Brecon Geography

Map Skills Assessment

2010-01-03T13:11:00.003Z

All year 7 pupils have to complete an assessment whereby they draw an A3 map of their route to school.

The map needs to include key features such as:

Compass Rose
Map Synbols and Key
Grid Lines
Scale
It could show land height
The route to school needs to be clearly marked on

All of the A3 paper provided needs to be covered. The work needs to be neatly presented as this is an important assessment.

Alongside the map pupils need to write a detailed description of their route to school.

If you have any questions, please come and see your Geography Teacher.

Good luck.

Hurricane Assignment

2010-01-03T12:57:00.003Z

All year 8 pupils have to undertake the task of producing an annotated sketch map of Cyclone Nargis May 2008.

The format for this piece of work is as follows:

You must have a sketch map showing the route of the cyclone in the centre of your A3 paper. (This MUST be hand drawn) - you can access lots of maps online for you to base your sketch on.

You then muct inlcude the following information around your sketch map (HAND WRITTEN):

a) how the cyclone formed
b) a written description of the track of the cyclone
c) facts about the cyclone intensity

d) information on the effects of the cyclone (you could categorise this further into social, economic and environmental)

e) information on how the areas affected coped with the cyclone - what did the people do?

f) information on what the countries have done to try and reduce the damage of future cyclone events

In any gaps on the paper you can print of images from the internet and stick them on.

This piece of work is an important assessment and so it is vital that it is completed to the highest standard.

If you need any further help please come and see your Geography Teacher

Good Luck.

Brecon High School Land Use

2009-09-30T15:53:00.000+01:00

View Larger Map

Congratulations

2009-08-28T10:21:00.002+01:00

Huge congratulations to all Geography students sitting examinations this summer.
You have all done incredibly well and I am very pleased for you.

A2: 2 A grades, 5 B grades

AS: 2 A grades, 4 C grades, 2 D grades, 2 E grades

GCSE?: 1 A* grade, 11 A grades, 7 B grades, 10 C grades,
7 D grades, 1 E grade, 3 F grades, and 1 G grade

I am very pleased with these results. All your hard work has paid off - Well done all.

Predicted Sea Level Rise Animation

2009-06-12T06:30:00.000+01:00

2009-06-12T06:23:00.003+01:00

Congratulations to all the GCSE and A Level Geographers at Brecon High School.
Your examinations are now over and you have the summer to relax.

For information, the Examination Results Dates are as Follows:

AS and A Level Thursday 20th August 2009
GCSE Thursday 27th August 2009

Lets hope all your hard work has paid off!!!

Footloose Industry 2

2009-06-09T05:42:00.001+01:00

Below is a powerpoint based upon the footloose industry found along the M4 corridor. It goes into more detail regarding the case study of the Aztec West Science Park.
With thanks to Tudorgeog.

Footloose Industry 2

View more OpenOffice presentations from tudorgeog.

Hurricane Katrina

2009-06-04T07:15:00.004+01:00

HURRICANE KATRINA

The 6th strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23rd during the 2005 hurricane season, travelling over the Gulf of Mexico, via Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi,

As the initial low-pressure system passed over the Caribbean islands it lost energy, which it then regained whilst passing over the Gulf of Mexico, with the system becoming a hurricane. It reached its peak strength on August 28th 2005

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

FLORIDA (25 August) – The initial stages

Winds hit 80mph and rainfall was very heavy (exceeding 14 inches in places) and there was a storm surge of 3-5 feet causing significant damage

LOUISIANA and NEW ORLEANS(August 29)

80% of New Orleans and the surrounding area is below sea level and the relief is very flat, especially the land alsonside Lake Pontchartrain. The area is drained by the Mississippi and the cities are located on the floodplains.

The initial prediction was for a storm surge that would be greater than 28 feet which would go over the levees that were in place to protect the city from flooding

On August 29 the inevitable happened and a storm surge broke the levee protection flooding most of the city, and canals allowed water to flow from the lake into low areas of the city.

In Louisiana, wind speeds hit 125 miles per hour and there was a storm surge of approximately 12 foot in Grand Isle.

There was also heavy rainfall of 8-10 inches in the east and 15 inches around the area of Slidell which contributed to a storm surge and caused lake Pontchartrain to rise

It was the eye of the hurricane that passed over New Orleans.

Here, the high winds and storm surges greatly weakened the city’s levee system and caused huge failures of the levees and flood walls protecting both New Orleans and Louisiana.

The major levee failures in the city included the 17th street canal levee, the London Avenue canal and the industrial canal, leaving 80% of the city flooded, as well as the Mississippi Gulf Outlet breaching its levees in over 20 places which substantially contributed to the flooding of New Orleans.

The quality of housing also contributed to the amount of destruction as the houses were typically made of wood and built on stilts, which would topple very easily

MISSISSIPPI (29 August)

There was sustained winds of 120 mph contributing to a storm surge of 27 foot, that penetrated up to 12 miles inland along bays and rivers. This was accompanied by heavy rains of 8-10 inches which greatly contributed to flooding in the area

THE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
Environmental
Sustained strong winds
Torrential rainfall
Flooding (storm surge of 6 metres)
Localised tornadoes
landslides
Flooded roughly 80% of the city.
1.3 million acres of forest lands in Mississippi were destroyed
Wildlife killed
The storm surge caused substantial beach erosion - Dauphin Island was pushed closer towards land. The lands that were lost were also breeding grounds for marine mammals, turtles and fish as well as migratory species

Social
1200 Deaths
1 million Homeless
Riots and Lootings
Suicide

Economic
Katrina is estimated to be responsible for $75 billion in damages
Hundreds of thousands of local residents were left unemployed
Katrina redistributed New Orleans’s population across the southern United States. Houston, Texas saw an increase of 35,000 people
Buildings destroyed
In Mississippi, 90% of the structures within half a mile of the coastline were completely destroyed.
Infrastructure destroyed
Almost 900,000 people in Louisiana lost power.
Crops destroyed

SECONDARY, LONG TERM EFFECTS
Economic crisis – jobs, lack of money, deprivation
Potential food shortages – if crop supplies destroyed
Potential Disease outbreak – cholera and typhoid
Mental health issues – depression and suicide

Jane and Joe do Volcanoes

2009-06-01T17:25:00.001+01:00

Thanks GeoDave from the SLN for sharing that with us. I'm sure pupils will find it very useful.

