AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the 2016 specification Unit 1B: In this lesson we look at how ecosystems operate, from small-scale ecosystems to biomes. We start with a retrieval practice task based around coats. We begin by looking at what the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem are. The students are given an example ecosystem and have to categorise the components according to whether they think they are biotic or abiotic. We then look at different scales of ecosystems and look at trophic levels. The students work out which examples belong with which trophic level . We then explore an example of a food chain, using a small-scale ecosystem (a pond) the students have to work out which creatures belong in which trophic level. We then look at biomass in the food chain and discuss why biomass declines at each level. We finish with a 4-mark GCSE style question and there is some tips for students who need it on how to answer it. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 2A: In this lesson we look at economic opportunities in London, focusing on the regeneration of the London Docklands. We start with a photo interpretation of the London Docklands in the late 1970s. The pupils start to think about why the area has declined and how it might affect the residents. We then introduce the concept of urban regeneration and start by looking at the history of the Docklands and the pupils complete spray diagram of reasons why the area feel into disuse. We then look at the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) and the pupils create an annotated diagram ‘the road to regeneration’ using information from the board. Once we have completed the diagram we tackle a 6-mark question on economic improvements in a HIC city. The pupils do have some help with some points to get them going if they need it. In a nutshell lesson includes: Photo interpretation starter Several tasks around the London Dockland’s and the LDDC Video clips where appropriate GCSE-style question with guidance Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 1B: In this lesson we examine the distribution of the global ecosystems or biomes. The lesson has an ordnance survey map skills retrieval practice starter quiz. We then look at what a global ecosystem or biome is and what the general pattern of their distribution is. The students complete a cloze exercise and write a paragraph introducing the concept of global ecosystems. The students then complete a colouring by numbers worksheet to familiarise them with the distribution of the global ecosystems. They then complete a worksheet on where these ecosystems can be found, using atlases to give named examples of countries that feature those particular biomes. There is another extension to this where the students create a diagram to show the importance of latitude in the distribution of global ecosystems. We finish with a GCSE-style practice question with some sentence starters and a mark scheme provided for the students. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 1C: In this lesson we look at how coastal management has been undertaken at Lyme Regis in Dorset. The lesson has a retrieval practice starter based around a field sketch of a coastline. We firstly introduce Lyme Regis as an example of coastal management and consider which interest groups may have concerns about the construction of new sea defences. The pupils complete a worksheet where they read through the four phases of coastal management, highlight examples of hard and soft engineering and answer some questions. They then complete a map skills activity where they label on where the coastal defences have been built using 6-figure grid references. We then look at the positive and negatives of coastal management in Lyme Regis. We finish with a GCSE-style practice question with some guidance and structure provided for the students. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 1C: In this lesson we look at types of hard engineering and where they are best applied. The starter is a quiz where the pupils need to select the squares that have a depositional landform. There are sound effects too so it’s all very exciting. We begin by looking at why certain areas of the coast need protecting and what factors go into consideration when planners are deciding whether or not to protect the coastline. The pupils are then given some information cards and a worksheet to fill in on the different types of hard engineering, they also have a visual scale to shade in for each one according to it’s effectiveness and durability, cost and sustainability. This can be done in a number of ways (group work, round the room, carousel etc). We then seek to apply this knowledge though the pupils completing a decision making exercise. This is based on a fictional town (Sandytown). The town has been divided into zones, the pupils read the information on each zone and decide what type fo hard engineering that zone needs and justify this. We finish with a 6 mark question on hard engineering with some guidance on how they can answer this. In a nutshell lesson includes: Interactive starter quiz on depositional landforms. Video clip. Hard engineering worksheet with visual scale. Decision making exercise activity. 6-mark GCSE-style question with guidance should the pupils need it. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 1C: In this lesson we look at how the Midlands town of Banbury has managed flood events through a flood alleviation scheme… There is a pre-populated retrieval practice starter grid at the beginning of the lesson. We begin by looking at the location of Banbury and the students construct a description of the location from sentence fragments. We then move onto the historical floods at Banbury and why it needed protection. There is a cloze exercise for the students to complete. We then look at the flood alleviation scheme and the students have a blank map of the area and they use grid references to locate and annotate on the map the feature of the scheme. We then complete a categorising activity on the benefits and issues of the scheme. There is also a 9-mark GCSE-style practice question with some guidance for the students on how to complete it. