9th June: We revised some aspects of migration, the ozone layer, the greenhouse effect and global warming and its consequences. Then we looked at renewable (green) energy - Solar Energy, Wind Power, Hydro Electric Power (HEP) and other alternatives like geothermal energy, tidal power, etc.
Homework: Revise all these, plus your other notes ready for the B test next Friday.
The B Test will be on June 16th:
About ‘Threatened Environments – problems and solutions’ and ‘Migration’
Today (2nd June): Alaska – Oil pipeline
We investigated Alaska, the basics of its geography, flora and fauna, then read about the wonders of the construction of an oil pipeline over 1200km long from the North to South. This was to transport oil from the fields in the North to tankers at Valdez for transport to the US mainland. However, the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989 caused millions of tons of oil to be spilled into the sea, with disastrous environmental impacts (see pages 128 to 131)
About ‘Threatened Environments – problems and solutions’ and ‘Migration’
Today (2nd June): Alaska – Oil pipeline
We investigated Alaska, the basics of its geography, flora and fauna, then read about the wonders of the construction of an oil pipeline over 1200km long from the North to South. This was to transport oil from the fields in the North to tankers at Valdez for transport to the US mainland. However, the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989 caused millions of tons of oil to be spilled into the sea, with disastrous environmental impacts (see pages 128 to 131)
19th May: Social, economic and environmental effects of global warming. We described 10 different possible impacts of global warming: ice sheets melting and sea level rise, habit loss and extinction of animal and plant species, increase in tropical storms and extreme weather events, droughts and desertification, crop failures, flooding of coastal cities, beach disappearance, coral bleaching, increase in water borne diseases. We discussed each and talked about what type of impacts these could have.
Homework for next lesson: complete the worksheets which you did in the lesson last week when I was absent, from the textbook pages 218 to 221
Homework for next lesson: complete the worksheets which you did in the lesson last week when I was absent, from the textbook pages 218 to 221
The Ozone layer - we talked about:
The different layers of the atmosphere
the ozone layer, a thin layer of O3 in the stratosphere which protects us from the UV rays from the sun
The hole in the ozone layer over the poles where the ozone is thinnest which can allow UV rays to enter and cause skin cancers
We gave a description of the greenhouse effect and what is causing global warming, and a short discussion about how to solve the problem.
Then we completed the film 'Bend it like Beckham'
The different layers of the atmosphere
the ozone layer, a thin layer of O3 in the stratosphere which protects us from the UV rays from the sun
The hole in the ozone layer over the poles where the ozone is thinnest which can allow UV rays to enter and cause skin cancers
We gave a description of the greenhouse effect and what is causing global warming, and a short discussion about how to solve the problem.
Then we completed the film 'Bend it like Beckham'
P. 24 to 25 Cultural impacts of Indian migration to the UK
What cultural clashes occur?
How do the second generation migrants adapt? We watched the film ‘Bend it like Beckham’ which illustrated some of these aspects.
What cultural clashes occur?
How do the second generation migrants adapt? We watched the film ‘Bend it like Beckham’ which illustrated some of these aspects.
31st March New Topic Threatened Environments – Problems and Solutions
We worked in groups to brainstorm all the world's major environmental problems! This is the list we came up with:
Global warming or climate change caused by greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels, releasing CO2. Global warming causes many problems such as sea level rise, loss of ice caps, droughts, desertification and species extinction. P. 218
Deforestation. P. 236
Water pollution from industry/domestic
Acid Rain p. 221
Bee extinction.
Hole in the Ozone Layer.
Overfishing
We worked in groups to brainstorm all the world's major environmental problems! This is the list we came up with:
Global warming or climate change caused by greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels, releasing CO2. Global warming causes many problems such as sea level rise, loss of ice caps, droughts, desertification and species extinction. P. 218
Deforestation. P. 236
Water pollution from industry/domestic
Acid Rain p. 221
Bee extinction.
Hole in the Ozone Layer.
