1-2 hour lesson
Lesson plan attached in full (updated)
Thinking starter image
Facts (prior knowledge check AFL)
Videos with questions on causes and impacts
News report with example, gapfill/ sentence starters
Plenary AFL
Worksheets to print
2 versions (diff AFL)
Very fun and engaging deforestation debate (they need some knowledge beforehand, otherwise your help during the debate). All students say it is the best geography lesson they had (including if I do this in other schools as a one off). All students are actively participating in every second of the lesson. I really enjoy this lesson but it is a lot of energy and they need to respond to you. For a class that are noisy/ active I used a bell per round (5), but other classes it is not needed.
Hot air balloon debate.
There is a bit of preparing time for all students at the start so they are ready.
Depending on their ability, during the “note taking” sections (between some rounds), you can give questions to volunteers/ help them out ready for the debate in advance. Otherwise, my students were just practicing their confidence and speech/ public speaking skills. E.g. I had one stand up high and speak loudly, and used the uniform as “one” to vote for him.
For example, they may ask for some advice. The lower abilities would take their books to read or use for ideas during this time. You may want to provide a finished handout for the volunteers as they are note taking (unless they are high enough ability to multitask it). I usually photocopy another students’ finished notes to give them because it is related to the actual debate they did, rather than what you’ll guess they will say.
After the debate, they have a good view on all stakeholders and can create their own speech about who they support. Sentence starters/ examples, prompts provided. Challenge included. Some students to share their speech afterwards.
This builds great confidence in their speaking, reading, and class support.
It is fast pace, so behaviour needs to be quickly acted upon.
Responsibility shared, more freedom and trust in the classroom. It is something different and worth trying if you haven’t. It will indicate whether you can trust/ give freedom in lessons.
This is a shorter version than my original to fit within 50mins-1hr class. It can easily be adjusted.
Identity
Key words
Google Earth - or consider Atlas - depending on students’ locational knowledge and skills
Video with a few comprehension questions - AFL
Images, Atlas, Split, Latitude images/ information available - explanation available if needed.
South Sudan - questions about placement etc. (in lesson plan)
Timeline reading
Mind map ideas - from timeline prompts - you may want to explain, draw etc.
I used Iraq as an example (about the war and religion) - and linking it to humanities - affecting this independence and conflict etc.
Design your own country - questions to ask to check understanding
Include prompt questions in instructions – e.g., do you want the capital city to be in the mountains or near the river? Why?/ do you want them to speak the same language or something different and why?
Questions about their new country - students to justify
They label their country
Challenges included
Random sharing - wheel of fortune included in PPT. Adjust names.
1hr lesson - TEEP model
Images - odd one out and why. Challenge included.
Definitions
Biomes
Animals - information collecting. Challenge included.
Short story on your daily life (as one of the animals)
Sharing
3, 2, 1 plenary
Updated: Loved lesson by schools. Focuses on literacy. I included emotions helpsheet in this for SEMH students.
Starter: Life expectancy game using 2024 statistics
Graph - students interpret or you explain
Definition
UK discussion topic - if you have more time - add in a maths question using the numbers (to include numeracy skills in your list)
Graph with lots of prompt questions. Depending on ability and past topics you can decide whether you go through this part together or in pairs/ alone.
Next slides - if they are quite low ability, do address how it links for understanding. Otherwise, it is easily understandable but check in with lower abilities by having them answer/ share (privately or in class depending how supportive the class is and if you manage behaviour well).
Articles, videos included - depending on time and ability you can choose whether to include all. I usually do the summarised slide and a video for lower ability to understand it.
Please address misconceptions that NOT every eldery does this.
Instructions with success criterion
Example which helps a lot
Template provided (print out versions available if you have students who aren’t able to write)
Challenge included
Peer assess - more positives than negatives.
Notes:
I mentioned TA but she just chills at the back of the room most of the time.
High ability (above top set) - if needed - I added lots of information about other countries with videos and personal knowledge (not included in PPT) but I found any of this difficult to fit and engage with average ability as they are only familiar with UK and still lack knowledge on that so I skipped them.
Resources: PPT, Graph paper, Help sheets, Templates
Keywords: Hypothesis, Perception, Crime, Analysis, Conclusion
Starter activity: Where would you like to live? (from reading newspaper headlines)
• Describe different peoples’ perceptions towards crimes
• Identify patterns in crime perceptions
• Explain why there are differences in perceptions of crime
Key terms
Data
Hypothesis
Bar chart
Peer assess
Description paragraph
Conclusion
Review
Group sharing
Examples
Modelling on board
Colour coded
Help sheet to scaffold/ help
Template available for those who are struggling a lot
Prompt questions
Challenge – How might someone’s perception of crime be affected?
This is for Year 12 mixed ability. I recommend printing the worksheets file as A3, and the rest can be as A4. It involves resources e.g. books, but also plenty of up-to-date/ live information which will need to be accessed with internet. E.g. computers, phones, or teacher can print them out from the website.
The exam board are aware of these A-level textbooks having older data, but students can infer information as years have gone by. Add information/ own knowledge, their knowledge when looking at boroughs and images. Bring the lesson alive. E.g. One student mentioned the Green Bridge that was unsuccessful, has a similar one built in Manchester instead.
Pages are included in the PPT.
The aim from the AQA spec: Case studies of two contrasting urban areas to illustrate and analyse key themes set out.
This includes:
patterns of economic and social well-being
the nature and impact of physical environmental conditions
with particular reference to the implications for environmental sustainability, the character of the study areas and the experience and attitudes of their populations.
Helpful materials:
Dictionary - expected key terminology for A level and above
white (fourth edition) Hodder A Level textbook - used in this lesson but I have attached a double sided page of information which can be used instead or in addition
cool geography
Starter - crime in London vs. your town
Objectives
Key terms - challenge included
Crime rates calculation - handouts and modelling examples - available on PPT - challenge included
Answers available on PPT (also handouts for slow students to keep pace)
Description paragraphs (gap fills), using the data as examples - challenge included
Choropleth map - instructions - modelling examples - challenge included
Peer assessing (with marks and WWW/ HTI) - deeper assessment - Thinking box included
Describe crime in books questions (using data) - challenge included
Review objectives
1hr lesson, can easily be 2 depending on ability/ pace you want to go
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.
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
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
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).
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…
Video and book version (if no book - can print out one of the slides for references)
Reading version - can be combined as group roleplay or volunteers roleplay as demonstration (with teacher adding questions as they role play)
Can be 1-2 lessons long or more depending what you want to use.
Can also use parts of extras for a homework task/ starter/ plenary
Extras
keywords
create your own treaty
terms of the treaty
worksheet
roleplay cards