Ian Selmes reviews a valuable addition to key stage 3 resources
Horizons 2 David Garner, Roger Knill and John Smith Pupil’s book 2, Pounds 9.95; Teaching Learning Resources with Planning CD-Rom, pound;75; Electronic Resources CD-Rom, from pound;240 Nelson Thornes www.nelsonthornes.com
The latest in Nelson Thornes’s key stage 3 geography series suit all styles of teaching.
Each chapter of the pupil’s book adopts the familiar double-page spread treatment, with photos, aerial images, diagrams and maps linked to the text, and with highlighted key words. Tasks are organised in the Over To You panels. Colour is bright and image annotation is informative and clearly presented. Laminated aerial photos and maps are thoughtfully included. Web-links to the publisher’s dedicated Horizons website are also spread liberally.
I hope most geography teachers will also consider the potential of the CD-Roms. The Planning CD-Rom provides detailed chapter and lesson plans, and teaching strategies for each double-page spread.
Lessons plans include learning objectives and outcomes, vocabulary, Assessment for Learning, links to Horizons 2 and other web resources.
Strategies encompass starters, activities and plenaries, homework and future learning ideas. There are also hard copies of worksheets, together with Assessment for Learning check lists and clearly laid out links to the national curriculum and QCA’s scheme of work and support for literacy, citizenship etc.
Of even more potential is the Electronic Resources CD-Rom Just Click. As stand-alone or networked, teachers and pupils have access to a supportive or alternative approach to learning. All the resources are integrated for planning and lesson delivery. It also leads to PowerPoint slides of interactive whiteboard notes or instructions, to animations and photos with “toolbox” functions, interactives (including tests), and to video clips from the Channel 4 ClipBank of schools’ programmes.
This thoroughly resourced series offers so much more than a traditional textbook and has the potential to raise the quality of learning and teaching in KS3 geography.
