You can download a very basic and somewhat fluffy(!) draft of some ideas for the super scheme.
Comments are welcome on this via email to myself adtastic2001@yahoo.co.uk or the sln forum
http://www.learningnet.co.uk/ubb/Forum5/HTML/009323.html
If you still wish to be involved in the project, want to know a little more or just want to be kept in the loop please contact me by email.
The closing date is June 8th and from there a formal document will be available to download.
It does not stop with Bookshops John has created a letter for libraries hereIn your local bookshop take a look around, do they have a Geography section? If so , what types of books does it include? How long is the section? Are the Geography books in a section called “Geography”?
Action Committee member John Tomlinson has introduced me to this issue and so I went down to my local bookshop (a well know chain) and as John suggested not a Geography section in sight. When I asked where the Geography books were located I was directed towards the “Travel” section, and then onto a shelve of OS maps.
It is not only important that Geography is labelled as a section by Bookshops, its lack of acknowledgement has wider consequences for public awareness of the importance of the subject. Some of the key issues we face now and into the future are Geographical in nature, however are not called so.
Geographers lets do something about it…
Visit your local bookshop(s) before Friday 1st June and complete a quick survey:
On Monday 4th June if you are not happy with the Geography focus of the bookshop:
Print off and send them this letter, (Scottish version here) or even send by fax or email. You can adapt the letter in anyway you see fit.
Make sure you send a copy to your local paper also
Any Bookshops that you were impressed with in terms of their “Geography ” section please email me adtastic2001@yahoo.co.uk with the details and I will contact them directly.
Please visit as many bookshops as you can. Take photographs if you like and pretty much do anything to Give Geography its Place.
Some well known Bookshop's contact information here:
Waterstones including Ottakars
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayMailUs.do
WH Smiths
Blackwell
http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/jsp/contact.jsp;jsessionid=48B6B0A276EB505823270548C5E238F5.bobcatt2
Borders
The GGIP sub campaign at the GA Conference in Derby was a great success and thanks again to all that helped.
Victoria Ellis has created a short write up of the Conference that was sent to the TES and Local Derby Newspapers.
DERBY CONFERENCE PUTS GEOGRAPHY ON THE MAP
12th – 14th April saw hundreds of geographers from across the UK and beyond turn the University of Derby into a veritable hive of activity, as they descended for the Annual Conference of the Geographical Association… And not a leather elbow patch in sight!
The Conference provided a fantastic opportunity for geographers to discuss and debate all things geographical (and that’s most things!) in a great setting. Highlights of the Conference included a public lecture from Polar explorer, Ben Saunders, a huge variety of workshops led by geography teachers and academics, and field visits to explore the beautiful Derbyshire countryside.
Particularly busy were those of us on the Give Geography Its Place stand, with a constant stream of visitors keen to discuss the importance of geography and to buy t-shirts and badges to prove that they are proud to be geographers! The Give Geography Its Place (GGIP) campaign was born in May 2006, and since then more than 2000 geographers (including over 100 top academics) from over 30 countries have signed a petition urging the media to recognise the vital role of Geography and Geographers. David Rayner and Daniel Raven-Ellison, the founders of the GGiP campaign and both teachers of Geography, said “Geography is in a unique position to act as a bridge between subject areas using spatial knowledge, understanding and technologies coupled with distinctive concepts to make sense of the world. If students and the wider public are to make sense of some of the biggest issues which make the headlines, it is vital that there is a greater understanding and use of geography. Modern Geography is not about being able to repeat the gazetteer of an atlas; it’s about understanding the patterns, processes and systems that connect us all to each other and to our environments. If we take international migration as an example, history and politics play their part but the complex mixture of why, how, where and when people travel are best explained through Geography.”
Visit http://www.ggip.co.uk/ to find out more about the campaign, sign the petition, and share your ideas for promoting Geography. The Geographical Association website is http://www.geography.org.uk/ .
Victoria Ellis is a teacher of Geography at Swanwick Hall School, a member of the GGiP Action Committee, and author of http://www.geogtastic.blogspot.com/ .
Well done to Sky Learning who have a Geography section on their website, which is actually titled Geography.
Thanks Danny C who alerted me to this.
The GGIP is looking to make positive steps forward, and following a recent meeting has developed the following...
The GGIP aims this year to target Geography in our Primary Schools. The plan is to create using slners a Geography “super scheme” to enhance Geography Teaching in our primary schools and Give Geography Its Place. The scheme will focus on Year 6 and possibly Key Stage 2/3 transition.
The scheme and resources (powerpoints, worksheets, photographs and movies etc.) will be available for all to download for free from the GGIP website and the contributors will be acknowledged. We also plan publicity around the launch of the resource.
The sln thread below will become a consultation of what the topic (if any) the scheme should focus on, The consultation period will end on May 18th, and the creation of resources etc. will begin.
http://www.learningnet.co.uk/ubb/Forum5/HTML/009323.html
This resource will innovate and inspire!
What we need from you….
1. views on what topic or topics should be the focus
2. pledges of support to develop the scheme by developing resources
3. email me adtastic2001@yahoo.co.uk if you are an interested primary teacher, your views and advice is welcome here also
4. email me if you wish to receive updates about the project development
Victoria Ellis and I (and anyone who shows a positive interest to be involved) will put this all together.
Any questions let me know.
The following video clip found by Tony Cassidy and edited by the GGIP has now had nearly 500 views on youtube with 25 comments. If you have not made a comment yet.....do it!
Thanks Richard Allway for hosting this.
