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Geography

In this subject children learn geographical skills, knowledge and understanding of places, physical geography, human geography and environmental geography. At Lower Park, this involves studying the local area and learning about countries very different from our own. Aspects covered include map making and reading, weather study, landscape features, erosion and land use.

A residential field study is organised for Year 4 pupils to Tattenhall, a small village near Chester. This allows pupils to compare Poynton with a contrasting location.

Whatever you are studying in geography there maybe something useful for you to look at on the web. Here is a list of useful sites which may help with your homework or even give you suggestions for a holiday

If you come across other good geography sites e-mail them to your Lower Park Web Editors saying why you think they are 'cool'.

Biodiversity Bingo
A simple, informative game matching animals and plants to their environment, this fun website would be useful for science and geography topics across the primary age range. The species are provided by colourful images and four habitats are described: temperate forest, temperate freshwater, tropical forest and tropical marine.

Deep in the Bush, Where People Rarely Ever Go
A beautifully-presented site that cannot fail to capture the imagination of the children in your class. Use these African folktales in the Literacy Hour or as part of an African study in geography (distant place). Stuck for a lesson plan? Don't worry, there are plenty of ideas included as well as assessment criteria in a range of English skills.

Finding Your Way with Map and Compass
This is a site completely dedicated to using topographic maps and compasses. It provides clear and easy-to-follow instructions with visual examples and exercises. An excellent introduction to map-reading or orienteering, and a valuable resource for the geography student.

Graphyle Quizzes
Here are some quick, five-question quizzes for Key Stage 2 that could fill a bit of classroom time. Choose from geography, history (Roman, Anglo Saxon or Viking Britain), maths or science. Children simply click their choice of answer and submit them when finished for a score. Each quiz is on one of three levels are there are even questions for teachers and parents.

Landmarks: World Environmental Changes
Children aged 9-11 will enjoy using this exciting resource from the BBC to augment their global geography studies. The site and accompanying TV series focus on five ecosystems - wetlands, drylands, cities, the sea and forests - and give detailed information about where they are, why they are there, the plants and animals that live there and the environmental problems they face. Case studies are in integral part of each section. All this is available in Flash animation or in low-tech format and children can take part in activities to put their acquired knowledge to use.

Letsfindout
A very well organised general knowledge site that professes to be a great homework helper. It does live up to its own description. Information can be easily found through a variety of routes, the simplest of which is the simple text search. The site is aimed mainly at Key Stage 2 pupils.

Mr. Dowling's Electronic Passport
The Electronic Passport is an online geography book that allows you to browse the globe. Journey through time and space and meet the people who have created the cultures of the world. This is a fun, colourful and sometimes irreverent look at the physical and human world. It even includes a sortable list of nations with key statistical facts. A great resource for Key Stages 2, 3 and 4.

Online World Atlas
This ultimate online atlas for your class enables your children to access either a political or physical world atlas and then zoom in on any world region, continent or country. Especially useful with the everchanging borders and boundries of the 21st century. Can be used in conjunction with UK studies or distant place studies from the KS2 geography curriculum.

Ordnance Survey
The Ordnance Survey website provides a wonderful geography resource for anything from local studies to contrasting localities and map-reading. Maps can be searched for in 'get a map' by gazetteer, post code or grid reference. The section specifically devoted to education includes aerial photography and a wall maps section.

Planetpals Earthzone
Planetpals Earthzone teaches youngsters to love our planet and everything in it. The bright characters help Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils learn about Earth and their environment in a fun way through activities, games and crafts. It contains recycle kits, facts, lists, an e-zine and teacher and parent pages. Like the Planetpals say, a friend for Earth is a friend for life!

Polar Pairs
A simple, but attractive, matching game involving animals inhabiting the Arctic resides here. A correct match reveals an interesting fact and a wild sound. It may be useful in Key Stage 1 classrooms for science or geography topics relating to habitats or animals. The game requires a Java-enabled browser.

Rain Stick
This is a great making activity that any child at either Key Stage 1 or 2 will love. If you haven't already used a rainstick then you are in for a treat. Simply download the activity details and all the children have to do is follow the step-by-step instructions to make their own instrument. Try challenging the children to change the sound of their rainstick or to compose a rainforest medley. A great cross-curricular idea for music, design and technology and geography.