Revision Help

2009-05-30T13:10:00.000+01:00

To all Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 pupils who are revising hard for their Geography exams.
If you require any help with the the revision over the holidays please leave me a question using the comment facility below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Remember to use this time wisely. It is not long now until your examinations begin.
Good Luck

GCSE Examination Dates 2009
Paper One - Tuesday 2nd June
Paper Two - Tuesday 9th June

AS Examination Dates 2009
G1 and G2 - Tuesday 19th May

A2 Examination Dates 2009
GG4 - Friday 5th June
GG5 - Thursday 18th June

For the GCSE Geographers out there here is a very useful page that outlines key geography revision with lots of downloadable help sheets. Take a look - it will be worth it and here is a really useful page to practice exam skills; including some downloadable quick advice sheets on mapwork, using photographs, using graphs and tables etc. Have a look and practice using the questions and markschemes provided. Good luck!

Global Spread of Swine Flu

2009-05-28T12:24:00.005+01:00

The global swine flu death toll reached 100 with one new fatality reported in the United States and four more in Mexico, the two countries where the first outbreaks were reported. Prior to the latest North American deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) had reported the global toll at 95, with 13,398 people in 48 countries infected with the A(H1N1) virus since it was first uncovered last month. In Chicago, a second swine flu death was reported by officials, bringing the US toll to 15.

Mexico's four fatalities raised the country's toll to 89 with 100 new infections reported, bringing the total to 4,821, the health ministry said. Around the world, efforts to control the disease continued as new cases were discovered.

Two more countries, the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean and South America's Uruguay, each reported their first two confirmed cases of swine flu, raising the number of countries with cases to 50. Chile confirmed 119 cases late Tuesday, making it by far the South American country most affected by the outbreak. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador have also reported cases.

In Canada, the number of people infected with swine flu soared past the 1,000 mark with 197 new cases confirmed Wednesday, according to health officials. Canada now has 1,118 total A(H1N1) cases, including two deaths. The country has the largest number of infections after Mexico and the United States. Elsewhere, services continued to slowly return to something approaching normalcy.

In Mexico, cruise ships began calling at Cozumel after a one-month hiatus. Australia, meanwhile, slapped tough measures on cruise ships docking in Sydney in a bid to stop the spread of the disease. Under the new rules, all cruise liners docking in Sydney will be treated as potential swine flu sites and passengers will be held on board until the ship is cleared. Australia's restrictions came with the A(H1N1) virus spreading further throughout Asia.

But the WHO has so far resisted declaring the disease a full-fledged pandemic.
The outbreak has spread further in Asia, with Singapore confirming its first case and Hong Kong, where Asia's first infection sparked a week-long quarantine of around 300 guests and staff at a city hotel, announced a fresh total of 10. Japan has seen a rapid rise in confirmed cases, saying Wednesday it had over 350.

In Europe, Romania announced its first confirmed infection in a woman who returned from New York on May 23 with her two young children. Greece reported its third swine flu case as health officials called a fresh emergency meeting, while stressing the situation was under "complete control."

Besides the human toll, Mexico's economy has taken a deep hit from the virus. Mexican restaurant owners said that some 6,500 eateries remained definitively closed due to losses made during the swine flu epidemic, shedding more than 55,000 jobs.
Almost half of those forced to close were in the sprawling capital, where the government ordered all restaurants to shut temporarily at the height of the epidemic, the national chamber of the restaurant industry said.

Tsunami Alert Called Off

2009-05-28T12:19:00.002+01:00

A tsunami watch in place for three Central American countries after a 7.1 magnitude quake struck off Honduras has been called off.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the danger of a tsunami hitting Belize, Guatemala and Honduras had now passed.
The powerful quake hit 64km (39 miles) north-east of Roatan on Honduras' Isles de la Bahia in the Caribbean Sea, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
There were no immediate reports of major damage or mass casualties.
The quake struck at 0324 local time (0824 GMT) at a relatively shallow depth of 10km(six miles).
Tremors were felt in dozens of cities across the region and as far north as Cancun in Mexico, the USGS said.
People in Guatemala City ran into the streets in their pyjamas, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The Pacific Warning Center in Hawaii said that the danger of a major tsunami wave hitting the coastlines of nearby countries had now passed.
But it warned that boats and coastal structures could still be affected by rapid currents caused by the quake.

Year 7 and Year 8 Exams - Study Guides

2009-05-27T14:47:00.003+01:00

Year 7
Physical and Human Geography - the differences
Map Skills (Symbols, Grid References, Distances, Land Height, Direction)
Longitude and Latitude
The Geography of Wales and the UK (Rivers, Mountains, National Parks, Cities)
Settlement Patterns and Change
Transport Change
Industrial Change

Year 8
Features of a Drainage Basin
Meanders and Waterfalls
River Flooding
Watercycle
Recording the Weather
Rainfall Types
Climate Graphs
Anticyclones and Depressions
Growth of the Tourist Industry
Benefits and Problems of Tourism

You will have the one lesson to complete the exam.
Remember your mark goes on your end of year report along with the class average.
Best of luck to you all.
Enjoy the rest of the half term.

Disney - just for fun

2009-05-10T17:15:00.000+01:00

Year 13 Coursework

2009-05-08T21:12:00.002+01:00

Congratulations to all the Year 13 Geographers for doing so well with their coursework!
See, I knew you could do it. All your hard work has paid off!
Everybody scored at least 40 out of 50 and are now set to achieve their predicted A and B grades!!
Well done all once again!

Examination Command Words

2009-04-13T09:05:00.000+01:00

Examination Command Words

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Study Guides, Notes, School Work

GCSE Case Studies

2009-04-13T09:04:00.001+01:00

GCSE Case Studies

Publish at Scribd or explore others: School Work

How climate change could affect the future of London

2009-04-07T11:37:00.007+01:00

Posted using ShareThis">

Click here for a link to the slideshow.