Overfishing
Immigration into the UK 24th March
We looked at:
Commonwealth (Old and New)
Ethnic minorities
Ghettos
Push factors
Pull factors
Rural to Urban Migration
Regional Migration
Counter Urbanisation
Where do the immigrants come from after the second world war?
Why have they come to the UK?
In which regions of the country have different ethnic minorities clustered?
What are the problems about groups of immigrants congregating together in certain regions of cities?
What are the benefits that refugees bring to the UK?
What arguments might the English Defence League put forward against immigration? How can we counter each of these?
We looked at:
Commonwealth (Old and New)
Ethnic minorities
Ghettos
Push factors
Pull factors
Rural to Urban Migration
Regional Migration
Counter Urbanisation
Where do the immigrants come from after the second world war?
Why have they come to the UK?
In which regions of the country have different ethnic minorities clustered?
What are the problems about groups of immigrants congregating together in certain regions of cities?
What are the benefits that refugees bring to the UK?
What arguments might the English Defence League put forward against immigration? How can we counter each of these?
Migrants to California
We investigated this case study (pages 30 and 31) and made notes on the sheet. We watched some videos about the border:
eg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh3fez9CyXg
and discussed a little the population pyramids for mexico and the usa and relating this migration to the demographic transition and population issues, including the effect on source regions in Mexico.
We investigated this case study (pages 30 and 31) and made notes on the sheet. We watched some videos about the border:
eg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh3fez9CyXg
and discussed a little the population pyramids for mexico and the usa and relating this migration to the demographic transition and population issues, including the effect on source regions in Mexico.
10th March: We continued to talk about migration and covered p. 22 to 23: Voluntary and forced migration, asylum seekers and refugees. We discussed the issues surrounding refugees and attitudes in Europe and America.
Then we swapped some information about migration case studies from the previous homework.
Homework for next week: Using the examples which you were given by members of your group today, complete TWO of the tables of migration case studies on the sheet doing your own research (internet, videos, books, people, etc.) but writing the information IN YOUR OWN WORDS. For each example make sure you fill the boxes in the tables with notes.
Then we swapped some information about migration case studies from the previous homework.
Homework for next week: Using the examples which you were given by members of your group today, complete TWO of the tables of migration case studies on the sheet doing your own research (internet, videos, books, people, etc.) but writing the information IN YOUR OWN WORDS. For each example make sure you fill the boxes in the tables with notes.
3rd March: Migration
We made a list of all the major migrations (now and over the last 40 or 50 years) that we hear about on the news, or from your own knowledge.
Mexicans to the USA (economic – for jobs), Syrian Refugees to Europe, etc.
We looked at some definitions, types of migration, migration balance, emigrants, immigrants etc. (p. 22 of the textbook), then analyzed the map, choosing five major countries and describing the major migrations in and out.
Next lesson we will look at voluntary/forced migration.
Homework:
Due for next Friday: Write a report about an example of migration, for example Poles to the UK, Syrian refugees to Europe, Mexicans to the USA, etc. For an example about the format to use, look at pages 28 – 29.
Approximately 500 words
Include a mix of text and some images (make sure your images are clearly labelled)
Reasons why they leave – forced/voluntary, push factors
And/or Reasons why they come (pull factors)
How they travel, make the journey
What happens when they arrive – problems/benefits for them and the society they come to.
Include complexity of geographical terminology and language
Absolutely NO copying or pasting of text from websites. You can watch youtube videos, use Wikipedia, ask people, etc.
We made a list of all the major migrations (now and over the last 40 or 50 years) that we hear about on the news, or from your own knowledge.
Mexicans to the USA (economic – for jobs), Syrian Refugees to Europe, etc.
We looked at some definitions, types of migration, migration balance, emigrants, immigrants etc. (p. 22 of the textbook), then analyzed the map, choosing five major countries and describing the major migrations in and out.
Next lesson we will look at voluntary/forced migration.
Homework:
Due for next Friday: Write a report about an example of migration, for example Poles to the UK, Syrian refugees to Europe, Mexicans to the USA, etc. For an example about the format to use, look at pages 28 – 29.
Approximately 500 words
Include a mix of text and some images (make sure your images are clearly labelled)
Reasons why they leave – forced/voluntary, push factors
And/or Reasons why they come (pull factors)
How they travel, make the journey
What happens when they arrive – problems/benefits for them and the society they come to.
Include complexity of geographical terminology and language
Absolutely NO copying or pasting of text from websites. You can watch youtube videos, use Wikipedia, ask people, etc.
GEOG B TEST next Friday - Revise population all lesson notes and pages 4 to 15 of text book.
Population pyramids. We described population pyramids and the principles behind them (p. 8 and 9). We matched different pyramid shapes to the different stages of the demographic transition, and talked about different countries and which stage they are at, and also the factors which make their pyramids the shape they are. Homework: Complete the exercises on the sheet for next Friday (10th) when I will collect it.
The Demographic Transition model
Here are today's notes: (27th Jan)
What is the birth rate and the death rate? How are they measured’?
How many children do you want to have?
How many brothers/sisters have you got?
How has family size changed over the years?
Do you know about anyone (grandmothers, grandfathers, etc.) who had lots of children?
Reasons why family size has decreased:
Help with farming in the old days, now not needed.
Kids are expensive now, whereas before they weren’t.
Women have careers now so don’t have the time for large families.
More old people than young now, who don’t have children.
People used to have large families to ensure the survival of a few, as lots died.
Society expectations, for example it was expected to marry early.
Contraception introduced in the 1960s.
We sketched and looked at in detail the demographic transition model on p. 6 to 7
Here are today's notes: (27th Jan)
What is the birth rate and the death rate? How are they measured’?
How many children do you want to have?
How many brothers/sisters have you got?
How has family size changed over the years?
Do you know about anyone (grandmothers, grandfathers, etc.) who had lots of children?
Reasons why family size has decreased:
Help with farming in the old days, now not needed.
Kids are expensive now, whereas before they weren’t.
Women have careers now so don’t have the time for large families.
More old people than young now, who don’t have children.
People used to have large families to ensure the survival of a few, as lots died.
Society expectations, for example it was expected to marry early.
Contraception introduced in the 1960s.
We sketched and looked at in detail the demographic transition model on p. 6 to 7
Population (20th Jan)
We talked about the following:
What is the world’s population at the present?
How will it change in the future (100 years)? Give reasons
Compose a graph from 0 to present to show how the population has changed.
Most predict it will slow down and eventually decrease – will this be a good thing or a bad thing? Give reasons.
Which parts of the world do you think are most densely populated and which are most sparsely populated?
p. 4 and 5 different maps. They are different because..
Homework for next Friday:
Describe 5 to 7 areas of both dense and sparse population (5 to 7 of each), using the dot map on p. 4.
For each one give reasons as to why it is dense or sparse. For each point you make, explain, using ‘so’, ‘because’, and you should write 400 or 500 words of text. Use the tables on p. 4 and 5 to help you.
We talked about the following:
What is the world’s population at the present?
How will it change in the future (100 years)? Give reasons
Compose a graph from 0 to present to show how the population has changed.
Most predict it will slow down and eventually decrease – will this be a good thing or a bad thing? Give reasons.
Which parts of the world do you think are most densely populated and which are most sparsely populated?
p. 4 and 5 different maps. They are different because..
Homework for next Friday:
Describe 5 to 7 areas of both dense and sparse population (5 to 7 of each), using the dot map on p. 4.
For each one give reasons as to why it is dense or sparse. For each point you make, explain, using ‘so’, ‘because’, and you should write 400 or 500 words of text. Use the tables on p. 4 and 5 to help you.
13th Jan: We continued with the supervolcano film
9th December: We looked at predicting earthquakes and volcanoes and how to prepare better for them, using p. 274 which you should read through, know well and complete the paragraph of notes we were making in the lesson.
Also, research the South East Asian Tsunami 2005 which you will watch a documentary about next lesson. Make sure you make proper notes about the video as you are watching.
Also, research the South East Asian Tsunami 2005 which you will watch a documentary about next lesson. Make sure you make proper notes about the video as you are watching.
2nd December: We introduced earthquakes and looked at what causes an earthquake, how it is meausured, what are the effects and the responses. We focussed on the Kobe earthquake, on p. 270 of the textbook.
Homework for next lesson but one (16th December), write a similar report as we have done about Kobe for the Sichuan Earthquake, including a short summary of how you rated the response to that earthquake.
The B test next Friday will be about all the work we have studied on plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes.
Homework for next lesson but one (16th December), write a similar report as we have done about Kobe for the Sichuan Earthquake, including a short summary of how you rated the response to that earthquake.
The B test next Friday will be about all the work we have studied on plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes.
25th November: We reviewed all the different types of plate margins, the structure of the earth and plate tectonics, then talked about the different types of volcano:
Two types of volcano:
1. Associated with constructive plate margins. Shield Volcanoes - Much flatter, often under the sea. Lava comes out slowly. Lava showers. Passive and slow, Lava slow, dense, very black. Examples in Iceland, the island Surtsey which was created in the 1960s
2. Associated with destructive plate margins. Cone Volcanoes - Steeper sides, higher, on surface. Explosive, with a giant burst, aggressive, with cone collapse and pyroclastic flows, pumice showers, massive ash cloud, poisonous gases, grey. Examples: Vesuvius, Mount St. Helens.
Write a report of the Mount St. Helens Volcanic eruption. Use the handouts that I gave you in the lesson and the internet if you wish. Include sections on Causes, and Effects, and photographs/diagrams which are clearly labelled. Must be ALL your own words, approx. 300 of them.
For next Friday, 2nd December.
Two types of volcano:
1. Associated with constructive plate margins. Shield Volcanoes - Much flatter, often under the sea. Lava comes out slowly. Lava showers. Passive and slow, Lava slow, dense, very black. Examples in Iceland, the island Surtsey which was created in the 1960s
2. Associated with destructive plate margins. Cone Volcanoes - Steeper sides, higher, on surface. Explosive, with a giant burst, aggressive, with cone collapse and pyroclastic flows, pumice showers, massive ash cloud, poisonous gases, grey. Examples: Vesuvius, Mount St. Helens.
Write a report of the Mount St. Helens Volcanic eruption. Use the handouts that I gave you in the lesson and the internet if you wish. Include sections on Causes, and Effects, and photographs/diagrams which are clearly labelled. Must be ALL your own words, approx. 300 of them.
For next Friday, 2nd December.
18th November: Today we watched the video from the bbc about the eruption of Vesuvius which destroyed Pompeii in 79 AD, and looked at the effects like a pyroclastic flow, ash fall, pumice fall and poisonous gas. We also went through the answers to the B test and your last homework, stressing the importance of writing in your own words rather than copying and pasting text. We practised this skill with 'collision margins'
These are the exercises I set last week when I wasn't here:
In exercise books or on paper, answer the questions 1 a,b,c,d and e on p. 276 – to be finished for homework and I will collect next lesson.
In exercise books or on paper, answer the questions 1 a,b,c,d and e on p. 276 – to be finished for homework and I will collect next lesson.
Research and write an account of a volcano similar to the ones on p. 266/267 or 268/269 of your book.
Include about 300 words of text (ALL your own words, NO copy and paste of text)
And some images (use reliable sources)
Include sections about:
The causes of the volcano
The effects of the volcano
The responses to the eruption
Present your report well and use geographical terminology
Label your images and quote your sources.
Include about 300 words of text (ALL your own words, NO copy and paste of text)
And some images (use reliable sources)
Include sections about:
The causes of the volcano
The effects of the volcano
The responses to the eruption
Present your report well and use geographical terminology
Label your images and quote your sources.
14th October = we looked at the physical map of Europe (rivers and mountain ranges), the 27 countries of the EU, flags of the EU and the different provinces of Belgium.
We have a B test next Friday (21st October).
It will be mostly a mapping skills test with exercises to do on a map, but you will also need to know information about countries, physical features of Europe.
Skills you need to practice therefore are:
Grid references (4 and 6 figure)
Measuring distances
Compass bearings
Interpreting symbols and contours
Etc.
It will be mostly a mapping skills test with exercises to do on a map, but you will also need to know information about countries, physical features of Europe.
Skills you need to practice therefore are:
Grid references (4 and 6 figure)
Measuring distances
Compass bearings
Interpreting symbols and contours
Etc.
7th October: We talked about our area on a small scale (boulevard du Triomphe, Arsenal, etc.) and then on a larger scale (the overview map of Brussels). Your homework is to draw a labelled sketch map of Brussels, showing the main features we have discussed. Make sure you put good labels with information for the main features.
Due next week (14th October).
Here is the link to the site with the photographs of our area before the University and school were built:
http://laplaine.jimdo.com/pr%C3%A9sentation/historique-du-site/1850-1990/
Due next week (14th October).
Here is the link to the site with the photographs of our area before the University and school were built:
http://laplaine.jimdo.com/pr%C3%A9sentation/historique-du-site/1850-1990/
Homework for 7th October:
I gave you a map of the area around our school.
Locate on the map the following features and research on the internet to give a short description (4 or 5 lines for each one) of some information about each one:
Cinquantinaire monument
Boulevard du triomphe and the area within it
Arsenal
453 avenue Louise
Le logis watermael boisfort
ALL YOUR OWN WORDS DON’T COPY AND PASTE TEXT!
I gave you a map of the area around our school.
Locate on the map the following features and research on the internet to give a short description (4 or 5 lines for each one) of some information about each one:
Cinquantinaire monument
Boulevard du triomphe and the area within it
Arsenal
453 avenue Louise
Le logis watermael boisfort
ALL YOUR OWN WORDS DON’T COPY AND PASTE TEXT!
30th September: We practiced the mapping skills that we have learnt doing the following exercise about the maps of Haweswater and the Lake District.
Haweswater map, English Lake District
Haweswater map, English Lake District
- Describe the main features of the area using compass directions and 4 figure grid references.
- Name the features at the following points:
- Give 6 figure references for:
- < >Birks Crag
- A disused quarry
- Artle Crag
- The centre of Blea Water
- Find and give 6 figure references for:
- a dry valley
- The highest point
- The steepest slopes of the valley of Randale Beck
- A rocky outcrop
- What is the approximate height of:
- The waterfall at 459103
- Small Water
- The source of Randale Beck
- The source of Guerness Gill
- Describe the main features of the area using compass directions and 4 figure grid references.
- Measure the straight line distance and give the compass direction between:
- Knowle farm and the centre of Minions
- Newlands farm and Knowle farm
- Caradon Hill and the shore of Siblyback lake
- A stone circle and the centre of Minions
- Give 6 figure references for:
- The highest point
- A valley
- The steepest slopes
- 1 piece of Evidence of mining in the area
- 2 pieces of evidence of ancient settlements
23rd September: We continued with mapping skills using 3 maps, the one of Tring, Minions and the Lake District.
We investigated grid references, scale, direction, measuring distance and contours. We will continue practising these next week.
We investigated grid references, scale, direction, measuring distance and contours. We will continue practising these next week.
Welcome to Year 4 Geography !
Today (16th Sept) we looked at the learning objectives, content and skills of the year 4 syllabus of study, in some detail.
We then went on to look at how to do 4 figure and 6 figure grid references using the 1:25 000 map of Tring in England. We will give you a lot more practice of this in next weeks lesson.
The four main topics are:
1. Surrounding region and the EU, mapping skills: B test 21st October.
2. Earth structure, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.
3. Population change
4. The environment and pollution, etc.