place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Geography concepts:What, why and how?

Liz TaylorUniversity of Cambridge

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

(This slide showed an image of an exercise book page from 1947 – lots of small pictures showing characteristics and products of different regions of France.)

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

(This slide showed a detailed map in coloured pencil of the relief and key features of Spain and Portugal.)

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

A more recent example…

Ecosystems– Elements in an ecosystem (biotic,

abiotic, food chains and webs)– Rainforest ecosystems – Desert ecosystems– Mediterranean ecosystems

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

An even more recent example…

Geography of crime– Defining and categorising crime– Crime in the local area– Mapping crime (GIS)– Preventing crime

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

What’s the big idea?

• Key concepts can be used in planning to give focus, to aid selection of content, to organise.

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

A detailed knowledge of content is important

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

concepts

knowledge (range, content)

methods(processes, skills)

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

But which concepts should we use to organise it?

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Different people, different purposes, different lists…

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

Schools Council Project History, Geography and Social Science (1976) in Marsden (1995)

Leat (1998) Jackson (2006)

communication power beliefs and values conflict/consensus continuity/change similarity/difference causes and consequences

cause and effectclassificationdecision-makingdevelopmentinequalitylocationplanningsystems

space and placescale and connectionproximity and distancerelational thinking

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Which concepts?

• Concepts are classifiers – tools for making sense of the world

• Which are most powerful for constructing school geography around (in this time and place)?

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Key concepts in the 2008 NC

• place• space• scale• interdependence• physical and human processes• environmental interaction and

sustainable development• cultural understanding and diversity

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

Diversity

Perception & representation

Change

Interaction

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Place, space, time central

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

SPACE

PLACE TIME

Diversity

ChangeInteraction

Perception & representation

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

The proof of the pudding…

… is in whether thinking about these ideas helps us to plan geographically rigorous, engaging and challenging sequences of learning…

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

…so how can this happen?

Enquiry sequence…• short, focussed sequence of lessons• a good enquiry question (pith &

rigour)• driven by a particular big concept• outcome activity which answers the

question and is integral to the sequenceGeography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Constructing a good question is vital!

• A question the pupils will want to answer (pith)

• A question which will encourage careful and challenging thinking about a geographical topic (rigour)

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Do these have pith & rigour?

• What are the human and physical factors which have affected coastal erosion in the Dunwich area over the past 50 years?

• Olympics in China: good or bad?• Should people be allowed to destroy the

Amazon rainforest?

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

It’s not easy, but it is important!

Some work in progress…• How far has my mobile travelled?

(interaction/globalisation)• Glastonbury: environmental friend or foe?

(interaction/sustainability)• Where should the Smiths live in Australia?

(diversity)• Lake District 2050: What will it be like?

(change)

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Achieving focus…

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

Question setting

Which key concept?

Outcome activity

Planning sequence (selection)

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Conclusions

• Why? • What?• How?

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Challenges for future development…

• Long term progression• Synthesis

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

More info…

• GA website – big concepts thinkpiece(www.geography.org.uk/projects/gtip/thinkpieces/)

• Teaching Geography – summer ‘08• CPD course 2009 – ejt38@cam.ac.uk

• Thank you!

Geography concepts: what, why & how?

place place place place teraction interaction ity sustainability sust arm farm farm farm farm farm

e space space space sity diversity diversity change change change cier glacier glacier glacier tion interaction interaction n perception perception ess process process migration migration power power power me time time time time river river river river river river change change change place place place place ustainability sustainability ace space space space

Geography concepts: what, why & how?