Introducing Geography
Planning a ‘mini unit’ at the start of
Key Stage 3
So what is Geography and why is it
important?
• Geographical imaginations can be a good
place to start. Most students will have an
idea about different aspects of geography
and this can be explored by simply posing
the question “What is geography?”
• From here, the importance statement can
provide a good guide as to what to include
in an introductory unit
How to use the importance
statement
• There are various parts of the importance
statement that can be used to introduce
geography at key stage 3 for example:
– Wonder about places
– Changing world
– Interconnectivity
– Asking questions
– Issues affecting the world and people’s lives
Wonder about places
• This could involve thinking about holiday
destinations of the class and getting students to
find out more about places they have visited
• Introducing students to completely different
places with awe and wonder for example
Fantastic Places as featured on the RGS-IBG
website www.rgs.org/schools
Changing World
• Looking at maps to see how the world has
changed in terms of, for example,
population, wealth, rainforest cover – the
possibilities are endless!
• Using satellite images to show land use
change and development in the local area
Interconnectivity
• Mapping countries involved in making a
single item of clothing
• Internet shopping and how it connects
people and companies all over the world
• Mapping food found in cupboards at home
Asking questions
• Students write down questions they have
about geography in general at the
beginning of the course. These questions
can be put on the classroom wall and
referred to during the unit
• Students write down questions at the end
of the lesson about aspects of the topic
they would still like to know about
Issues affecting the world and
people’s lives
• This provides an opportunity to build in
topicality
• Local issues – building new houses,
closing down of local post office
• Global issues – climate change,
deforestation, food supply
How to make it successful
• Plan your mini unit to suit the strengths of
your department and needs of your
students – make it relevant to them!
• Lessons can be one off ‘tasters’ which are
punchy and thought provoking
• Introducing geography in this way gives
you the scope to deliver something a little
bit different to topics covered in your
schemes of work
For more ideas
Have a look at the ‘Revealing the
Importance of Geography’ article on the
RGS-IBG website, which has ideas about
using the Importance Statement and how
and why to involve students in making the
curriculum
www.rgs.org/schools