How to make a graph the talk of the town

Posted on by Kit Rackley

With @COP25CL #COP25 in full swing, a throwback to an #NGSS workshop by one of the talented @exploratorium Teacher Institute staff back in 2018, demonstrating a range of strategies that makes CO2 graphical data a lively conversation piece. A very useful set of resources for teaching #climatechange.

Click on “View original post” to get the full breakdown and tutorial!

The Life Geographic

In relation to my previous post, I wanted to focus on one of the Exploratorium Teacher Institute STEM NGSS Conference sessions in more detail as it is directly relevant to all UK GCSE Geography syllabuses. Also it was a pretty cool piece of professional development and worth sharing with folks back home!

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The ‘Trends and Correlation in Environmental Data’ session presented by Lori Lambertson ticks a lot of boxes: various topics about climate change and the carbon cycle; graphical and enquiry skills… Let me take you through it.

1. The ‘anchoring phenomenon’

IMG_1807Lori starts us off by stating that the basis of the session will be a graph that we will all be contributing too, calling this graph an ‘anchoring phenomenon’. Now this term was new to me (whether it’s new to my UK Science teaching colleagues, I don’t know!).

First it’s useful to define the term ‘science phenomena’…

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Antarctica Week

Posted on by Kit Rackley

Did you know that this week is ‘Antarctica Week’? Here’s a post from two years ago that contains a fantastic ‘letter’ written by someone who works with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). He’s also not a bad at taking a snap or two – so go ahead and click on the “View Original Post” link and enjoy reading his experiences and looking at some fabulous images in honour of Antarctica Week!

The Life Geographic

In Part 2 I’ll talk a little about the scientific importance of studying the Arctic and Antarctic, and treat you to a ‘letter’ from a close friend of mine who is currently in Antarctica with British Antarctic Survey! (Part 1 here)…

As a human race we live in microcosms with microcosms. Individually we are very self-centered. While that gives us traits to be equally ashamed and proud about, it can narrow the focus.

Think what you know about the Arctic and Antarctica for example. How did you come about that knowledge? If it’s because you’ve seen either for yourself, you’re only 0.03% of the world’s population who has that first-hand experience (assumptions made, like every visit was a single individual in 2016-17). Last year (2016-17) the number of visitors to Antarctica was 44,202. So the vast majority of what we know, as the general public, comes from…

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“What gets us into trouble is not…”

Posted on by Kit Rackley

A throwback to this post 2 years ago, sparked by news of an upcoming
@BBC documentary about ‘Climategate’ – Thursday 14th November 2019 at 9pm on BBC4 (https://bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000b8p2).

https://twitter.com/geogramblings/status/1193179112254398464?s=20

https://twitter.com/geogramblings/status/1193190768720125952?s=20

The Life Geographic

Whatever opinion anyone may have about science, what is indisputable is that modern humans simply could not exist without it. Even groups who chose to reject science as a way of life cannot be 100% free of it, but I’m not going down that long and winding road which ends up pointing out the many benefits of science enjoyed by people who are hostile to it. Those in who hold anti-vaccine or climate-skeptic ideals are not necessarily anti-science, so that debate would be unhelpful.

It is fascinating to me why people do reject certain aspects of science or even the scientific process outright. After-all, science conducted honestly and methodically is the pursuit of the absolute truth. But this is where I think science is its own worst enemy – and that’s due to people tending to pick out their own truths that back up their beliefs.

I’ve engaged in…

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Breathe, think, consider, tweet

Posted on by Kit Rackley

Arguably, current affairs mean that the time for pause and substantiated critical thought is more important than ever. Social media in particular is full of quick judgements and prejudice on one hand, and unfortunately down-right nastiness and abuse on the other. Perhaps there is little that can be done with those who engage in the … Continue reading Breathe, think, consider, tweet →

Global Climate Strike: Open letter to school leaders

Posted on by Kit Rackley

Global Climate Strike (Friday 20th September): My open letter to school leaders.

I’m working on it…!

Posted on by Kit Rackley

Don't worry, all! I haven't been updating much that's because I've been up to a lot. I do plan on (a) finishing reposting entries from the old 2013 Malawi blog and (b) summarising some recent and upcoming happenings that are very exciting! Here are a few selected tweets from @Geogramblings which I suppose act as … Continue reading I’m working on it…! →

The old lady, the cow and the goat

Posted on by Kit Rackley

From 2013: The village of Mcheneka is an ‘average’ village according to Davie. Sited along a dirt road, there are scattered houses made from clay brick and straw roofs.

The Life Geographic

11 May 2019 – This is an imported page from an old blog I kept during my travels to Malawi. Next month (June 2019) as part of this year’s Norwich-Dedza Partnership exchange, teachers from Malawi will be visiting the UK. So in celebration and preparation for that, I will be re-blogging the thoughts I made during my visit in 2013.

You can find an index of all the 2013 Malawi blog entries here. Zikomo!

“The old lady, the cow and the goat”

29th May 2013; Mcheneka, Malawi

Run, run fast as you can!
You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!
I am your dreams and I am your hopes
But a greater distance I seem to span
You will tire
As I stay quick
Until the carrot
Becomes the stick
If you are idle or tend to despair
I will ever be out of touch
But passion and…

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We are all made of stars

Posted on by Kit Rackley

From 2013: A colleague and I went off-grid for a couple of days: Mcheneka is approx 15km WSW of Dedza – not far at all, you may say. But the way is by unpaved dirt road, full of bruising divots and bumps… and we decided to go by bicycle taxi… #Malawi

The Life Geographic

11 May 2019 – This is an imported page from an old blog I kept during my travels to Malawi. Next month (June 2019) as part of this year’s Norwich-Dedza Partnership exchange, teachers from Malawi will be visiting the UK. So in celebration and preparation for that, I will be re-blogging the thoughts I made during my visit in 2013.

You can find an index of all the 2013 Malawi blog entries here. Zikomo!

“We are all made of stars”

28th May 2019; Mcheneka, Malawi

The carpet; the tiles; the door; the mobile phone; the roots; the soil; the grass; the pavement; the mobile phone; the car; the road; the gear stick; the road; the pavement; the shop door; the product; the mobile phone; the shopping trolley; the product; the product; the product; the mobile phone; the toddler trying to trip you over; the product; the checkout; the wallet…

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