With thanks to Katie Scott for producing this slideshow.

Italian Earthquake

2009-04-07T11:13:00.005+01:00

At least 90 people are believed dead and tens of thousands homeless after an earthquake hit L'Aquila and other towns in central Italy, rescuers say.
About 1,500 people were injured and many people are still missing as rescuers search desperately for survivors trapped beneath rubble.
The 6.3-magnitude quake struck at 0330 (0130 GMT) close to L'Aquila.

Click here for the full BBC news report and video footage

It is also interesting that suggestions say this earthquake was predicted yet the warnings were ignored. Click here to find out more.

G1 Revision Guide

2009-04-07T11:02:00.001+01:00

G1 Examination Guide

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Study Guides, Notes, School Work guide Study Guide

Year 13 Revision Checklist

2009-04-07T10:30:00.000+01:00

GG5 Case Study Checklist

Publish at Scribd or explore others: School Work research study

GCSE Revision Checklist

2009-04-07T09:02:00.002+01:00

GCSE GEOGRAPHY REVISION CHECKLIST

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Study Guides, Notes, School Work wjec gcse revision c

Mount St Helens and Pyroclastic Flows

2009-03-28T08:31:00.001Z

An excellent video from the BBC explaining how pyroclastic flows actually kill people and it also includes real time footage of the Mount St Helen's eruption of 1980. An excellent video providing further information on a popular case study.

Energy Conservation For The Individual

2009-03-24T15:54:00.004Z

Global Rich List

2009-03-21T14:43:00.001Z

Every year we gaze enviously at the lists of the richest people in world.
Wondering what it would be like to have that sort of cash. But where
would you sit on one of those lists? Click here for your chance to find out.

Volcanic Eruptions in Tonga

2009-03-21T14:32:00.002Z

An undersea volcano is erupting in the Tonga islands, shooting clouds of volcanic smoke, steam, and ash thousands of feet into the sky above the South Pacific ocean.
Authorities said Thursday the volcanic eruption does not pose any danger to Tonga islanders at this stage, and there have been no reports of fish or other animals being affected.
Spectacular columns are spewing out of the sea about 6 miles from Tonga's main island of Tongatapu—an area where up to 36 undersea volcanoes are clustered, geologists said.
Trade winds continued to blow volcanic gas and steam away from the island Thursday.
Taniela Faletau, deputy commander of the Tonga police force, said coastal villages close to the roiling ocean site were not yet at risk from the volcanic eruption. No warnings have been issued.
Coastal residents said the volcanic steam and ash column first appeared on Monday morning, after a series of sharp earthquakes were felt in Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa.
The underwater volcanic eruption was taking place near the low-lying twin volcanic islands of Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai, within sight of Nuku'alofa.
Large amounts of pumice thrown up by the volcanic eruption would likely clog beaches on the southern coast of the nearby Fiji Islands within a short time, Mafi said.
Tonga, a 170-island archipelago about halfway between Australia and Tahiti, is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire—an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones stretching from Chile in South America through Alaska and down through Vanuatu to Tonga.

Well Done Year 12

2009-03-12T16:50:00.001Z

Huge congratulations to the Year 12 Geographers art BHS. Your module results for the G2 paper (Demographic and Settlement Change)are fantastic. I am really pleased! The hard work has paid off!
3A's
2B's
3C's
2D's
1E

Global Warming - An Alternative View

2009-03-02T06:10:00.001Z

About Me

2009-02-28T11:57:00.003Z

If you want to know a little bit more about 'Me' then take a little look at the Aberystwyth University Geography Newsletter. I've contributed a little something and I hope you all enjoy.

Year 10 Mock Examination

2009-02-20T16:19:00.003Z

Wednesday February 25th 2009 - Mid Morning

Topics include:
Weathering and Limestone Scenery
River processes and landforms (must know one of the followng diagrams - Waterfall or Meander/Oxbow Lake)
Glacial processes and landforms (must know one of the followng diagrams - Corrie/Pyramidal Peak or Ribbon Lake)
Weather Calculations
Rainfall Types
Air Pressure System Characteristics
Hazards associated with Air Pressure Systems - Causes, Consequences and Management
Energy Types and their associated problems and benefits
Factors affecting the location of one of the following: HEP Stations/Windfarms

Good luck to all pupils. Remember your individual targets. Everyone should be aiming for at least 50%.

GCSE Geography Options

2009-02-11T22:50:00.000Z

New Gcse Geography

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

SlideShare Link

With thanks to Jo Blackmore of Great Geography for sharing this presentation with me.

Eden Channel - New

2009-02-11T22:22:00.004Z

EDEN, A fantastic new channel on Sky TV. It launched on January 26th 2009 and is showing many brilliant documentaries that will help you develop a wider geographical and ecological understanding.

Documentaries include:
• Adventures in architecture
• Dying for Everest
• Expedition Borneo
• Planet Earth
• Sahara with Michael Palin• Blizzard: Race to the Pole
• Edge of Existence
• Galapagos
• Ray Mears Bushcraft
• Tribal Wives
• Dinosaurs
• Everest Season
• Himalaya
• Ray Mears Goes Walkabout
• Tribe with Bruce Parry

There is also a wealth of knowledge available here on all things geography - be it places, landforms. tectonic and climatic events, ecosystems and geology.

Take a look for yourself.

Kung Fu Plate Boundaries

2009-02-11T22:16:00.004Z

A very alternative way of looking at the tectonic plate boundaries.

With thanks to Odblogs and Adam Brewer (and Jo Blackmore for bringing it to my attention)

Nature's Great Events - BBC 6 Part Series

2009-02-11T21:56:00.003Z

David Attenborough is delivering yet another new series about the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on our planet.

The first of which is called 'The Great Melt' and it is about the summer melt of Arctic ice, opening up nearly three million square miles of ocean and land, providing opportunities for millions of animals, including beluga whales, families of Arctic foxes, vast colonies of seabirds, and the fabled Arctic unicorn and the narwhal. However, for polar bears, it is the toughest time of year. Why? How will they survive?

