A big lesson with lots of opportunity for differentiation and engagement, as well as paired or group work. Basically, students learn how to describe places, and then apply this skill. It would work well as a skills building lesson in KS3, or as an end of term type lesson with either KS3 or KS4. There are differentiated resources for lower and higher, and a number of ways in which the activities could be undertaken (which are in the lesson plan). There are teacher notes and a lesson plan. The activities are clear, and there are Superstar extension activities. --- The main aim is… This is a big lesson which could be used as an end of term activity, or as a skills building lesson. Students either learn or develop their geographical terminology and then apply / demonstrate using photos of actual places. Key ideas and content… We can describe places using geographical language. It is more effective to use the correct key terms and descriptive language. To differentiate… Pass the sheets round on a timer, with the challenge of either adding more key terms or improving existing ones. Stick the sheets on the wall around the room, give each student a different key term to look for. Students go round the room. Insist on certain terms being applied. To extend… Insist on a description of features which aren’t necessarily visible. Students find their own photos and analyse them. Peer assessment. There are some tricky terms in the key terms activity, use to stretch students. To assess… Discussion points. The work produced. Peer assessment opportunity.

A simple activity to be included with teaching about the causes of flooding. Students read the descriptions and draw a diagram for each one. Ideal for lower ability groups.

Ideal for KS3 and KS4. Could be used to teach or consolidate. Six tiles are jumbled up on the sheet - the students need to cut these out and arrange them in the correct sequence. The next task is to write a description underneath each tile - there is a word-box to help the students explain each stage. Prior knowledge / understanding will be needed to complete. Could be used as a mystery – see if students can work out why the oxbow lake formed before you explain. Two version are included; one in colour and one in outline black & white. Every review we've had for a premium resource has been 5/5* (As of February 21st 2017)

Geography - Map skills - Direction A complete lesson with a range of activities and resources aimed at teaching students how to use direction as a geographical skill. Students will apply the skill in several different ways as well as develop their spatial understanding of Europe. Complete lesson > thoroughly resourced and ready to teach > snappy starter > explainers > SPaG activity > practise questions > varied map activities > peer assessment > summary activity > teacher notes > lesson plan > lesson evaluation > homework The main aim is… For students to learn / apply skills in describing direction. To develop a spatial understanding of Europe. Key ideas and content… There are 8 points to the compass (as far as we’re concerned for today anyway) We use direction to describe location / journeying. Direction can be used by many different people in different situations. To differentiate… Students could take turns doing the countries / cities activities and then swap to help each other. One student in a pair could have the map or atlas and act as an expert. Pair up students when doing the map work. To extend… Use an OS map of the local area, Google Earth, an Atlas or online mapping to explore places. Use the homework template and a local map / online mapping to explore geographical features in the local area (using direction obviously). Certainly use the CYO task and encourage students to think about how they can test understanding / get students to apply map skills beyond simply describing. To assess… The road trip / CYO activity is the main assessment point. Class discussion and the summary activity will also show progress and allow you to assess understanding.

Sequencing activity: River landforms - waterfalls This is suited to KS3 but does work with KS4 - you'll need to add more detail (processes of erosion etc.). There are four slides to help the teacher explain the processes involved and introduce the keywords. The activity sheet requires students to complete three activities. 1. Cut out and arrange the tiles. 2. Add the labels from the sheet. 3. Add the descriptions from the sheet. There is also an animated consolidation slide to allow teacher/students to check accuracy. For higher ability - ask the students to underline the key terms, add more key terms and write their own descriptions. Two version of the sheet are included; one in colour and one in outline black & white. Every review we've received for a premium resource has been 5/5* (As of February 20th 2017)

Whole lesson / assessment - could be used to teach map skills or use as a stand alone assessment to use at the end of a map skills topic. The assessment requires students to read a list of instructions and complete a map of 'The Island'. Students can show and develop their skills with grid references, distance, direction and map symbols. The assessment element will show the teacher and student progress made, and also inform the student as to what they need to do to get to the next level. There is an extra activity which then allows students to show their understanding about human and physical features, this could also make a good link to a tourism topic and incorporates literacy. Teacher notes and a brief lesson plan included with extension and differentiation notes. This whole lesson is ready to go. All of our paid resources have received a 5/5* review as of 29th January 2017.

A range of activities with the aim of teaching students about the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Visually attractive, differentiated and fully resourced for a range of abilities. Whole lesson: snappy starter, varied activities, key points, class discussion, assessment opportunities, a homework task and lesson evaluation. All resources included, along with lesson plan and teacher notes. This lesson has planned activities which show the teacher and the students their progress throughout.

