Population stories in the news today

Plenty of population interest in the news today.
Firstly, the announcement from the Chinese news agency Xinhua that the government intends to end the One Child Policy, first introduced in 1980

This is partly due to economic reasons apparently, but also to try to rebalance the country's population. Currently around 30% of the population is over the age of 50. Many of these people may have only one child now to potentially support them in their old age.

A lot of case studies will now have to be re-written.

There was also a story about the UK's population.
There have been some ONS releases relating to the country's median age etc. and the latest forecasts of the UK's growth suggests that were heading for 70 million.

Plenty of interest for GCSE and 'A' level students.

There is also a new visualisation of migration trends here.

Half term...

Half term is here and we hope you have a good rest and return recharged ready for some more Geography. There's plenty ahead of us between now and Christmas for sure.

One for KS1-2 Geographers at King's Ely

Go Jetters are new on CBBC: a new animated series, and the geography advisors on the show are my former colleagues Paula Owens and John Lyon. The Go Jetters have global adventures.

Check them out on iPlayer, or play the Global Glitch game.

Public Radio International on the One Child Policy

The China One Child Policy is now 35 years old.
It was introduced to slow the rate of population growth in the country.

There is a brief piece here which is worth listening to in order to get an idea of the impacts of the policy on the population structure, and the wider Chinese economy in the future.

Demographic Transition Model Video

Excellent work by George, Ben and Louis... good use of iMovie...

This may not work in all browsers...

Five migrant stories from Greece

For Year 10 to watch as a contrast to the DVD case studies.

Save the Children UK

Year 9 have been making their own videos to spread the news of the impact that conflict has on young people.

@KingsElyGeog We're glad the films are making an impact. Would love to hear some of the ideas the young people are coming up with. Steve.

— Save the Children UK (@savechildrenuk) October 12, 2015

No pressure then, but the people who made the original viral videos are interested to see what we produce...

You are here...

Maybe...

If Surrey were Syria

These videos have been available for a while, but today was the first time I'd actually showed them, and they had a powerful impact.
We are thinking of making some of our own versions

Just because it isn't happening here doesn't mean it isn't happening...

UK population pyramid infographic - interact with it...

Graphic by Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Population videos - for Year 12

This is a very useful set of infographics and videos from the French institute for demographics: INED
Check out this one on Fertility rates which we shall be using this week.

These are the sorts of resources that you need to engage with...

And also maps like this...

One for Year 10s - exploring employment and sectors in the UK (using 2011 Census data)

Coming soon to Year 8

Thanks to Miss Kyndt for the heads-up on this activity book to accompany the original book telling the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's journey on the 'Endurance' expedition.

Looking rather fine...

Geography Club ideas

It's the time of year when clubs are setting up and recruiting eager young students who want to develop their Geographical awareness, and have fun.

This year, I'm running a lunchtime club called Geography Explorers, and also using some of the ideas with a group of Year 6 students.
We are making some geography globes and other craft projects.
I have this book, which looks like offering some really useful ideas, and a car boot now filled with practical stuff to assemble into something geographical...

New GCSE books

The cover design for one of 4 GCSE books that Mr. Parkinson is working on at the moment for publication in 2016 has been released on the Amazon ordering page for the book. Got to love the penguins...

How long will you live for ?

A visualisation by the ONS - useful for Year 12 Geographers who are exploring the idea of life expectancy...

Britain's Biggest Adventures

Bear Grylls new series explores Britain's biggest adventures (allegedly).
As always there's a touch of hyperbole about the whole thing...

There was an interesting article in the Telegraph where he described the reasons why he decided to film closer to home rather than in an exotic location, and it's a reminder of the amazing landscapes we have in the UK. This weeks explored the Cairngorms, which I used for a workshop at the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers a few years ago. This used the Robert MacFarlane book 'The Old Ways' and Digimap for Schools.