The series airs every Wednesday evening for 6 weeks on BBC1 at 9:00pm, beginning Wednesday February 11th 2009. It is also repeated on a Sunday, beginning Sunday 15th February 2009, on BBC1 at 6:00pm.

For an overview of the entire series click here.

Titles in the series include:
1. The Great Melt

2. The Great Salmon Run - The return of the Pacific salmon every year to the rivers from which they were born is one of the greatest natural events on the planet. More than 500 million salmon travel up to 20,000 miles to return to the exact patch of gravel in the river from which they were born, to spawn and die.

3. The Great Migration - Each year more than one million wildebeest and a quarter of a million zebra and gazelle migrate on Tanzania's Serengeti Plains – one of the most spectacular events in the natural world.

4. The Great Tide - As winter arrives along South Africa's east coast the inshore waters cool, drawing hundreds of millions of sardines northwards.

5. The Great Flood - At the peak of the dry season in the Kalahari Desert herds of elephants trek towards a life-saving event.

6. The Great Feast - In the north-east Pacific, along the coastal waters of Alaska and British Columbia, the arrival of the summer sun triggers an explosion of plant life greater in scale than even the Amazon rainforest

Watch and see the interactions between plants and animals within their ecosystems and see how the ecosystems are being forced to change/adapt for various reasons.

See a write up on the series from the Telegraph newspaper here.

Rainforest Assessment

2009-02-11T19:24:00.004Z

Year 9 pupils are currently completing their rainforest assessment where they have to produce a booklet on the rainforest.

Suggested content includes:
• Where are the rainforests?
• What are rainforests and its inhabitants like?
• What is the climate like in the rainforest?
• Why are rainforests shrinking?
• What are the consequences of deforestation?
• How can the rate of deforestation be reduced?/How can rainforests be used sustainably?

The front cover must be in poster format.
It needs to be presented in either A4 or A5 format with at between 3 - 5 sides of text (Font size: no bigger than size 14).

Use websites such as:
Save the Rainforest

The rainforest Foundation
Rainforest Web
The Rainforest Alliance
World Wildlife Fund
Blue Planet Biomes
Enchanted Learning

The G Word - Emirates Advert

2009-02-09T18:23:00.002Z

Thanks to Jo Blackmore for bringing this to my attention

COURSEWORK DEADLINES

2009-02-09T18:16:00.002Z

Can I please remind ALL Year 11 and Year 13 Geography pupils that their coursework must be completed and handed in to Mr Llewellyn or Myself by end of school on Friday February 13th 2009.
Thank you.

Documentary: Homeless in the UK

2009-02-01T20:37:00.001Z

Favelas of Brazil

2009-01-26T18:41:00.001Z

The Big Picture

2009-01-21T19:41:00.003Z

The Earth Observatory is a website run by NASA's Earth Observing System Project Science Office (EOSPSO). Bringing together imagery from many different satellites and astronaut missions, the website publishes fantastic images with highly detailed descriptions, feature articles and more. Gathered here are some standout photographs from the collections in the Earth Observatory over the past several years. For even more photographs, click here.

Deforestation Consequences

2009-01-18T20:07:00.000Z

Sustainable Cities

2009-01-18T20:01:00.001Z

To all my year 13 pupils out there I would suggest you take the time to watch this video. It lasts an hour but it is full of relevant information.

Tourism in Wales

2009-01-18T19:51:00.001Z

squatter settlements

2009-01-18T19:47:00.001Z

Geography Matters

2009-01-18T18:46:00.002Z

With thanks to David Rayner for producing this excellent video.

Urban Earth

2009-01-18T16:29:00.001Z

“In 2008, the world reaches an invisible but momentous milestone: For the first time in history, more than half its human population, 3.3 billion people, will be living in urban areas. By 2030, this is expected to swell to almost 5 billion. Many of the new urbanites will be poor. Their future, the future of cities in developing countries, the future of humanity itself, all depend very much on decisions made now in preparation for this growth.” Watch these videos as they follow transects through major urban centres from around the world.

Watercycle Rap

2009-01-18T15:45:00.000Z

GCSE: Map Skills Revision

2009-01-18T12:11:00.010Z

Map Skills

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

SlideShare Link

With thanks to Mark Cowan for sharing this very useful resource

Super volcanoes

2009-01-17T11:44:00.004Z

Yellowstone National Park in the USA is one of the best known locations of super volcanoes on the planet.

At Brecon High School we are lucky enough to have Dr John Grattan of the University of Aberystwyth come visit year 12 and year 13 students on February 9th 2009, to share his knowledge of super volcanoes. We look forward to his visit.

Tagging Game

2009-01-13T19:20:00.006Z

It seems that I have been tagged by Jo Blackmore (aka GreatGeography) for a blogging "game". The idea is that I tell you, BreconGeography readers, seven things you didn't know about me! So here goes...

1) I have two gorgeous kittens called Bart and Homer and they are very similar to their namesakes. Bart (Grey) is very mischevious whilst Homer (Blonde) is just plain dull.

2) I went on a fieldtrip to New York City when in my second year at Aberystwyth University and we stumbled upon the filming of Sex and the City. I saw Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and the chap who plays Mr Big. To top it all off, the director told me to 'stop loitering'.

3) I have an unhealthy obsession with white chocolate - now it has to be Nestle Milkybar, not Cadburys Dream or any of the cheap, nasty stuff! I don't know what it is, but there definitely is a marked difference.
4) My all time favourite film has to be Dirty Dancing (I know, it's sad...) I can recall the script from start to finish..."That was the summer of 1963 etc etc etc..."
5) Before becoming a teacher I worked at Next in Cardiff and I was shoe and accessory (handbags, purses, belts, purfume...) manager on Ladieswear.
6) It is my daily ritual that I watch at least two episodes of Friends every night whilst in bed with a cup of tea - it is my kind of wind down!
7) I am a rollercoaster enthusiast although I am very annoyed with myself for chickening out on Speed at Oakwood - very unlike me it has to be said!

