Collaboration better than Competition
By Matt Podbury
Geography Teacher at the
International School of Toulouse
@mattpodbury
Author of www.geographypods.com
& http://igcsegeography.ning.com/
Mixing it up with Geography
Geog/History – Year 7 Induction Activity
• Ice Man – Breaking Bad!
• Basic Ingedients – The Ice Man
Dressing Up – Jessy & Walt Style!
The "Five Key
Questions" which we
decided to investigate
further are as
follows…
At this stage of
the investigation
it is sure that …….
At this stage of the
investigation it is
likely that …….
1. We think that Otzi was buried underneath a mass of ice, but
can you find any evidence that a glacier existed in the area?
2. How did Otzi stay so well
preserved for over 5000 years?
Effects of altitude on
temperature & body
decomposition
3. Objects and bodies
underneath the ice on mountains
generally move downhill over
time. We don't think that Otzi
moved very far from the place
where he died. Why is this?
Evidence of
glaciation
(features)
The Geography
(…and Science!)
Taking the
historial evidence
further …
Google Earth &
Maps
http://www.geographypods.com/the-ice-man.html
Geography/History – Middle East
• In Year 12, IB History students present to IB Geographers
• History of Israel / Palestine is divided into four different time periods.
• Each group uses a different teaching tactic to bring the geographers
up to date and understand the complex issues behind the current
crisis.
• In Year 13, the IB Geographers then put together presentations that
use Israel & Palestine as the focus of modern day Geography using
the IB units as the focus.
Modern Day Israel Palestine Geographic Issues
• PRESENTATION 1 - WATER WARS 2015- PROTECTING ISRAEL'S INTERESTS OR A
STRANGLEHOLD ON GAZA? (Freshwater – Regional water conflict)
• PRESENTATION 2 - DIVIDING WALLS 2015 - GUARANTEEING SECURITY OR GRABBING
LAND? (Patterns & Change – Disparities, land ownership)
• PRESENTATION 3 - ADVENTURE TOURISM 2014 - TOURISM IN A WAR ZONE
(Sports, Leisure & Tourism – Changes in supply and demand)
• PRESENTATION 4 - IMMIGRATION 2015 - IMMIGRANTS V'S IMMIGRANTS (Patterns &
Change – Populations in transition)
• PRESENTATION 5 - MINI SILICON VALLEY - CONNECTING PEOPLE! - SUCCEEDING
WHERE THE POLITICIANS HAVE FAILED? (Global Interactions, contrasting rates of
adoption of ICT)
http://www.geographypods.com/israel--palestine-group-3.html
Year 12 – Whole School Induction Event
http://www.geographypods.com/ib-induction-cross-curricular.html
http://www.activehistory.co.uk/gallery/IS_mag_2013_edit.pdf
Business, Geography & History – Setting up a
Fairtrade School Commerical Enterprise.
• We are just in the process of starting this scheme to run from 2016
• Year 12 are taught first about the history of inequalities (starting with the slave
trade) and then about the geography of inequalities (global development, core
& peripheries etc) through respective lessons over one full term.
• Business then teaches about ethical trade, market access etc.
• Students then set up a Fair Trade product business in school selling via a tuck
shop and online twice a week to teachers, parents & students.
• Profits are donated to a charity of choice in Toulouse and students are expected
to play a further role in the charity operation.
• Brings the content of the courses together and provides practical first hand
experience of the issues surrounding trade and development.
Geography & Maths
Collaboration with @teachmaths
• What if the World Was a Village of 100 People?
• To show population growth and density as well as disparities.
• Data set took a long, long time to collate (but I have a copy for anyone who
wants it)
• You’ll need 100 willing students and helpers (Year 6 induction activity??)
• You’ll need to film it
• You’ll need to not mind complete chaos for one hour!
• You’ll need a mega phone!
• It is one of the most popular cross curricular projects we have ever done
and was completed last week as an icebreaker at the ATM conference.
• This presentation, as well as the data set for World Village is on this
page: http://www.geographypods.com/ga-teach-meet-2015.html
• I’ll tweet the link with the #gaconf15 after this presentation.
• Or tweet me, and I’ll send the link back to you.
• @mattpodbury
• support@geographypods.com