AQA Geography Urban issues and challenges - Factors affecting the rate of urbanisation A whole lesson (possibly a double) which teaches students how rural-urban migration, and natural increase, is driving rapid urbanisation in LIC’s and NEE’s. There are a range of activities, and varied resources to aid in the teaching. A visual explainer has been included. All resources are ready to go. Whole lesson > Key concept starter > Discussion prompts > Key ideas > Card sort > Photo analysis > Exam style questions > Class discussion > Learning evaluation > Summary activity > Homework > Lesson plan > Teacher notes > Fully resourced > Visually attractive and ready to teach!

Subject specific vocabulary resources Section A: The challenge of natural hazards A range of resources built around the AQA 9-1 Geography SSV for section A - The challenge of natural hazards. Includes - keyword bricks for display - bingo game - word mat - teacher notes All resources are included and are ready to print. Keywords are grouped and colour coded.

A whole lesson intended to teach students the processes within, and the stages of, the water cycle. Includes varied activities, differentiated worksheets and animated diagrams. Lesson plan, teacher notes and a homework also included. The main aim is… To understand the processes of the water cycle To understand where and why these processes are taking place To understand the sequence / stages of the water cycle Key ideas and content… Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, surface run-off The water cycle is continuous To differentiate… See lesson plan / use the varied worksheets Get the students up in groups to talk through the water cycle using the PowerPoint animation – before moving on to the diagram activities Students can act (see lesson plan – alternative activities) To extend… Set the summary activity as homework / or the research activity for higher ability groups To assess… Students could act out the stages – choose at random for higher ability. Use the summary activity as a piece of work to assess understanding. Every review we've received for a premium resource has been 5/5* (As of February 20th 2017)

A whole lesson which will introduce students to the Mercalli scale, teach them the characteristics of each level and allow them to demonstrate their understanding in several different ways. Whole lesson: Starter/plenary with ‘Hinge’ element to show progress / demonstrate understanding. Photo analysis Group activity Varied individual activities Peer assessment Teacher notes & plan Lesson evaluation The main aim is… For students to create an appropriate drawing for each level of the Mercalli scale, based on the descriptions. For students to learn the main levels of the Mercalli scale. For students to recognise how the scale changes between impacts on humans and impacts on the build environment. To use / apply the Mercalli scale. Key ideas and content… The Mercalli scale has 12 levels. The Mercalli scale measures the effects of an earthquake (and not the strength / energy like the Richter scale). It is based on visual observations, and is split between effects felt by people and effects on the build environment. To differentiate… Help lower ability students by modelling some examples. Underline the key terms in each description, and focus the drawings on these. Encourage the use of thought bubbles and speech bubbles to add more depth and detail to the drawings. Complete the drawing activity first, and then ask more able students to highlight main differences between each level. To extend… Play a Pictionary type game. Give the student a level from the scale which they then draw on the board. The class must then decide which level it is. To assess… Peer assessment included. Check drawings for features unique to each level of the scale. Use the Pictionary type game as a whole class assessment. The photo analysis is intended as a Hinge for the learning, they come back to the original photo analysis and show / demonstrate their learning by filling in the post-it notes.

*Requires an Atlas* Originally aimed at KS3 but can be used with KS4. Ideal for cover, and getting to know groups. Gives lots of opportunity to talk about physical and human features around the world. A series of activities to get students using the atlas in several different ways. The result is a colourful and informative map of the world. Whole lesson: Several activities > Discussion prompts > Literacy activity > Teacher notes and lesson plan > Differentiated activities > Homework > All resources included > Could be used with KS4 The main aim is… For students to use the atlas in several different ways to efficiently find information. To complete a colourful and informative map of the world. Every review we've had for a premium resource has been 5/5 (as of 2nd February 2017)

AQA GCSE Geography - Unit 2 Section A - Urban issues and challenges - The global pattern of urban change A whole lesson which teaches students how the world is becoming increasingly urbanised. Includes a range of differentiated activities, animated explainers, visuals and structured worksheets. Whole lesson > Differentiated resources > Snappy starter > Discussion prompts > Key ideas >Map activities > Graph activities > Class discussion > Learning evaluation > Summary activity > Homework > Lesson plan > Teacher notes > Fully resourced > Visually attractive and ready to teach! The main aim is… To describe how the world is urbanising, and at what rate - key patterns / trends. To use geographical language and specific examples. Key ideas and content… The world is becomingly increasingly urbanised. Change occurs in different regions at different times. To differentiate… Activities are mostly differentiated. This lesson could be made more collaborative in many areas to aid lower and middle ability students. Model answers for higher students using L and M resources.