Unfortunately, everybody I would want to tag has already been tagged so for the time being, this is a dead end. Sorry fellow taggers.

Instead I am going to ask pupils to leave a comment detailing their own 7 facts about themselves. Should make interesting reading.

G3b: Themes and Topics for July 2010 Examination

2009-01-12T16:08:00.001Z

Themes

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

GIS Missions

2009-01-10T20:49:00.003Z

Click here to take you to the various missions.
There are various missions available on:
• Wind farm location
• Farm management
• Flood damage control
• Crime stoppers
• Shopping for profit
• Control and command
Have a go at them and imporve your geographical awareness at the same time.

Year Eight Test: Rivers and Flooding

2009-01-10T11:44:00.004Z

Revision topics:

• The four types of weathering
• The four agents of erosion
• Features of a river basin
• Formation of a waterfall and a meander
• River flooding - causes and consequences
• Methods of flood prevention
• Case study on river flooding

You will be awarded a percentage grade!

If you need any help with your revision please see your geography teacher or myself.

Good luck.

Good Luck Year 12

2009-01-10T11:40:00.004Z

I just wanted to wish all pupils good luck with the exams on monday morning!
Remember - do not panic you can only do your best.
If you have any last minute questions you can either leave a comment on this blog and I'll get back to you or come and see me on monday morning. I will be in from 8:00am just in case.
Remember - learn your case studies and try to be as place specific as possible with your answers.
Good luck guys and gals - I'll be thinking of you

G2 Revision Content - Exam 12/01/2009

2009-01-04T14:26:00.000Z

As Mock Examination

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

Animals Save the Planet

2009-01-04T13:28:00.005Z

Click here to go to the website

Planet Earth Online

2009-01-04T13:25:00.001Z

Planet Earth Online

A fantastic resource from the Natural Environment Research Council full of relevant articles for years 12 and 13.

2009-01-04T13:09:00.003Z

Revision Classes Schedule 2009

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Business US Federal online training

Where's Santa?

2008-12-01T05:57:00.003Z

'NORAD tracks Santa' goes live at 11am on 1st December at where you can find new games and activities every day leading up to Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve, get up-to-the-minute reports and streaming videos from key stops on Santa's trip around the world. Google software will output live images from NORAD's high-speed digital “Santa Cams," and Google Maps and Google Earth will follow Santa as he travels around the world.

With thanks to Joanna Blackmore for bringing this site to my attention

Las Vegas - A Thirsty City?

2008-11-30T11:48:00.003Z

Las Vegas is world-renowned as a city of fantasy, flaunting its reputation for excess. It appears a green oasis of refrigerated plenty, set in a blazing desert. But environmentalists warn water supplies could run dry within the next 50 years; while urban sprawl is out of control and development is encroaching on protected areas. Click here for the full BBC story

However, the important question that needs to be asked is how sustainable is Las Vegas? Should the city be the size it is considering its physical location? What about its use of electricity? You can see the glowing city at night from space? Think about the excess heat being emitted?

Dubai' Atlantis Palm Resort - A mega structure or a mega disaster?

2008-11-30T09:56:00.009Z

Where is Dubai?

What is Dubai Like?

Atlantis - the Palm Resort

Atlantis - the Palm Resort in Dubai is the majestic focal point of Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island that has captured the world’s imagination with its magnificent scale and ingenuity. From the moment of arrival, you’re immersed in a dazzling world of imagination, pleasure and luxury. The resort offers relaxation and thrills for couples and families alike, including a landmark hotel, unique marine habitats, an exhilarating water park, pristine white beaches, world-class cuisine, indulgent spa and cosmopolitan boutiques. To stay or visit is to live out your dreams amidst warm Arabian seas.

Dubai is a place where the world's best architects compete to create the most impressive buildings. Atlantis - the Palm Resort, cost $1.5bn to construct and is the latest expression of the emirate's desire to attract tourists and to maintain the flow of foreign currency.

There are 1,539 rooms, including the Bridge Suite, which unites the two wings of the complex above an arch and will cost £14,000 a night. There is almost a mile of beach; 2 massive pools and a large aquarium featuring stingray, dolphins and sharks. By 2009 the hotel will have its own monorail stop, linking it to the Palm Jumeirah and downtown Dubai.

The key question is how sustainable is Atlantis? If the 20 million pound firework display is anything to go by, not very. Already, pressure is growing to release the 4m Whale Shark from its aquarium. See the story here

You can see from the rest of these pictures that Dubai aspires to be the biggest and the best!

Dubai is currently constructing what will be the world's tallest builing - The Burjdubai. No exact deatils ahve yet been announced as to the actual height of the tower as a means of preventing competition from other countries.

With thanks to Liz Smith for the links to the video

Train tracks to link Asian nations

2008-11-30T09:37:00.003Z

Train lovers and travel nuts have long had a dream of going from Europe to Singapore by rail.
The journey to the East goes well as far as China, and the upgrading of tracks - sometimes with high-speed trains - is easing passage as far as Hong Kong.
From then on south, the rail buff, and potential cargo carriers, must wait just a few more years.
From south China into South East Asia is a bigger leap than it looks on the map - and not only for trains. Read on at the BBC.

Flat Vs Round? And Still The Debate Goes On...

2008-11-30T09:22:00.002Z

In the 21st Century, the term "flat-earther" is used to describe someone who is spectacularly - and seemingly wilfully - ignorant. But there is a group of people who claim they believe the planet really is flat. Are they really out there or is it all an elaborate prank?

Farm subsidies - a necessary evil?

2008-11-30T09:18:00.002Z

Over the last few years, agriculture ministers have been working to dismantle the system of paying farmers subsidies for the food they produce known as the Common Agricultural Policy, or CAP. The BBC discusses further.

Amazon Deforestation Accelerates

2008-11-30T09:15:00.002Z

The destruction of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil has accelerated for the first time in four years, Brazilian officials say.
Satellite images show 11,968 sq km of land was cleared in the year to July, nearly 4% higher than the year before.

