Geography
Coastal town case study: choose a response
Sort case facts from unanswered questions, compare two coastal responses and justify a choice using evidence.
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Head of Geography
Struan Whitelaw
I lead Geography across secondary and teach a Year 8 unit on the Mekong Delta in coordination with Vietnamese Studies.
Explore the collectionA little about me
I lead Geography across secondary and teach a Year 8 unit on the Mekong Delta in coordination with Vietnamese Studies. The topic has physical and human dimensions, and I want pupils to encounter both without treating them as unrelated subjects. Working with colleagues helps us make the connections clearer and avoid repeating the same material without a shared purpose.
Access to reliable local sources matters. I look for material that represents the place and people being studied, and that pupils can read and discuss in a language they understand. Translation needs to preserve meaning, especially when a geographical explanation depends on a particular term or local perspective.
I value resources that bring evidence, maps and questions together. A strong task can ask pupils to compare what a source shows with another kind of information and explain how the views connect. I want Geography to give pupils a grounded way to ask questions about place, change and the relationship between people and environments.
How I approach a lesson
Connect physical and human perspectives on a place.
Use local sources and check the quality of translation.
Coordinate related teaching so pupils can see meaningful links.
Templates I'd use with my class
Explore these templates and decide what fits your own setting.
Geography
River data: calculate a fictional discharge
Use a fictional river data set to find mean depth, cross-section area, mean velocity and discharge with units.
Geography
Map reading: Kestrel Vale with teacher notes
Locate places with four- and six-figure references, describe direction and distance, and justify a site choice with evidence from a fictional map.
Geography
Map reading: explore fictional Kestrel Vale
Pupils should give four- and six-figure references in easting-first order, describe direction from the stated starting place and convert measured distances using the scale. Their route and car-park judgements should cite specific features and acknowledge a disadvantage.