Geography and all that Jazz

The Ordnance Survey Free Maps for 11 Year Olds are arriving in schools - you may already have had yours... When you get the maps, you will also find a couple of (much sought after) hard copies of a publication called "The Language of Landscape" The booklet is supported by a series of downloads from the NATURAL ENGLAND website. I have created a SURVEY MONKEY SURVEY for those who have got their maps, and have also made use of the "Language of Landscape" to help students use the maps: whether inside or outside the classroom (or ideally both...) Click Here to take survey If you have used the maps and the book, please fill in the survey. All completed questionnaires by 1st of December will be entered into a Prize Draw to win a copy of the KS3 Teachers Toolkit title: "Look at it this Way", a copy of the Geography Collective's "Journey Journal" and a few other geographical goodies....

The OS Free Maps for Schools scheme is underway once again. Schools will receive letters in September relating to the scheme. As in previous years, schools can claim a free OS Explorer 1: 25 000 map for each 11 year old pupil. This year, schools will also receive 2 copies of a booklet called "The Language of Landscapes" along with the maps, produced in assocation with Natural England and the Geographical Association.

The latest version of the OS Mapping News magazine has just dropped on my desk. Good to see plenty of information relating to the work of the GA, and some familiar names. There was a report on the OS Free Maps for Schools: in 2008-9, a total of almost 700 000 free maps were requested. pp. 8-9 has an article on geocaching, which I have done several times, and is a good 'geographical' activity to do with young children pp. 10-11 features Val Vannet's excellent 'My Patch' activity using Get a Map and Geograph pp. 14-16 features Tim Bayliss and Lawrence Collins' look at accessible GIS for schools pp. 26-29 features my article on 'Bringing Maps to Life' based around the Ronald Lampitt-illustrated book 'The Map that Came to Life' Final session has plenty on the GA projects, Living Geography conferences, and the Annual Conference plus launch of ' a different view '. The latest version: SPRING 2009, can be DOWNLOADED FROM OS WEBSITE .

Prepare for a biggie... This is a catch up from a prolonged absence from the world of all things web based. Had a very nice week down in Devon dodging the showers. I am currently downloading over 300 high quality digital images, and my wife took another 400. Look on FLICKR tomorrow, and will also be Animoto-ing some of them. Also enjoying listening to the WALL-E soundtrack at the moment... On my return spent the rest of the afternoon (and now started into the evening) catching up with a heaving inbox, and various programmes I needed to download on iPlayer (the TV in the holiday home only had 4 channels - can you imagine that ?) There were lots of interesting news items that occured while I was away.... First of all, well done to all KES Geographers for their A2 results . 100% pass rate and some very pleasing individual performances. Particularly well done to Chris. Below is the front of the Lynn News, which has a very pleasing headline, which of course refers to KES... ...

Another bit of gratuitous publicity on the GEOGRAPHYTEACHINGTODAY website.

Ordnance Survey Award for excellence in Geography teaching Had the great honour of receiving this award yesterday at the Royal Geographical Society . Congratulations to Louise Ellis, who won the 2nd Ordnance Survey Award, and thanks to the fellows and colleagues who nominated me. Congratulations also to all the other medal and award winners, and thanks to Vanessa Lawrence for presenting me with the award. Left to right Roger Jeans, Education Manager, Ordnance Survey Louise Ellis, Ordnance Survey award recipient Dr. Vanessa Lawrence, Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey (and also Honorary Vice President of the GA) Alan Parkinson (that's me...) Went down to the RGS yesterday to collect the award: a chunky piece of glass and a welcome and unexpected financial bonus, plus very nice scroll. Enjoyed the whole occasion. We had a tour of the society including some of its archive of objects, and also the Reception in the evening. Good to meet my new 'boss', and al...

2 RGS-IBG 'events'... Just catching up with the Monday night lecture that Robert MacFarlane gave at the Royal Geographical Society on the 14th of April relating to his wonderful book that I have blogged about before: " The Wild Places ". I was unable to attend this particular lecture (it being my daughter's birthday), but this is the next best thing... It's available to RGS-IBG members, and I would recommend that you listen to it. It's full of humour and powerful images, and introduces a new way of exploring the landscape: "border crossings" as Dr. MacFarlane calls them.... It was also good to hear mentions of some of my favourite authors: Barry Lopez (probably my favourite writer if pushed...), Colin Thubron, William Least-Heat Moon, Roger Deakin, Thoreau and Bruce Chatwin, and mentions of some of my favourite places, such as Camasunary and Coruisk on Skye, the Burren's limestone, Bleaklow in the Peak District and the wild expanse of Ran...

Geography and Maps Just got an e-mail from Ordnance Survey to say that my Free Maps for my current Year 7 pupils have been dispatched and should arrive within the week. I've ordered Explorer Map 250 : Norfolk Coast West, which is shown above. Many thanks to the OS for continuing this initiative, and a reminder to Dr. Vanessa Lawrence that King Edward VII school is covered up on the OS 1: 50 000 map of King's Lynn by the word 'Coll' - hopefully we'll re-appear on the next edition of the map ? UPDATE: Maps now received and distribution has started... Geography and Jazz (Continued....) Finally Pat Metheny's "The Way Up" is released on DVD in early October. An essential purchase. Has an HD option, and a 5:1 sound mix. Mmmm... Order through Amazon, follow the link from my Bookshop if you do.... Update 4th October - DVD is on the way... Update 10th October - DVD arrived, and is fabulous ! - great Lyle Mays solos...