Virtual worlds with real purposes

2008-11-30T09:05:00.006Z

Does the idea of having a virtual you following the real you around seem rather strange?

Well it's becoming a reality.

But the creation of a virtual Berlin lets people be in two places at the same time - as 20km of the city has been faithfully replicated into an online world. By the end of 2008, 50,000 buildings in the German capital are expected to have been copied into the virtual world. Twinity's Berlin, which it calls a "metaverse" has been created by taking pictures of the city and using them to build 3D facades.

Joining Berlin soon is London where another company is re-creating the city not just based on reality, but mapping it by inch-for-inch. Near Global is launching in 2009 with the promise to offer the most accurate 3D version of a city ever produced as a virtual world.

Mount St Helen's Song

2008-11-30T08:58:00.003Z

With thanks to Joanna Blackmore for bringing this video to my attention. Not only is it educational but it is a bit of fun as well. Enjoy boys and girls!

Amazon Rainforest

2008-11-23T17:43:00.003Z

Watch this video and consider your 5 senses:

What would you be able to see in the rainforest?
What would you be able to hear in the rainforest?
What would you be able to touch in the rainforest?
What would you be able to smell in the rainforest?
What would you be able to taste in the rainforest?

World Population Clock

2008-11-23T17:36:00.004Z

Geography Mock GCSE Exam Topic Tips

2008-11-18T18:56:00.002Z

Pupils must revise the followng topics:

Weathering
River Processes and Landforms (including annotated diagrams)
River Flooding (causes, effects, methods of flood prevention - include case study)
Glacial Processes and Landforms
Weather variables, instruments and units of measurements
Climatic calculations
Three types of rainfall (Relief, Frontal and Convectional - include diagram)
Factors affecting climate
Weather systems i.e. anticyclones and depressions (to include hurricanes as an intense low pressure system)
Renewable and non renewable energy (case study oil exploitation and windfarms)
The greenhouse effect and global warming
Sustainable energy use
Industrial employment change
Primary (farming), secondary (iron/steel and hi tech), tertiary (tourism and retail)

2010 hope for wave energy project

2008-11-17T17:44:00.003Z

The world's largest wave energy project could be up and running off the UK coast in two years' time.
Wave Hub - which will be installed 10 miles off Hayle on the north coast of Cornwall - is a giant seabed "electric socket" connected by cable to the National Grid. It will enable the pre-commercial testing of wave energy devices on a scale not seen before. Click here for more information.

UN warning on brown pollution haze

2008-11-17T17:30:00.002Z

A massive mile-thick brown pollution haze has settled over vast areas of the planet, changing weather patterns and threatening health and crops, according to the UN.
Vast areas of Asia, the Middle East, southern Africa and the Amazon Basin, are affected by the smog-like plumes, caused mainly by the burning of fossil fuels and firewood, are known as "atmospheric brown clouds". Read more here.

Ordinance Survey Games

2008-11-13T06:42:00.003Z

Mystery Island

After finding the treasure, Eric's boat got swept away by tides and storms, eventually washing ashore with the boat broken and the treasure nowhere in sight. The mysterious island he's on hs obstacles blocking his way, and the inhabitants seem to speak in strange symbols. Can you help Eric solve the problems and find a way off the island?

Treasure Hunt

Eric's found notes in his grandad's diary about rumours of buried treasure, along with a map of some nearby islnds and a clue on a scrap of paper. But other treasure hunters have now heard the rumours, and a high tide's due to cover most of the area, so time's running out!

The Squirrel's Nuts

Hangman game, the Squirrel's Nuts! Can you help the Ordnance Survey squirrel keep his acorns for the winter? Simply work out the hidden geography related words, or he loses them. See how many answers you can get right.

GEOSPY

2008-11-13T06:38:00.003Z

Test your Geosmarts and become a Geospy agent by identifying countries, states and continents.

World Landmark Puzzles

2008-11-13T06:35:00.001Z

Follow the link and find out about famouns landmarks situated all over the world.
Click on the individual pictures and have a go at the associated puzzle.
Good luck.

Bone Marrow 'Cures Aids patient'

2008-11-13T06:30:00.001Z

Doctors in Germany say a patient appears to have been cured of Aids by a bone marrow transplant from a donor who had a genetic resistance to HIV. Read on here to find out more.

African free trade zone is agreed

2008-11-13T06:16:00.003Z

The leaders of three African trading blocs on Wednesday agreed to create a free trade zone of 26 countries with a GDP of an estimated $624bn (£382.9bn). It is hoped the agreement will ease access to markets within the region and end problems arising from the fact several countries belong to multiple groups.

Trade Agreements are set up so that countries can protect themselves from tariffs and quotas and promote free trade of the member countries.

Economists claim this could increase world trade, create more jobs and improve the balance of trade by bridging the gap between the rich and poor countries. The economy and standard of those living in the LEDC could rapidly improve

This agreement will provide Africa with more of a stance to cope with existing trading blocks such as the:

EU - European Union

NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement

GATT - General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

OPEC - Organisation of Petroleum Expoting Countries

Congo's Displaced Dying of Hunger

2008-11-13T06:08:00.002Z

The BBC has found a camp of about 1,500 displaced people near the town of Minova in DR Congo. They they they have had no help in weeks - no food, no water - not even a plastic sheet to keep out the rain. The situation is dire for adults and children alike. What can be done to help these people? Watch the video to see for yourself.

Tourism In Majorca

2008-11-12T06:53:00.006Z

Take a look at this video:
Yes, it is a bit one sided!
Remember it is trying to promote Majorca as a tourist destination.
However, study the physical and human attractions of Majorca.
Who goes on holiday to Majorca?
What can you do there?

Interactive Geography Games

2008-11-09T14:12:00.002Z

There are lots of interactive geography games here on topics including: limsetone scenery; Rivers; Coasts; Volcanoes; Weather and Climate; Ecosystems; and Earthquakes that would help to make revision more interesting. It's definitely worth taking a look.