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 2A: In this lesson we look at social opportunities in one borough of London, Shoreditch. We start with a photo interpretation of Shoreditch today so the pupils can start to think about what Shoreditch is like and what type of people may live there. the pupils will have a worksheet to work through as the lesson progresses. we start by looking at Shoreditch in the 1980’s (1981 really due to census data). The pupils get a feel for what the borough was like then. We then introduce modern day Shoreditch with a video. The pupils then use an information sheet to complete tasks regarding various aspects of life there including housing, ethnic and cultural mix, entertainment etc. We briefly consider the negatives of urban change in the area before tackling a GCSE-style question on the positive impacts urban change has had on people in a HIC. The pupils do have some help with some points to get them going if they need it. In a nutshell lesson includes: Photo interpretation starter Worksheet task on old and new Shoreditch Video clips where appropriate GCSE-style question with guidance Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 1A: In this lesson we look at monitoring, prediction, planning and protection in regards to tropical storms. The lesson has a tropical stormed themed retrieval practice starter. We firstly introduce the importance of monitoring to aid prediction with measurements of SST’s. There is a cloze writing exercise on monitoring of hurricanes. A video clip from American tv provides a useful example of how tropical storms are monitored and their paths predicted even on mainstream television. There are some questions for the clip. We then look at protection, specifically storm shelters in Bangladesh, the pupils will have to label the storm shelter and annotate why these features of the storm shelter were needed. We then look at how building in vulnerable areas has made the risks of tropical storms and storm surges more severe. We then look at Bangladesh as a success story of monitoring, predicting, planning and protection, the students have a grid with the actions that have been undertaken by Bangladesh, they have to categorise them accordingly. We finish with a GCSE-style practice question with some guidance and structure provided for the students. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 2A: In this lesson we look at the environmental challenges of urban sprawl and housing provision in London. We start with a retrieval practice grid with questions based on the London unit so far (but you just amend to whatever you want). We then look at what urban sprawl is, we then consider the advantages and disadvantages of urban sprawl in a spray diagram. The pupils are given some sentence starters to help them consider what they might be. We move on to consider if there is a housing shortage in London. We use house prices as a proxy for this and the pupils spend some time working with a graph of house prices and completing some questions related to the graph. We then consider the options London has of developing on either brownfield or greenfield sites. The pupils complete a photo annotation task on the two types and what the advantages and disadvantages of building on both types are. We then move on to a mapping activity where the pupils map the available greenfield and brownfield sites for development. They answer some questions related to London’s options to solve its housing problems and what the impact on the environment might be. Once we have completed the diagram we tackle a 6-mark question on the effects of urban sprawl on the environment and people. There is guidance should the pupils need it. In a nutshell lesson includes: Retrieval practice starter Benefits and drawbacks of urban sprawl diagram task Greenfield and brownfield photo annotation task Video clips where appropriate Mapping London’s greenfield and brownfield sites task. GCSE-style question with guidance or live writing exercise. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 1A: In this fourth lesson in the section we look at the effects of climate change around the world. We start with a quote from Great Thunberg and the pupils discuss whether they think she is right that we should be panicking about climate change and its impacts. We then look briefly at climate change impacts in the UK where the pupils will annotate a map of the UK using information from a video clip. We then look at the impacts worldwide, the pupils will be given an A3 sheet with a map surrounded by the impacts, they first locate the region the where the impact will be felt, rate the seriousness of the impact and then categorise each one as either social, economic, environmental or political. Using the information they have now gathered they write a response to Greta Thunberg’s quote using evidence from the lesson. We finish with a post-it plenary using a 2-mark question from the 2019 exam. In a nutshell lesson includes: Discussion starter over Greta Thunberg Quote Annotated diagram of the impacts on the UK A3 map task on the effects of climate change worldwide Video clips where appropriate GCSE-style question plenary Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 1C: In this lesson we look at depositional features found in the lower course of a river. The starter is a a countdown retrieval practice quiz with dramatic countdown music! We start by looking at natural levees and how they are formed. The pupils create a sequence of diagrams to show their formation based on information on the board. They are provided with outline drawings to start with to save time. We then look at the formation of floodplains. The pupils create a diagram based on the instructions on the board without actually seeing the diagram, but there is an example if they are struggling and they are given an outline floodplain to start with. We then look at the formation of estuaries. The pupils annotate a photograph to show the different features of the estuary formed by deposition. We finish on a 4 mark question on the formation of floodplains that was in an exam in 2017. I usually model the answer after the pupils have had a go. In a nutshell lesson includes: Retrieval practice grid starter. Formation of levees sequential diagram. Formation and features of a floodplain diagram activity with outline. Photo annotation for estuaries. 4-mark GCSE question with guidance. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

