1. Geography concepts: What, why and how?
Liz Taylor
University of Cambridge

2. (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.)

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

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. 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?

7. A detailed knowledge of content is important
concepts
methods
(processes, skills)
knowledge
(range, content)
Geography concepts: what, why & how?

8. But which concepts should we use to organise it?
Geography concepts: what, why & how?

9. Different people, different purposes, different lists…
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 effect
classification
decision-making
development
inequality
location
planning
systems
space and place
scale and connection
proximity and distance
relational thinking
Geography concepts: what, why & how?

10. 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?

11. 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?

12. Geography concepts: what, why & how?
Perception & representation
Change
Interaction
Diversity
Geography concepts: what, why & how?

13. Place, space, time central
Diversity
SPACE
PLACE TIME
Interaction
Change
Perception & representation
Geography concepts: what, why & how?

14. 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?

15. …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 sequence
Geography concepts: what, why & how?

16. 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?

17. 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?

18. 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?

19. Achieving focus… Question setting Planning sequence (selection)
Which key concept?
Outcome activity
Geography concepts: what, why & how?

20. Conclusions
Why?
What?
How?
Geography concepts: what, why & how?

21. Challenges for future development…
Long term progression
Synthesis
Geography concepts: what, why & how?

22. More info… GA website – big concepts thinkpiece(
Teaching Geography – summer ‘08
CPD course 2009 –
Thank you!
Geography concepts: what, why & how?

23. Geography concepts: what, why & how?