London 2012

2008-11-09T12:00:00.005Z

The Olympic Games are coming to London in 2012. Eyes from all over the world will descend on London and the UK and so it is vital that we make a good impression.
Alot of money has to be invested into regenerarion and preparing for the games. Have a look yourself at the plans for the next fours years.

The focus of the London 2012 Games will be the Olympic Park in east London, which will house the new sport venues.

What is the site like now? Why has this site been chosen? Advantages/Disadvantages?

Images of the site can be found here.

As for transport and accessibility, the games are aiming for 100 per cent of spectators to get to the Games by public transport, cycling or on foot as a means of promoting sustainability. The government want London 2012 to be the first ‘sustainable’ Games, setting new standards for major events.

When considering the huge volume of people anticipated to descend on London for the games, security is an obvious issue that needs to be raised. Therefore, the aim is to ensure safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, which everyone can enjoy. Accomodation also needs to be provided for the tourists from all over the world.

Who will benefit from this development? Who wont benefits from this development?

To see the latest videos, park cams and photographs click here.

More importantly, what do you think?

Hurricane Paloma November 2008

2008-11-09T11:42:00.008Z

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in south Cuba and the country has been lashed by heavy rain and strong winds.
Paloma is the fifth hurricane this season to hit Cuba. The storms have caused billions of dollars worth of damage, destroying thousands of homes.
Hurricane Paloma has already caused torrential rains and storm surges in some areas of the Cayman Islands.
The storm weakened from Category Four to One after it made landfall in Cuba, but is expected to head out to sea again towards the Bahamas, which have been put on alert. Consequently, it has the potential to increase in strength as it passes over the the warm seas.

The Video shows how waves have risen above the Cuban coastal defences that were put in place, resulting in dramatic coastal flooding.

For more information on hurricanes, visit the National Hurricane Centre. This has been established as a means of tracking hurricanes and its intention is to provide early warnings for areas that are potentially in the path of a hurricane.

Geography Competition Year 7 - Year 9

2008-11-09T11:29:00.003Z

Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9.

You have the task of helping to make people aware of the importance of Geography.

You will do this by producing a resource explaining how different aspects of Geography vary around the world. This could be:

Food (could specialise further and look at companies such as McDonalds)
Sport (could specialise further and look at individual sports e.g. football)
Fashion
Housing
Tourism
Cultures in general
Music
Religion
Climate
Disease
Transport
Film
The list is endless....

The choice of media is up to you. It could be a poster, collage, Powerpoint presentation, report, mini video etc.

Competition entries must be submitted to me by Friday 19th December 2008.

Good luck!

Geo Challenge on Facebook

2008-11-09T11:14:00.002Z

For those of you that use Facebook, try adding the Geo Challenge application. It quizzes you on your knowledge of the flags of world, outlines of countries and the location of cities. Be warned though, it is very addictive! Add your scores as a comment on this post...good luck!

Again, a huge thanks to Miss Blackmore for making me aware of this application.

Sustainable Housing

2008-11-09T11:05:00.004Z

Below are two great games about sustainability. All you need to do is click on the images and follow the instructions on the site. The overall aim is to design a sustainable house. Lets see how you do.

With thanks to Miss Blackmore for informing me of this site.

Option Time: Why Choose Geography?

2008-11-08T12:35:00.004Z

Without Geography You Are Nowhere!!!

Everybody has a place in the world and so everybody has a Geography!!

Everything happens somewhere and so everything has a Geography!!

The world is a very dynamic place - it is always changing - and we need to be able to keep up with these changes. Geography allows us to do this!

Is geography a good choice in terms of getting a job? The answer is a resounding YES!

Compared to other subjects, geography graduates are among the most employable. They possess the skills that employers look for. In part this is because the subject combines a knowledge of science and an understanding of the arts.

Geographers can: make a concise report; handle data; ask questions and find answers; make decisions about an issue; analyse material; organise themselves; think creatively and independently

Geographers are: good communicators; spatially aware; socially, economically and environmentally aware; problem solvers; good team players; computer literate; well rounded, flexible thinkers

Take a look at the following links and find out as to why it is you should be choosing Geography.

Without Geography You Are Nowhere

This is Geography: In school and beyond

The Case for Geography

My World In 60 Seconds

2008-11-08T12:04:00.003Z

My World in 60 Seconds is a film project set up by the Geographic Association to create an alternative guide to our world, a guide that is created by you. The GA wants to re-present the world as people know it, so they are looking for young people to make short films that are thought provoking, insightful and engaging. 60 seconds is just long enough to guide someone through part of your world, to show what it is really like for you.

The GA want films that show people your lived geographies... They have teamed up with the BBC so that the best films can appear on BBC Big Screens across the country. A panel of judges will watch all the films and the ones that in their opinion best reflect what the GA are looking for could be shown. These films will also appear online as part of a guide to our world.

The GA are looking for films that...

are about something that you find fascinating
use geographical thinking to help the audience understand your world
encourage people to see the world in a new way
are original, creative and thoughtful
are well made, are sixty seconds and submitted on MiniDV before 1 May 2009

If you are interested in entering this competition you need to click on the link above for further details.

Yes We Can!

2008-11-07T23:41:00.004Z

"Yes We Can" was the campaign slogan of President elect Barack Obama.

Did he do it? Yes he did!

On the 4th November 2008, over 140 million American citizens took to the voting booths to vote for Obama as the next President of the United States of America.

This election was an historic event as Obama is the first black American President. When you consider the segregation laws of America during the 1940's - 1960's, you can see how significant the outcome actually is.

The support for Obama was not just on a national scale, but on a global scale as well.

People in Kenya were supporting him through the elections. They were even seen wearing 'Obama' T shirts.

Obama takes control at a very difficult time. There is so much going on in the world right now.

Wars with Iraq and Afghanistan

The credit crunch

Unrest between the US and Russia

Climate change

Obviously the world will see change now that he is in power. It is just the case of waiting to see if it is change for the better.

Coral Reefs Under Threat From Climate Change

2008-11-07T23:28:00.005Z

Coral Reefs Under Threat From Climate Change

2008-11-07T23:28:00.004Z

The following link provides you with excellent information on the impact of climate change on coral reefs. These are very sensitive ecosystems and as a result of climate change, are under great threat.
Climate change therefore needs to be addressed before irreversible damage is done to this ecosystem and others.