For AQA GCSE Geography. You need the Oxford AQA GCSE Geography Textbook for the new specification The lesson includes. Photo interpretation starter. Questioning activity Video clips Large A3 worksheet with a variety of different activities covering the required content. Plenary activity. All worksheets for photocopying included. Hope this helps. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 2B: In this lesson we look at the evidence and reasons for a north-south divide in the UK. The lesson starts with a retrieval practice task. We then briefly look at a cartoon illustrating the economic differences between the North and South of England. After introducing the concept of a North-South divide the pupils create a ‘Road to the North South Divide’ in there books by annotating a road to show how the divide was established. We then use evidence from a data table to annotate a map showing the divide. The pupils then look at the strategies that have been adopted to re-balance the difference. They use information slides (LEP’s, enterprise zones and the Lancashire LEP) and video clips to make notes for Boris Johnson to address the public about he North-South Divide. Finally we answer an exam question with some guidance for the pupils on how to answer. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 2B: In this lesson we look at the post-industrial economy and how it has changed the UK economy. The lesson starts with a quick retrieval practice quiz. We then introduce the idea of a post-industrial economy. The pupils then complete an information gathering exercise where they collect information on three sections of the economy that are behind these changes, development of IT technology, the services industry and finance and research and development. All the information is recorded in a A3 knowledge organiser. We then finish with a GCSE-style practice question with some guidance. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 2B: In this lesson we introduce the economy and how it has changed over time and why. The lesson starts with a quick retrieval practice quiz. We then introduce the idea of the economy with the pupils completing a Frayer model, we then look at where the UK is in international standings currently and where it might be in the future. We then look at the structure of the economy, we remind ourselves of the different sectors with a sorting task and then look at how the UK’s economy has changed over time. The pupils complete a worksheet and complete a pie chart. We then look at the main drivers in this change and the pupils use information sheets/slides to complete a worksheet. We then finish with a GCSE-style practice question with some guidance. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 1A: In this second lesson in the section we look at the natural causes of climate change. We start with a quick knowledge check on climate change with a quiz. We then look at orbital changes, sunspot activity and volcanic eruptions as mechanisms for causing climate change. The pupils will have a worksheet to fill in and there are information sheets for each mechanism. This could be done as a round the room activity or group work, it’s up to you. We use Tambora as an example of volcanic activity affecting climate. We finish with GCSE-style question with some suggested content if they need help. In a nutshell lesson includes: Climate change quiz starter Worksheet activity on mechanisms for natural climate change Video clips where appropriate GCSE-style question with guidance on suggested content. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE Geography lesson for the new specification Unit 2A: In this lesson we look at how urban change has led to social and economic inequalities in London. The starter is called “perfect paragraph?” The pupils will see a response to a GCSE-style question and need to spot the errors in the paragraph, we then discuss if anything needs adding to the answer. We then look at inequalities in London and we use an Iceberg Analysis to determine causes of social inequalities and short and long terms effects. The short term effects go in the iceberg above the water. The longer term effects go underneath the water. We then consider what indicators could we use to map social deprivation. We use percentage of people on benefits as an indicator and the pupils create a choropleth map of London. We consider the pattern and the pupils look at what the benefits and drawbacks of presenting the data this way is. Once we have completed the diagram we tackle a 6-mark question on social inequalities in a HIC city. I usually do this as a live writing exercise, but there is guidance should the pupils need it. In a nutshell lesson includes: Perfect Paragraph Starter Iceberg analysis of cause and effects of social inequalities Choropleth map activity using percentage of people claiming benefits as an indicator. GCSE-style question with guidance or live writing exercise. Hope this saves you some valuable planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer