I use to live and teach in rural Tanzania for a bit so I wanted to share culture about it to the students in an engaging way
Starter: images guessing where
Objectives
Images and storytelling (short)
Information sheets - around the room task for engagement - up to date info 2024
Tourism posters
Examples
Plenary sharing
Letter 1: Geography (2 pages)
Letter 2: English (2 pages)
I had quite a few people ask for my letter so I thought I’d share it, along with my experience. I sent a generic letter to several schools and I was invited to every interview. You should personalise it.
All my experience was not included in the letter or application forms because I felt that it is too time-consuming. You should include relevant information though and increase your employability. I am a very picky person when it comes to the work environment and highly value myself. I lined up interviews day after day for about 1.5 weeks. I went to the first few and I did not like them. For example, I saw a black student wearing his traditional wear and I made a nice comment. The headteacher referred it as a special day where “they” get to wear “costumes”.
I went to one that really stood out and I have told them I have another interview. You shouldn’t do this unless you are the better candidate. You should just say that you can’t answer the phone at placement.*Never agree to a job unless you are certain. Backing out is unprofessional, leads to bad references and blacklisting = you’re stuck with the school you changed to. Remember if you fail as ECT you are barred from teaching. However, if you are failing, you can quit and rejoin as an ECT in another school - but not if you are blacklisted!
I asked further schools to cover my travel expenses. 1 school didn’t. I felt that they didn’t value teachers so I rejected them. In the interviews I attended, it was common to over-run by a little bit. That’s okay. However, in one school I got to leave after my interview (lunch time for me) but the interviewers went for lunch and made the other candidate wait until after their lunch before interviewing him, and not offering any food for him. I liked that school as I went around but not the way they treated the interviewee so I decided against it. You have to remember your workplace needs to treat you right.
In another interview, I had travelled 3 hours to. They over ran by more than 1 hour. I was debating to just leave. They never offered me the option to leave early. I felt that they did not value people’s time considering the other candidate was local and was interviewed first, yet I was interviewed later. I didn’t like it. They had a good reputation by the locals which is why I accepted the interview. They loved everything I did with the students and class, however when I asked about pay etc. I rejected the offer. With relocation costs, it wasn’t worth it. They reimbursed me £90 (railcard).
After that interview, I decided to take the earlier offer and cancel the rest. I interviewed them and negotiated masters, extra holidays, £3k higher pay etc. Don’t do this unless you’re in a good position. I was a trainee for reference but believe my experience is valuable.
Interview information
I went to a few teacher ones as I lined them up over a week and made them wait before deciding.
Usually you have to decide on the spot unless you’re the better candidate, they may wait.
Check your subject knowledge to know what you need to learn/ study/ build knowledge on.
The document is 35 pages long.
I have my answers on it which you can change.
I completed this before I studied such course/ subject…
Full Lesson (observed by universities and other higher educational roles).
Slightly different trade game.
Learn about HIC, NEE, LIC - global trade imports, exports - inequalities - international events, etc. You may need a glossary or students may have some prior knowledge about development or globalisation. Reflection is most important.
Includes 6 countries. Each countries equipment list included. Amendable. Borrow students’ equipment if needed.
Added observer roles for high ability who (who can also act as referees to control behaviour if you have behaviour problems). Make sure they are rewarded. They watch the countries, report to you, and write up a report. A4 sheet with list of questions and prompts for them to complete.
Note: You can make it clear if you are allowing or not allowing stealing. I only had one class steal a lot. This can link back to some History and Geography such as South Sudan. Remember to control physical fighting.
After game, you have a discussion as they will probably have a lot to say or comment about. Cut it off at the appropriate time. Must calm back down with writing reflection notes.
Reflection cards for them to answer prompt questions with challenges. This links to development (not X stole Y etc.) Observers will write their short report. You may have some share at end.
I completed it with new classes - considered risktaking by most educators. E.g. Some schools and teachers have never done such a lesson.
I’d recommend doing this if you know the class well enough, attempted some freedom lessons that you can trust them during this game, otherwise you need to have good behaviour management or plan B if you struggle to control. I’ve done this and other freedom lessons with new classes often with strict rules because every student are able enjoy and interact with the lessons (with any ability).
I used this for observations and gave the “power” to strong/ high ability characters who were able to report everything to me (cheating) as the game went, as well as give rewards and consequences. Even my lowest abilities and SEND, EAL (no English), several behavioural students, all did AMAZING, including good use of key terminology. Honestly was really proud of them. They were able to make the link (maybe with prompts), and I did not need to call a high ability student to help. I only have 2 higher abilities in the class (and one was not in). This class were “successful” by several observers for passing placements and obtaining job offers. The best feedback was nobody attempts it for observation, and if they do - it is a disaster - so when I did this it was great (and the class isn’t a good ability class either)! I had 2 students run away over the fence just before class so they were noisy before class but they were perfect (address behaviour immediately as you need it for this class)
intro
stages of relationships
postitive and respecful relationships
and 5. contraception
Unintended pregnancy
Teenage pregnancy - not in here yet
STIs
HIV and AIDS
Change and loss in a relationship - not in here yet
Extra: Real events movie and discussion (created 2022 by students at a Bristol school who wanted to share awareness).
Ground rules included
SOW included
Handouts included
Help sheet included
All materials
All adaptable.
Lots of information you can add to it and statistics you can add to it.
I really enjoyed teaching these subjects and all the questions the students had.
Very important topic and education so it is bundled together and ready to share.
Note: This town had the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe for a very long time.
Children have many questions as they are not aware of many terms used. Lots of misconceptions to address too.
I recommend a note box to collect further questions for shy students - mine is a safe space so they just ask in class - but have the option to leave a question anon.
Resources
PPT
Atlas (optional)
History sheets (optional)
Keywords
Africa
Asia
Migration
Colonisation
Independence
Prepare for Learning – Entry Activity
Silent reading for 10 minutes
Starter activity: Spot the odd one out images x2
Learning Intentions and Agree Learning Outcomes
Understand the causes of the English Civil War
• Describe the location of Africa
• Recognise the difference regions of Africa
• Explain how Africa has changed over time
Present New Information
Map skills with Africa/ continents
History of Africa (literacy reading)
History of Africa (10minute video – if time)
Construct Meaning – Learning by Doing
Map of Africa
Rank figures onto tables
Apply to Demonstrate Understanding – Opportunity
Identify regional scale in UK and compass regions in Africa
Find countries in different regions of Africa
PEE paragraph on how Africa changed over time
Review
Write down 3 things you found interesting
Additional Support (SEN support, EHCP, PP FSM, LAC)
Checking in
Examples
Word bank
Images
Colour and number coded
Answers on board
Stretch and Challenge
Challenge – using challenge key word bank
I’ve included lots of books and research that you need to read if you’re becoming a geography teacher.
I’ve also made summaries of some of them in case you didn’t want to read the whole thing.
The main book I made a bigger document, and in the book you can find a large table that separates sections well.
These will be useful towards your assignments.
My assignments were around 78 marks.
Simple template on Y7 tectonic plates (not fully completed)
GCSE completed SOW on coasts (from a very good Bristol school - they pay trainees to have 3x meals a day and actually pay you thousands of pounds for having them as a placement - of course your placements are chosen by your university provider).
Year 8 SOW (from private institutions)
If you would like others, feel free to leave the comment under reviews and I can update the files if I have them (History and Geography mainly).
Objectives:
Recognise that the continent of Africa is made up of 54 countries.
Describe the human and physical features of the continent.
Analyse data to understand the diversity of Africa.
Addresses misconceptions and stereotypes
CLOCC locations
Africa is diverse - exam type question
Writing PEE paragraph
I included an example of a fieldwork booklet.
It is adaptable and sections can be removed depending on how much time you have.
This school was huge and they walked around separately as we had 4 buses of students.
Since we walked, I was the guide and mentioned all the prices etc.
The school is deprived so you need to address misconceptions during evaluation on whether it was successful or not as the students will think these big shops are amazing/ or unaware due to their hometown being small.
With a different school, we did the boat tour instead so they were able to easily take photos to annotate, write a lot and complete a full booklet (different to this booklet). In that booklet, the main difference was we added a map of the locations the boat goes and labelled it. Students made notes on each part. The boat tour guide may know some things, otherwise I (and you) know the information already to share. On the boat tour, you’ll see the giant boat that Bristol paid millions to move a few yards down for “regeneration” of the food shops nearby. When walking, we never saw it.
Bristol has a lot of history and original butts, cranes etc. in the area which people may not know. Things like vegetation drainage, use of brown field sites etc. I included some information for you in case you are unaware, and some articles.
With other schools, they decided to not visit Bristol.