Engaging students in practical activities can help with motivation and provide them with the opportunity to apply skills, knowledge and understanding. We’ve collated a range of practical ideas used by teachers to support geographical learning along with a few of our own.

#1 Play-Doh/Plastercine Geography Models

Play-Doh/Plastercine is great for modelling geographical features and processes. Below are some examples:

Our year 11’s were demonstrating their Rivers knowledge through play doh models today. Good work girls! pic.twitter.com/aJwnD1OiUf

— WGS Geography (@GeographyWgs) September 21, 2018

Some really impressive plate boundary models made by Year 9 with Miss Gingell. Great creativity and Geography! #playdoh #geographyteacher @WestboroughHigh pic.twitter.com/zTz20gJKPr

— Humanities@W-H-S (@HumanitiesWHS1) September 20, 2018

Get creative in the clasroom @PlayDoh is a great lesson resource in #geography create models as starters #SpotAlGore pic.twitter.com/5q3Ywp3ah8

— TEACHGEOGBLOG (@teachgeogblog) September 11, 2016

#2 Animation

Take your Play-Doh/Plastercine models one step further by animating them. There is a range of stop-motion animation apps available. Find out more here.

#3 Pop-up Geography Models

Our year 9’s have been trying to get their heads around the global atmospheric circulation. We created these pop up models to help us visualise this really hard concept! #creativegeography #manchesteracademy #manchester pic.twitter.com/H5XgzboqI9

— MA_Geography (@MaGeography) September 20, 2018

Global atmospheric circulation pop-up model download

Popup Drainage Basin

3D River Valley 

3D Volcano 

Hurricane Model 

Urban Landuse Models

S4 Geographers were making 3D Burgess Models today! They can identify different land uses in the city @FalkirkHigh #geography #nat5 #urban pic.twitter.com/LU1FV3YJy1

— Mr Quirke (@mr_quirke) September 14, 2017

#4 Lego Models

Population pyramids

It’s incredible how excited Gr 11 students were to play with LEGO! Making population pyramids today in Geography #cisinspires #issedu pic.twitter.com/yidJTYHzl1

— Emily Theriault (@emilytheriault) September 21, 2017

Population Maps

Some excellent learning going on in Year 8 Geography today using lego to create 3D population maps #geographyteacher @WhickhamSchool pic.twitter.com/yb7luFasLg

— Miss Todd (@MissTodd_Geog) September 13, 2017

Period 6, must be time for Birth Rates in Africa Lego stacked bar graph in Geography. pic.twitter.com/Pawbhd7zBo

— Glebelands School (@GlebelandsInfo) November 21, 2013

Urban Models

S3 Urban Models – characteristics of each zone.#geography #lego #cooperativelearning #fun pic.twitter.com/HVSOL637AY

— Barrhead Geography (@BarrheadGeo) September 5, 2016

Topography

Look at this great idea for #Lego geography by @SusanCEvans . My kids will love it. #ihsnet https://t.co/M4Ur9UC4ZI pic.twitter.com/UaatpaqgXP

— Ticia (@TiciaAIM) November 6, 2015

#5 Cardboard/Papier Mache Models

Volcanoes

Some great yr7 geography homework models @VictoryAcad today…good work @MrHadenGeo and @LDaviesGeo pic.twitter.com/U0NVKRJ87d

— Alice Cordy (@alicecordy) December 9, 2013

Biomes

Mass Movement Models

#WFSyear11 – made the earth move! Mass Movement in Models! pic.twitter.com/OdBkFMGvOs

— WFS Geography Dept (@WFS_Geography) September 14, 2018

Contour Models

Some more excellent contour models from Year 7CMC!! pic.twitter.com/PxLom1BeYV

— Geography Dept (@SS_Geography) November 16, 2016

#6 Sand

Modelling sand dunes:

Embryo dunes formed around driftwood. Marram grass and water in the fine slacks. This model from #WFSyear11 has it all! pic.twitter.com/dVu7IfWIs7

— WFS Geography Dept (@WFS_Geography) September 19, 2018

We can all dream:

Topography Sandbox.

The East Carolina Geology department#map #maps #cartography #geography #topography #mapping #mappe #carte #mapa #karta #topographic #sandbox #tool #relief #model #sand #height #depth #layers #practical #diy #augmentedreality #simulation #camera #kinect pic.twitter.com/hNrHnp7T6V

— MapScaping (@MapScaping) April 19, 2018

#7 Food Modelling

Angel Cake Waterfall

Fantastic effort from 11C today making waterfall formations from Angel Cake! Well done 🍰 pic.twitter.com/IRUISjCzDE

— Mrs Moorby (@MrsMoorby) September 7, 2018

Angel Cake Wave Cut Platform

Angel cake & wave cut platform with an accidental stack/stump! Thanks to @tonycassidy for the idea. #geographyteacher pic.twitter.com/tdJIxUzE40

— D Burgess (@GeographyBurp) May 21, 2014

Population & Economic Factors

Using skittles to show population and wealth across continents. #Gr7 Ss investigate social justice thru math and geography. “N. America needs to help Africa!!” @joboaler Ss are seen trying to divide skittles to share with a friend. #realworldmath pic.twitter.com/rmumlYied4

— Laura Tenenbaum, OCT (@TenenbaumTLW) September 15, 2018

Plate Tectonic Oreos

Oreo plate tectonics with my Y9’s. Thank you @CETitterton and @geolsoc for the inspiration, they ❤️’ed it! pic.twitter.com/xyzmku38CQ

— Lauren Hunt (@MissGeogHunt) June 14, 2016

Earthquake Proof Building – Spaghetti & Marshmallows

More S2 earthquake proof buildings #toparchitects #canweeatthemarshmallows pic.twitter.com/6FfcTwouo7

— Barrhead Geography (@BarrheadGeo) September 13, 2018

#8 K’nex

Earthquake-proof building – shake the table and use a seismometer app.

Great fun learning how to make structural engineering less complicated to understand. With K’nex and a shaking plate – currently the tallest earthquake-proof building of the day @newscientist live. #thiisengineering pic.twitter.com/EsrCfR8f4c

— Michael Jones (@DazzMcGuinness) September 21, 2018