Online Geography Resources Showcase

Complete Online Geography Courses

Complete IGCSE (Cambridge) Geography Course

geographyalltheway.com hosts a complete IGCSE Geography course split into three units: Population and Settlement, Natural Environments and Economic Development.

Visual and text resources, supported by interactive activities and worksheets build a complete set of IGCSE Geography notes for students. Most of the geographical material in the Complete IGCSE Geography Course is relevant to all GCSE level Geography courses.

Complete International Baccalaureate (IB) Geography Course

geographyalltheway.com hosts a complete IB Geography Course. The Core (Paper 1) units of Population, Resources and Development are covered plus the Optional Themes (Paper 2) of Drainage Basins and their Management, Ecosystems and Human Activity, Globalization and Topographic Maps.

Visual and text resources, supported by interactive activities and worksheets build a complete set of IB Geography notes for Higher and Standard Level students. This material can also be used for the teaching of many AS/A2 Geography courses.

Materials will be added to geographyalltheway.com to support the teaching of the new IB Geography syllabus, teaching of which will start in 2009 with the first examination in 2011. These resources will be developed in the IB Geography 2011 section of the site.

Geography Resource Mini - Sites

They said it would never happen again - Lynmouth and Boscastle Floods (Flood Hazards)

Resource mini-site designed for all age groups to study the causes and consequences of the 1952 Lynmouth Floods and the 2004 Boscastle Floods.

Walter Falls, the Talking Head character acts as a guide through the task which use the online resources and Google Earth overlays to look for similarities in the two flood events. Worksheets help the students to structure the students enquiry path.

The Great Wind Farm Debate (Energy Resources)

Resource mini-site based around the proposed development of a 4 turbine wind farm in South Wales, United Kingdom.

Online resources and Google Earth overlays help students to prepare their input for a debate which the mini-site structures. A Talking Head character introduces the resources in both Welsh and English.

Volcano Ski (Volcanoes and Tourism)

Resource mini-site based upon the proposal for a new ski lift at one of Mt Etna's ski resorts. Students review the area's tectonic activity and it's historic impacts before deciding whether to invest in the new lift or not.

Volcanic tectonic processes are revised along with the idea that understanding the past is the key to understanding future tectonic activity.

Niagara Tours (Fluvial Landforms)

This whole resource mini-site is based around the idea of students being interviewed for a job as a tour guide at Niagara Falls.

Brian Cascade, a Talking Head character, interviews the students. Links are provided to aid the students' interview preparation. There is also the facility to type in your own interview questions for Brian to ask.

Seaside Tours (Coastal Landforms and Processes)

This mini-site works in a similar way to the Niagara Tours one, describe above. Students are interviewed for the position of a tour guide of Selwick Bay which is just north of Flamborough Head on the East Yorkshire coastline, UK.

Sandy Castle, a Talking Head character, interviews the students. Links and specially taken images are provided to help the students prepare for their interviews.

Examples of Geographical Mysteries

Mystery Ghost Ship (Migration)

A yacht with 11 dead bodies aboard has been found drifting off the coast of Barbados. The students must help solve the mystery of who these people were, where they came from and where they were going.

Text and visual sources are provided along with a detailed Google Earth overlay to help the students formulate their theories. This mystery is based upon real news stories.

Greetings from Hallsands (Coastal Processes and Management)

Ms. Charlotte Houston wants to visit her relatives' house in the village of Hallsands but isn't being allowed by the local council. Students must explain to Ms. Houston why she isn't allowed.

This geographical mystery, mentioned in the Guardian newspaper, is based upon the real events in the village of Hallsands that was destroyed by the sea. The end point of this lesson lends itself to be being either written or an audio recording.

The Spiny Cactus Bar Murder (Migration and Globalization)

There has been a fight in an American bar. Eduardo Sierra, an illegal Mexican migrant has been murdered. Students assist Captain McGuiness to solve the case. Who did it and why?

Text sources and a Google Earth overlay help the students to formulate their theories and charge one of the suspects with the crime.

Examples of Google Earth Based Activities

Longitude and Latitude using Google Earth (Geographical Skills)

A Key Stage 3 Geography lesson to teach the geographical skill of using Longitude and Latitude to find a location on the Earth's surface.

Google Earth placemarks are used with Google Earth's Longitude and Latitude grid (Hint: press Ctrl + L) to practice the necessary skills.

Google Earth can also be used to complete the plenary task of working out the identity of the mystery person!

Limestone Landscapes using Google Earth (Rock Type and Landscapes)

Limestone Landscapes and associated landforms are covered via a Google Earth Tour of the area around Malham in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, United Kingdom.

A worksheet supports the students' note-taking and enquiry path, plus various revision and plenary excercises.

Settlement Function and Patterns using Google Earth (Key Stage 3 Settlements)

A Key Stage 3 Geography lesson that uses Google Earth to illustarte various settlement patterns by using real life examples viewed on the virtual globe.

Students categorize a set of settlements provided by a set of Google Earth placemarks.

Examples of Detailed Geographical Case Studies

Afghanistan Refugee Crisis Case Study (Migration)

An AS / A2 / IB Geography level case study of a refugee crisis focused upon Afghanistan. Movements due to conflict and drought are covered plus the consequences for the country of origin and destination. Refugees and Internally Displaced People (ISPs) are covered by this case study.

Various sources are linked to including timelines, news reports and videos. A worksheet and series of tasks structures the students notes and therefore ensures a quality outcome.

Volcanic Hazard Management - Mount Rainier, USA Case Study (Tectonic Hazards)

A GCSE / IGCSE Geography level case study of volcanic hazard management on and around Mount Rainier, United States of America.

Online text resources, images and Google Earth overlays help students look at the way volcanic hazards can be managed in a more economically developed country (MEDC).

Earthquake in an MEDC Case Study - Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake, 2007 (Tectonic Hazards)

A GCSE / IGCSE Geography resource that takes students through a step by step process takes builds of a case study about the Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake 2007.

The case study is built upon an outline map of Japan and helps students develop the important skills of sketch map production and quality diagram annotation.

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