Stephen Fry in America

2008-11-07T22:57:00.002Z

Stephen Fry was very nearly an American. Just before Stephen was born, his father was offered a job at Princeton University, but chose to turn it down.
And so, Stephen was born in NW3 rather than in NJ, New Jersey.

In this six-part series Stephen travels, mostly in a London cab, through all 50 states of the country that he could have nearly called home and which has always fascinated him.

You can catch the episodes, for a limited time only, on iplayer.

Whilst in Vermont, Stephen was invited to the Ben and Jerrys factory and he was asked to create his own flavour.

He chose 'vanilla, with chocolate chunks and walnuts' - See video here

You can create your own flavour by visiting the Ben and Jerrys website.

The Great Californian Shake Out

2008-11-07T21:57:00.008Z

At 10 a.m. on November 13, join millions of people throughout Southern California in the Shake Out Drill, the largest earthquake preparedness activity in U.S. history!

The Great Southern California Shake Out includes the ShakeOut Drill and other events to help us get ready for big earthquakes.

It is promoting the concept of "Drop Cover Hold"

Why is important to do a Drop, Cover, Hold On drill?

Just as with anything, to act quickly you must practice, practice, practice. In a big earthquake, there may be very little time to protect yourself before strong shaking knocks you down or drops something on you. Most earthquakes have a sharp jolt a few seconds before the strong shaking, and we need to Drop, Cover, Hold On immediately when we feel the jolt. By practicing we will act quickly, rather than waiting to see if the earthquake will be large. If it is, it may be too late to protect yourself. ShakeOut. Don't FreakOut.

On July 29th 2008, magnitude 5.4 earthquake that shook southern California. This caused a huge amount of damage. However, the Great Californian Shake Out is a means of preparing people for a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, which is 5000 times larger than that in July.

As a result, the amount of damage will be much greater. The ShakeOut Scenario estimates that an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 would cause some 2,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries, $200 billion in damage and other losses, and severe, long-lasting disruption.

Fantastic video on the potential of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake below.

It's not a matter of if an earthquake of this size will happen-but when. It is possible that it will happen in our lifetime.

Want To Know Where You Come From? Try This

2008-11-07T21:49:00.004Z

This site allows you to map the distribution of your surname and provides you with statistics and historic information as well!

According to this site, the top countries with my surname are:

New Zealand

United Kingdom

United States

Where's Wally? The Competition

2008-11-07T21:35:00.005Z

Fancy putting your geography skills to good use? Want to win yourself a holiday? Then this is the place to be.

Google Earth, Borders and the Guardian have teamed up to provide you with this fantastic opportunity.

You will need to locate Wally over 7 days and provide the longitude and latitude figures for each location.

If you need a reminder, just come and ask!

The instructions and links to the competition can be found here.

Good luck!

Red Hot Chile's Smoking Volcano

2008-11-07T20:47:00.006Z

Mount Chaiten is looking set to blow its top....

The Chilean volcano showed new signs of activity in the recent days and so residents are having to prepare for the potential eruption.

Click here to see video footage from a plane showing the newly ruptured dome.

Back in January 2008 and again in May 2008, the volcano was showing signs of an eruption. The image below is one taken during an electric storm.

At the time there were fears that Mt Chaiten would continue to release ash into the atmosphere for months (See video). As a result, a huge area around the volcano had to be evacuated but ash was carried by the wind across large parts of South America, prompting fears of a major health crisis.

The Demographic Challenge of AIDS/HIV

2008-11-06T11:00:00.003Z

We have been studing the AIDS/HIV virus as a global demographic challenge in class.

It is now up to you to research into the aims, strategies and successes of the following AIDS/HIV charities.

You will be expected to present your findings to the class.

Refer to your booklets for further help.

•AIDS ALLIANCE
•Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation
•Children With AIDS Charity
•Terrence Higgins Trust
•African AIDS Health Crisis
•World Medical Fund For Children
•European Project AIDS Mobility
•Avert AIDS
•Medical Foundation and Sexual Health
•Elton John Aids Foundation
•National Paediatric and Family HIV Resource Centre
•AmFar
•AIDS Health care Foundation

Millenium Development Goals

2008-11-04T18:45:00.007Z

At the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000 World Leaders placed development at the heart of the global agenda by adopting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and setting clear targets for reducing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women by 2015.

The basic explanation of the MDGs can be found here.

You need to know:

the aims of each goal
the strategies of governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at implementing them

Other links include:
United Nations Development Program
The Department for International Development
UNDP Update
UN Development Project
The World Bank
UNESCO

NGO Links Include
Unicef
Unicef Journal
World Health Organisation
End Poverty 2015
UN Non Governmental Liaison Service
Oxfam
UN Volunteers

Glacial Retreat

2008-11-03T17:23:00.005Z

A fantastic resource detailing regional glacial retreat can be found here. Fantastic for individual research into case studies.

Blooming Climate Change

2008-11-03T14:10:00.004Z

Find out what actions can make a difference to climate change!
Make smarter decisions about your actions to become more climate friendly.
Bloom by the BBC, provides information on how you can make a difference.

With thanks to Jo Blackmore for letting me know about this site.

Japan Assignment

2008-11-03T12:13:00.006Z

Pupils in Year 9 are expected to produce an annotated poster describing and explaining the different physical and human geographical features of Japan for their first major assessment of the year.

You must produce an A3 poster that has a central map locating the major physical and human geographic features of Japan (Cities, Transport Networks, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas/Oceans, )

The map must include a key and compass point

In and around the map, you must write annotations describing the various regions (Include information on climate, soils, relief, industry, famous landmarks, culture etc)

You must also include pictures of the different things discussed in your annotations e.g a photo of Mt Fiji or the Bullet train
Remember that you will be levelled for this piece of work so it is important to invest the time and effort. If you need any help it is important to come and see me or your class teacher as soon as possible.

The following sited might help you complete this task: