Fabulous sky this morning

One for all our budding cloudspotters….

Google Expeditions Press Release featuring King's Ely Geographers

We've been working with Google Expeditions research group from the Open University for a few weeks. They've come into King's twice, to lead sessions on VR (virtual reality)
There's now a good write-up of their visit with a good image that I took at the start, and an image of us at work later on.

Details in the document on how to get involved in the project if you're interested.

GeoCaching

Using the official app and video material.
For my Year 3-6 Geography Explorers' Club

What is GeoCaching

Tim Marshall talk next week

Some King's Ely Geographers will be at this talk….
Come along if you are able - tickets can be booked via Waterstones

The Causes of War

A poem as part of the Royal Geographical Society's resources on Conflict.
Download your copy here. (PDF download)

And then produce your own poems, or conflict raps perhaps...

What (not) to Wear....

My son is unwell, so I've needed some work for students to complete which is challenging and creative, but doesn't need my specific input.

I headed to TeachIt Geography and found a useful document which explored the equipment that scientists (and other visitors) need to take when travelling to Antarctica to cope with the climate of the Polar regions.
This is paired with an activity (pictured above) from the newly revamped Discovering Antarctica website.

There is also the Shackleton Solo website, which features the equipment carried by the late Henry Worsley on his attempt to cross Antarctica which unfortunately ended in his tragic death. Henry's website illustrates the equipment that he took with him, such as these Paramo salopettes.

Pole to Pole… to Pinterest

Migrant book by Michael Rosen

Ordered for the Department...

A book for young people. pic.twitter.com/r14SB4GFif

— Michael Rosen (@MichaelRosenYes) September 25, 2016

GA Cambridge Branch Lecture

One for teachers in the Cambridgeshire area...

Bumpy road to zero - tackling Ebola in Sierra Leone- John Raine OBE

From a background in the police, John Raine went to Sierra Leone to head up an Ebola command centre. Sierra Leone is one of the most impoverished countries in the world, ranked 181 on the Human Development Index. John will speak about how the team used key aspects of geography to tackle the problem and get new infections down to zero.

More details on John’s experience were reported in the Cambridge News- http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/ebola-senior-cambridgeshire-policeman-helps/story-26017462-detail/story.html

The lecture is open to yr 10, 11, 12 and 13 students and will take place at 17:00 on Wednesday 12^thOctober lasting for one hour. It will be hosted at the Faculty of Education, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8PQ. There is some parking available, if you would like to request a space please let me know with your registration. To attend the lecture students and staff will be required to join the local branch of the Geographical Association which cost £1 for the year. This then entitles attendance at all events throughout the year.

See the GA's BRANCH PAGES for contact details to confirm attendance.

Making London a National Park City

The campaign video...

Mr. Parkinson's Fenland Poem

I entered a poem in the Fenland Reed Poetry Competition earlier in the year. I wrote about the Ordnance Survey's mapping of the Fens in the 1920s... and the problem of mapping such a fluid and protean landscape as the Fens... It's a bit clunky, but I enjoyed writing it....

I was really pleased that my poem was 'Commended' by the judge. 

Why not try writing your own Fenland poem...

Six Inches to the Fenland Mile by GeoBlogs on Scribd

Thanks for coming to Open Morning

We had a good time this morning welcoming several hundred parents and prospective students to school.

One for our Geographers to discuss...

Cold war: Iceland (the country) may sue Iceland (the chain) over name https://t.co/SW7wNa3zdo

— Guardian World (@guardianworld) September 23, 2016

King's Ely Open Morning

We may see you tomorrow in N2 for our Open Morning…
We'll be showing some student work and talking about what we do as King's Ely Geographers...

Making London a National Park city

Making a National Park City

 

Could London really become the world’s first National Park City?

Accompanied by Miss Kyndt and Mr. Parkinson, a group of Geographers from Years 11-13 travelled down to London on Wednesday this week to an event at the Royal Festival Hall which had been set up to explore some of the benefits and trouble-shoot some of the barriers that might exist to this ambitious plan coming to fruition. The idea was first dreamed up by Dan Raven-Ellison in 2014, and has slowly gained traction, even gaining the support of Sadiq Khan. The students made their way through train delays to the evening of short talks and music, compered by comediene Josie Long. It was also a chance to experience the South Bank at night, with the London Eye lit up, and skateboarders using the Undercroft.


Dan Raven-Ellison will be visiting King’s Ely later in the term when he walks across Ely as part of his current project to traverse all the UK’s cities and National Parks.


Image: Students watching Andrew Simms talking at the Royal Festival Hall - Alan Parkinson