Rigby's World of Egypt
An extensive site covering the Egyptian Antiquities museum, the history of Tutankhamun and other people's tombs, as well as a host of other information on Egypt past and present. There are some great photographs of Egypt from space and links off to other sites of interest. Excellent for primary pupils as an aid to their historical or geographical studies.

River Resource
This site aims to provide links to sites about rivers, including school projects on rivers around the world. Some project links, e.g. the Mississippi River Home Page, are good while others are disappointing. The river site links are mostly American, but include some UK rivers which may be useful for Key Stage 2 and 3 geography studies.

Rivers: The Facts
Basic information about rivers from the 'New Internationalist' magazine, which would usefully support a geographical study of rivers at Key Stage 2. There are facts on the world's five longest rivers and about global water use. A detailed site with an environmental slant.

The UK Street Map
A really good site that will encourage and stimulate children's interest and enjoyment of classroom mapwork with both familiar and unfamiliar places. The site will search for and present a map of anywhere in the UK (NI on the way). Just type in your postcode, town, OS or Landranger grid references and up pops a clear, printable map of the area. If you live in London, type in your street name and your locality appears. This site offers countless possibilities for Key Stage 2 and above geography students.

The Water Cycle
A good site for teachers about to cover the 'changing materials' section from 'materials and their properties' in Key Stage 2 science. The site clearly describes the water cycle in child-friendly text, making the opening page ideal for downloading or for children to browse. Each keyword has further in-depth pages to stretch more able children. Teacher's notes give step-by-step lesson plans showing how to set up effective and fun in-class demonstrations of the water cycle.

The Water Cycle from North West Water
This is an entertaining and interactive illustration of the water cycle. The graphics are bright and colourful but the associated text is sometimes detailed and may need explanation for younger or less able Key Stage 2 pupils. A basic prior understanding would assist student comprehension. The site could provide suitable revision for Key Stage 3 students.

The World Fact Book 2000
This comprehensive resource, strangely from the CIA, provides concise statistical information about every country in the world. It could be used to provide contextual data for any geography locality study. There is a large amount of data so pupils will have to be selective. There are also large, clear maps for reference.

The Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, designated as one of England and Wales' ten National Parks. This website gives some basic background information on geographical features like the limestone cliffs and tarn at Malham and waterfalls at Ingleton. It would be useful for a locality study on Yorkshire or as a primer for a school visit. There are also other local details for the general visitor and countryside enthusiast.

Useless Knowledge.Com
A site that puts itself down in its title is actually a mine of interesting, if somewhat irrelevant, information. From the true meaning of unusual words (great for the Literacy Hour!) to explanations of eternal conundrums, pupils will be able to find out more than they will ever need to know. They can test themselves on science, geography, history and sport but beware the American bias. A must for Trivial Pursuit addicts!

Weather Glossary
A simple text-based (so fast-loading) site that aims to cover all terminology related to weather. It is aimed at upper Key Stage 2 pupils and has links within definitions allowing for further research if required. Easy to navigate and very informative.

Who Lives Here??
Take part in a worldwide animal rescue adventure! Stolen animals must be returned to their homes. Key Stage 1 pupils will enjoy developing their knowledge of animal habitats and geography with these colourful, interactive games. Each game requires Shockwave.

Wild Places (WWF)
Part of the WWF Global Network, this site offers well-presented, easy-to-use information, maps and pictures about ten ecosystems including deserts, tropical rainforests and polar regions. Students could research information, e.g. on how plants and animals adapt to their environment, and do the quizzes supplied. A good resource for Key Stage 2 and 3 geography students.

Zoom Rainforest
This is an excellent introduction to the flora, fauna and climate of both temperate and tropical rainforests. Facts are clearly presented with many animated pictures and colourful images. It would be useful for geography, environmental conservation, or minibeast topics with both Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils.

Zoom School
Young children can learn about the geography, people and wildlife of a variety of countries including Canada, Japan, and Australia with this colourful and informative site. It provides a useful introduction for Key Stage 1 pupils and is a good resource for Key Stage 2 project work and lesson ideas.