Memory Map Activity

Thanks to Judith Roberts for the tipoff to this rather excellent site which may be of use for those wanting an activity during the lockdown.

Louise Ann Wilson has shared an excellent idea for combining the daily walks with memory and artistic activity. Her website has a project called “With memory I was there”

There's a good task outline and some questions to ask about your local area, or a favourite walk further afield.

It was apparently inspired by Dorothy Wordsworth who, when living at Rydal Mount, became bedroom-bound, relying on memory to transport herself into the landscape she had once walked:

No need of motion, or of strength, Or even the breathing air: –

I thought of Nature's loveliest scenes; And with Memory I was there...

Extract from the poem “Thoughts on my Sick-Bed” by Dorothy Wordsworth

Reading suggestions by members of 8AP

Some Easter reading suggestions for you from my form.

Reading List by Alan Parkinson on Scribd

Yuval Noah Harari on the world after Coronavirus

Free to read on the FT website at the moment and well worth a read. 

Geographical Association website - now free access for three months

Work has been going on behind the scenes to make this happen for the last few days and earlier today the necessary changes to the website were made for open access to the GA website to be enabled.

There are numerous resources on here which non-members will not have been aware of.
The work that we did for the Action Plan for Geography had to be made freely available, but a great deal of extra resources are provided on the website behind the members' paywall.

I am very pleased to say that I had a part in quite a few of them during my time working for the Association, and before and since, including numerous resources, teacher support and CPD courses.

I am also currently working on some extra guidance for teachers and resources which I hope will be added to the site in time for the Summer term, when we shall still probably be locked down.

We're committed to geography education. With most children now being asked to stay at home, we have made all our teaching resources fully open access for the next three months. You don't need to be a member or log in 👉 https://t.co/VDU8nhSelR #geographyteacher pic.twitter.com/wniSV8CGqQ

— Geographical Assoc (@The_GA) March 24, 2020

Please consider joining the GA during the next six months or so. 

If you think, for example about the amount of photocopying, green pens and Pritt sticks youll save on that makes sense. Also think of your personal commuting costs, Costa coffees and other things you are going to be saving by working from home too.

Perhaps order something from the shop too. The new digital fieldwork series are available as instant downloads.

My new book Fieldwork book with John Widdowson was due to be available but that won't happen for a while now.

Adapting to the new technology

Mr. Pearson was added to the school Twitter feed earlier showing how we are adapting to the use of new technology to connect with each other.

Mr Pearson and his Year 11 Geography class this morning (Friday), a few of whom are already #learningfromhome. We are so proud of how our students and staff are coping with the changes as we continue to work hard towards the end of term! 🙌 #learningneverstops pic.twitter.com/PW3HDgS0wa

— King's Ely (@Kings_Ely) March 20, 2020

A prayer from the Chaplain

From the School Chaplain Dr. Lane.
Place a candle in your window at 7pm on Sunday.

Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring for the sick, and your wisdom to those searching for a cure. Strengthen them with your Spirit, that through their work many will be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen 
Merciful God, we entrust to your tender care those who are ill or in pain, knowing that whenever danger threatens your everlasting arms are there to hold them safe. Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen

Will be thinking of our school community, now scattered to many countries but which will come together again in the future.
From our final KEJ assembly today before the break

Closing down - support available here

Over the last few days we have been preparing to close the school due to coronavirus measures.
We are not sure how long this will be for. It is likely to be for months, into May is the best guess looking at stories from other countries where the outbreak arrived earlier.

Students have their online learning tools and their learning logs, and a range of support to help the learning continuing. 
We are likely to evaluate what we are doing more frequently during this period, as the tasks we are providing need to be accessible and achievable at distance. There will be some new resources created and we will direct you to what we hope are the very best.

We are using:

Firefly for setting and marking of tasks.
One Note for senior school students to access course materials.

Microsoft Teams for staff communication and meetings.
Outlook for the usual e-mails at the moment.
Twitter to communicate activity in the department @KingsElyGeog

Plastic Ducks

Came across this song while researching the story of the plastic ducks which fell into the Pacific Ocean in 1992.

Improving Sweatshops

We've used this for quite a while, downloaded from TES resources.

I decided to add some scoring for the plans this year - feel free to use this, and ask students to critique it as well - I got lots of feedback when I used it.

Peer Assessment Sheet by Alan Parkinson on Scribd

Out later this month, Mr. P's latest book...

Will be available to order from the GA shop and also view on the GA stall at the GA Conference.

Retail Therapy

We mentioned this phrase when introducing our unit on the Geography of our Stuff.
The phrase 'retail therapy' is a relatively recent one.

This article traces it back to a piece in the Chicago Tribune at Christmas 1986, which included a memorable quote which has been much repeated

“We've become a nation measuring out our lives in shopping bags and nursing our psychic ills through retail therapy"

(Schmich).

This predated the internet of course.

This could equally apply to the UK as well as the USA of course.

The food chain - the hidden ingredients

Avocadon't

One tiny fruit - with huge consequences.

📕 Read more: https://t.co/pgHiaaV38G pic.twitter.com/gdcOKaZm5g

— World Economic Forum (@wef) February 29, 2020