Living GeographyAlan Parkinson

Secondary Curriculum Development LeaderGeographical Association

I hope to stop somewhere in the middle...Thanks to Victoria Ellis for leading me to image

"As I travel the world, I find myself asking questions

that only geographers can answer..."

Michael Palin

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Image by Simon Hathaway

Through a geographical lens...

‘a different view’

Student Experiences

Geography: the subjectTeacher Choices

Underpinned by key concepts

“thinking geographically”

Which learning activity ?

Does this take the learner beyond what they already know ?

Living GeographyLiving Geography

engagement, enjoyment and creativity

Living Geography:

• embraces young people’s geography and experiences• is current and future oriented• is local but set in wider (global) contexts• raises questions of change, sustainability and development

narratives : “writing” the earth

positive futures...

From UK edition of WIRED magazine...

“traffic jam”Every car in the jam is part of the jam....

“Technology has offered the geographer so many new tools,

whilst climate change and population growth have

created a whole set of new circumstances.”

Michael Palin RGS President

Seeing the wood AND the trees

Thinking GeographicallyGeography provides the possibility to study, reflect on and reach conclusions about topics and issues in a way that is

unique to our subject, seeing the world through a

geographical lens.It helps children to make sense of the

world.

What is the ‘Geography’ that YOUR students are living ?

Geographers do not just see a place as an ‘objective thing’ in the world that

can be described and explained as they build up geographical knowledge.

‘Place’ is also experienced on a personal and deeply emotional level.

Eleanor Rawling

What does a day lived ‘geographically’ look like ?

Living Geography: the blog...http://livinggeography.blogspot.com

“You are not alone”

Planning using concepts: Olympics

Young People’s GeographiesGA project & website

Flickr Credits: Creative CommonsSt Stev: aerial shot PearlsofJannah: map puzzleFlickr User Cushdy: Ham Sandwich road sign (Jack Davison – GA member !)Mook Hole, Network card, Map shirt, spectacles, Living Geography, Cabbage, exercise book and me: Alan ParkinsonSurfer: Seth Johnson 2008 (part of the GA Manifesto)With thanks to Ruth Totterdell for Slide no: 10 K2D2Vaca – Traffic Jam