GCSE Geography - Urban issues and challenges -Mumbai (population growth) A fully resourced and differentiated case study lesson. Students explore the pattern of Mumbai’s population growth and then use information to explain the growth in the context of rural-urban migration and natural increase. Whole lesson > Visual mind-map activity > Discussion prompts > Key ideas > Graph activities > Photo analysis > Exam style questions > Visual explainers > Class discussion > Learning evaluation > Summary activity > Homework > Lesson plan > Teacher notes > Fully resourced > Visually attractive and ready to teach! The main aim is… For students to describe the scale of population growth in their NEE case study of Mumbai. To explain the growth (link to rural-urban migration and natural increase) specific to Mumbai. To understand how rural-urban migration and natural increase are driving urbanisation in their city Key ideas and content… Rural – urban migration drives population growth Population growth drives natural increase Most migrants are young (natural increase) Mumbai is a dominant and important city which attracts migrants (rural-urban migration) The growth of Mumbai can be explained by a series of events in the history of the city Rural-urban migration and natural increase are linked NEE’s are likely to experience rapid urbanisation / population grown in cities because of their socio-economic contrasts To differentiate… Use the differentiated resources as appropriate. Include discussion prompts and time the lesson accordingly To extend… Students can peer assess / improve their exam questions or photo analysis answers. Change/adapt the exam style questions Students can develop their own questions with mark schemes. Higher ability should be given the opportunity to link the statements about Mumbai to one another To assess… The photo analysis offers some assessment opportunity if a focus is given to linking concept/theory to what’s happening in Mumbai The line/bar graphs aren’t suitable in terms of content, however as a skill they could be assessed for accuracy The exam style questions offer a summative assessment opportunity for the lesson.

The Geography of Autumn gives students the opportunity to explore the interaction between people & environment and the Autumn season. Students will apply atlas skills and explore interactions including: Autumn tourism, the impacts of global warming, animal migrations and cultural celebrations. This is a structured and visually attractive lesson where the outcome is an informative piece of display work or a booklet. There are several ways the work could be completed over a range of time scales.

Several differentiated activity sheets. Suitable for a range of abilities and learning styles. Teacher notes included. An attractive and sequenced piece of work showing the key stages in tropical storm formation. This resource will help in the teaching of tropical storm formation at a range of ages and abilities.

A fully resourced and differentiated case study lesson teaching students about the social opportunities (health and education) in Mumbai – linking the content to the characteristics of Mumbai, and the wider processes of rural-urban migration. Whole lesson > Key word starter > Discussion prompts > Key ideas > Comprehension / fact file task > Exam style questions > Class discussion > Learning evaluation > Summary activity > Mini plenary > Extension opportunities > Homework > Lesson plan > Teacher notes > Fully resourced > Visually attractive and ready to teach! The main aim is… For students to explore how Mumbai offers better social opportunities in terms of healthcare and education to it’s citizens and people migrating there. To apply specific information about healthcare and education in Mumbai. Key ideas and content… Mumbai offers social opportunities people cannot find in surrounding rural areas. Healthcare and education are both much more accessible in Mumbai than in surrounding rural areas. These opportunities drive rural-urban migration. To differentiate… Several resources have been differentiated so all students can take part in each activity. Paired and group work might be appropriate for the graph work. WAGOLLS and model answers for writing a comparison. Peer assess the plenary phone, using something such as two stars and a wish. To extend… Students could remove the Mumbai hospitals from the Maharashtra state total, and explain the significance of this upon rural-urban migration. Essentially this further proves the point about access to healthcare because Mumbai props Maharashtra up in terms of number of hospitals. Students could form sentences using the key terms from the starter. Instead of the plenary phone, students could write a formal letter allowing for more detail and application. Students could develop their own mark scheme for the exam style questions. To assess… Use the exam style questions or the discussion prompts. The plenary phone offers a mini-plenary assessment opportunity.

Includes a set of display bricks, a set of pairing cards and a matching activity sheet for students to fill in. These are the command words as dictated by AQA for the new GCSE geography specification.

The main aim is… This is an exam question answer planning tool. It was developed for lower ability students; to help them form an answer to a long exam question and to practise their exam technique. It is intended to help students see they do have the necessary understanding, but also answer the question correctly to achieve the higher marks. Key ideas and content… The students tackle an exam question in steps. The idea is the students have everything they need on the sheet in front of them, to help focus lower ability students and coach them in answering longer exam questions. Students can apply the same process to an actual exam. Students can develop their exam question technique (application of key terms, use of connectives, structure etc.) to access the higher marks. To differentiate… Work through the steps as a class, then allow the students to answer the actual question. If using a structure – give time for teach section (a minute per mark?). Before photocopying, provide subheadings to help students structure their answer. Several colour coded versions have been included to enable carousel activities / differentiated activities / group work etc. To extend… Higher ability students could write their own mark scheme for the question on the back. Attach SPaG marks. Use the sheet with the ‘structure’ box instead of the thought bubble. The students will have to draw the horizontal lines depending on the structure / number of paragraphs. Higher ability students could plan their answer on the lined graphic, and then write their actual answer on lined paper / on the back. To assess… Can be assessed by the teacher against the mark scheme. Provide students with a mark scheme and allow them to assess/see where the marks come from.

Wall chart with a step by step guide to sketching - aimed at GCSE geography but appropriate to KS3 as well. Print in A3. The full lesson is available at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/geography-geographical-skills-sketching-field-and-from-photos-11486934