The new orders for Geography state 'communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.' Therefore I have been giving extended questions this year; this is one of them. This followed several lessons on; erosion and weathering, coastal features (including finding on an OS map) and formation of stacks & stumps (including making them out of playdoh to make movies!). Planning sheet and success criteria included.

The aim of this lesson was for students to see that not all deserts are hot and sandy. Students start by naming deserts that they know, before distributing an information strip with one desert per student. Students then need to complete their table by finding students who have a desert that is a different type to their own. I was pleased with how well it worked. Children then completed a map about where some of these deserts are located (not included)

Keyword dominoes to ensure your students know their keywords.

I've been trying to develop students skills at writing extended answers that explain, using PEE. To help with the feedback, I've been developing stickers that students can understand and hopefully act upon next time!

Introduction to volcanoes and earthquakes - what is the structure of the earth. Uses BBC2's How the Earth was formed and students use worksheet and instructions in presentation to make their own cross section of the earth. A very nice activity, if I do say so myself.

A powerpoint and card sort to encourage students to think about the source of one key (depending on your opinion of course) Christmas Dinner. Focuses on Henry Hall who was the first commercial cranberry grower in the USA. Suggest you might use with my resource - Where did my Christmas Dinner come from?

An introduction for Year 7 (can be used with other year groups) to encourage the students to think about their place in the world. Uses a series of concentric circles for students to make their own personal geography; smallest circle is their house, followed by settlement, county, country, continent and then finally in the largest circle, the world. Produces an excellent outcome, and a useful point of reference for future lessons. Includes; powerpoint lesson to follow Worksheet for student to make their own personal geography. Speeded up video of how to make

This lesson is designed to encourage students to think about where our food comes from and how far it has travelled. Students need food cards which have a photo of food on one side and what it is/where it comes from on the reverse (photocopy food cards sheets back to back and cut up in envelopes) so that they can design their own menu. There is a wide variety of foods with enough choices for all diets and any cards can be omitted for religious reasons. They then map where the food came from and measure the distance travelled to work out the total number of food miles. Results are often very surprising! Resources: Food cards which have a photo of food on one side and what it is/where it comes from on the reverse (photocopy food cards sheets back to back and cut up in envelopes) Royalty free map Presentation for lesson with extension tasks Table to record food miles

Question sheet to accompany episode 1 of the BBC programme Life in the Freezer. Focuses on physical geography rather than wildlife e.g. 10. How many miles wide is the largest glacier? 13. How long can an iceberg last?