Our latest GlosGeog event (a CPD workshop aimed at primary school teachers, ECTs and trainees) was kindly hosted by The Balcarras Trust (https://www.balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk/). On board today were individuals from 18 schools across the county, some current GlosGeog members and others whom we soon recruited! Darren Bailey, from Ordnance Survey (OS), joined us for the first part to provide an overview of Digimap for Schools (DfS) and allow delegates to ‘have a play’ with him before I took over to discuss geographical skills and fieldwork in more depth.
After formally welcoming everyone and outlining the aims and format of the morning, I handed over to Darren. He gave us a comprehensive tour of the Digimap for Schools (DfS) platform and its tools (https://digimapforschools.edina.ac.uk/), encouraging teachers to trial different aspects along with him. Attendees were clearly impressed by its scope. I imagine there will be several schools signing up for an annual subcription to the service very soon!
Following a short break for refreshments and a spot of networking, we reconvened to explore geographical skills and fieldwork further. To begin with, I referred to the latest Ofsted geography subject report, ‘Getting our bearings‘, highlighting references to geographical skills and fieldwork within its main findings and recommendations sections (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/subject-report-series-geography/getting-our-bearings-geography-subject-report).
Next, we revisited key documentation, such as the EYFS statutory framework (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65aa5e42ed27ca001327b2c7/EYFS_statutory_framework_for_group_and_school_based_providers.pdf), non-statutory Development Matters and Birth to 5 Matters guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/development-matters–2 and https://birthto5matters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Birthto5Matters-download.pdf), as well as the National Curriculum geography programmes of study for key stages 1 and 2 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c1ecae5274a1f5cc75e97/PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_Geography.pdf), to refresh ourselves about coverage, sequencing and progression relating to geographical skills and fieldwork.
I also directed staff towards a couple of essential reads, namely an award-winning article written by Julia Tanner for Primary Geography journal entitled ‘Progression in geographical fieldwork experiences‘ (https://portal.geography.org.uk/downloads/journals/PG_SPR_2021_TANNER.pdf) and a more recent article composed by Steve Brace, Geographical Association (GA) Chief Executive, that appeared in Teachwire‘s Teach Secondary magazine (https://cdn.teachwire.net/e-mag/Teach-Secondary-Issue-13.6/64/ ) providing a primer for effective fieldwork. The Geographical Association Fieldwork and Outdoor Learning Special Interest Group (GAFOLSIG) has produced a brilliant poster outlining the ‘Reasons to do fieldwork‘; certainly one to refer to if you ever have to justify to SLT for wanting/needing time to take learning beyond the classroom (https://geography.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Poster-Reasons-to-do-fieldwork.pdf).
As time was of the essence, I pressed on to share my top ten go-to resources and websites with participants. I visited each in turn and pinpointed specific aspects that I felt they should look at. These included:
Digimap for Schools (DfS) – Learning Resources: https://digimapforschools.edina.ac.uk/learning-resources/
Royal Geographical Society (RGS-IBG) – Resources for Schools: https://www.rgs.org/schools/resources-for-schools
The Everyday Guide to Primary Geography: Local Fieldwork: Geographical Association online shop: https://portal.geography.org.uk/shop/view/P020586
Geographical Association National Festival of Fieldwork: https://geography.org.uk/national-fieldwork/
Mission Explore: The Geography Collective – Book 1: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mission-Explore-Geography-Collective/dp/1904872336
The Island Geographer, aka Chloë Searl: https://www.theislandgeographer.co.uk/resources and https://x.com/theislandgeogr
Creative Fieldwork 2: https://www.field-studies-council.org/shop/publications/creative-fieldwork-2/.
National Nature Education Park: https://www.educationnaturepark.org.uk/resources
Teachwire, Teach Primary and Teach Early Years website/magazines: https://www.teachwire.net/primary/geography/ and https://www.teachearlyyears.com/learning-and-development
Geographical Association Geog Live! webinars: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Geog+live+fieldwork
I often get asked by teachers how they might incorporate fieldwork when they are studying countries much further afield, so I projected the Geographical Association (GA)’s response to this question and also highlighted five virtual experiences that I have recently engaged with.
e.g.
2041 School: https://2041school.com/teaching-resources/
Wicked Weather Watch: https://create2inspire.co.uk/2023/04/25/glosgeog-successfully-collaborates-with-local-charity-wicked-weather-watch/ and https://create2inspire.co.uk/2024/09/24/all-were-certainly-up-for-our-sustainability-art-challenge/
Ocean Conservation Trust/National Marine Aquarium: https://www.national-aquarium.co.uk/experiences-events
The Eden Project: https://www.edenproject.com/learn
Step into the Amazon: https://stepintotheamazon.co.uk/2024/06/03/a-truly-global-dimension/ and https://stepintotheamazon.co.uk/2024/10/23/our-new-offering-went-down-a-treat/
I gave teachers time to independently explore the above suggestions that were most relevant to their particular cohort/interests. In addition, there was an opportunity for individuals to ask any questions that they had or gain further fieldwork ideas if required. There were very few, if any, which exemplified that I had done my job properly!
The session concluded with attendees completing a short online evaluation form, not only to provide valuable feedback to myself, other GlosGeog Committee members and those at the Geographical Association (GA), but also to prompt delegates to identify the key takeaways from the session and contemplate their next steps for Term 3 onwards.
Judging from their ‘concluding comments‘, it appears to have been a worthwhile way to spend an wintry Tuesday morning:
Great practical guidance on digital mapping and plenty of ideas for fieldwork. It was an extremely helpful session, even for an experienced Geography Lead.
Inspiring.
Informative with regard to how to use Digimap for Schools in a variety of different ways. Useful list of websites to explore later.
Great knowledge and geography ideas.
Informative and full of high quality resources.
Overwhelming, but helpful.
Engaging and practical.
Really informative.
Thanks, Emma. I feel really inspired to get some mapping done and am going to use Digimap for Schools in my history lesson tomorrow to map and measure Viking routes!
Lovely to speak to you yesterday. I thought the course was really useful and came away with lots of ideas for geography.
I shall be keeping my eyes peeled for evidence of teachers developing pupils’ geographical skills and taking learning beyond the classroom on a regular basis. Feel free to contact me if you need any more support. Good luck!