconceptions and created a pack of A4 posters to download for free.




The resource can be used in a range of ways. Here are some suggestions:

  • display one a week and have a competition to encourage students to explain why it is a misconception
  • distribute them to your class and get them to prepare a presentation as to why it is a misconception
  • put up on your classroom wall and use them as a discussion point
  • add a QR code that links to a web page that busts the myth so students can find out why its a misconception

If you have any other ideas to share or if you think we’ve missed a common misconception leave a comment below!

Download the PPT presentation containing the posters below (32MB).

Download Geography Myth Busters

Google Earth – Create interactive stories and maps

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Google Earth has recently launched creation tools allowing you to create stories and maps. Having had a play with the new feature I have to say it’s fantastic. Not only can stories and maps be shared with others to view, but you can also collaborate on the same map in real-time. You must use the Google Chrome browser to access Google Earth online.

Take a look at an example I’ve started working on for the Holderness Coast (you need to be using the Chrome Browser to access this!). This is a work in progress but helps give a feel of what is possible. I’ve also created an example showing landforms of glacial erosion and how these appear on OS maps.

Having followed the tutorial below, Louise Hayne has kindly shared two amazing Google Earth case studies covering the 2011 Sendai, Japan earthquake and the Haiti earthquake. Give Louise a follow on Twitter via @louhayne1.




The software is very intuitive and many features can be worked out through having a play. However, I’ve put together a step by step guide covering some of the main features for those who feel less confident about using GIS software below.

Introduction to creation tools in Google Earth

  1. Open Google Earth online using Google Chrome. Click the New Project icon
    Google Earth - Step 1

    Google Earth – Step 1

     

  2. Give your project a suitable title and description
    Google Earth - Step 2

    Google Earth – Step 2

     

  3. Click new feature > draw line or shape.
    Google Earth - Step 3

    Google Earth – Step 3

     

  4. Draw a shape around the case study area. Give it a title.
    Google Earth - Step 4

    Google Earth – Step 4

     

  5. Click edit place to tidy up the shape.
    Google Earth - Step 5

    Google Earth – Step 5




     

  6. Add a description and click the Capture this view icon so whenever someone clicks the location it will zoom to this view.
    Google Earth - Step 6

    Google Earth – Step 6

    You can also add an image by clicking the camera icon. When you’ve finished click the back button in the top left corner.

  7. Next, start adding place makers for different locations by clicking the New feature button and selecting either add placemark to add the location manually or search to add place.
    Google Earth - Step 7

    Google Earth – Step 7

  8. Once you’ve added your placemark you can edit is by hovering over the location in the menu on the left.
    Google Earth - Step 8

    Google Earth – Step 8

     

  9. Click the pen icon to edit.
    Google Earth - Step 9

    Google Earth – Step 9

     

  10. Zoom into the location to move the place marker into a more accurate position. Drag and drop the place marker to move it.
    Google Earth - Step 10

    Google Earth – Step 10

     

  11. You can zoom closer to the location and change the default view.
    Google Earth - Step 11

    Google Earth – Step 11

     

  12. To do this zoom in then click the compass icon. You can now change the viewing angle by using the enlarged compass icon. When you are happy with the view click Capture this view.
    Google Earth - Step 12

    Google Earth – Step 12

     

  13. You can add links to the text you include in the description. Highlight the text you want to become a link and click the link icon. In this case, a link has been included to more detailed information about landforms of erosion at Flamborough on Internet Geography.
    Google Earth - Step 13

    Google Earth – Step 13

     

  14. Adding an image is easy, simply click the camera icon and choose the source of the image you want to use. Multiple image can be included.

    Google Earth - Step 14

    Google Earth – Step 14

     

  15. You can review your presentation at any time by clicking Preview presentation.
    Google Earth - Step 15

    Google Earth – Step 15

     

  16. By clicking the share button you can share your map. When you share you can choose to either allow people to view or edit. By allowing people to edit the map you can collaborate on the map with other people at the same time!

    Google Earth - Step 16

    Google Earth – Step 16

It’s also possible to embed 360 images from Google Maps into your stories and maps. The video below explains how to do this!

Deconstructing the Question 1

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When faced with exam questions like the one below students often fail to use the resources they have been provided with. This is an issue often referred to in examiners reports and frequently bemoaned by teachers on social media.

Exam question with resources

Exam question with resources

To support teachers modelling the deconstruction of exam questions that include additional resources, we’re in the process of developing a series of resources that aim to support geography teachers in taking students through breaking down exam questions, analysing data they are provided with and working out what should be included in their answer.

In this first set of resources, we explore the above exam question from the 2018 AQA GCSE Geography paper 2, covering resources. This is an area covered in multiple specifications so should be useful to most geography teachers.




These free resources come in both Apple Keynote and Microsoft PowerPoint format so can be edited to meet the needs of your students. The presentations take a step-by-step approach to reviewing the question, resources and what could be included in the answer. All you need to do is talk the students through it.

If you’ve found these resources useful or have requests for future questions please leave us a comment below.

Download Keynote

Download Powerpoint