The perception of place
We begin this unit with an activity designed to highlight the importance of presenting positive and accurate representations of distant places. Part 1 could be carried out in groups of colleagues, or as part of a staff INSET session, with a view to then using it as a classroom activity. Part 2 could be carried out with your own class or with a group of pupils; it provides an opportunity for you to assess, and make notes on, the perceptions pupils have of distant places. Look at the activity on the right now.
Activity Resources:
- Images
- Interactive
- Sound
- Text
- Video
Activity
Part 1: for teachers
Click on the Text icon and carry out the activity 'Where is this place?' (Ritson, 1996, pp. 14-15).
Part 2: for pupils
- Choose a distant locality, preferably one studied as part of a scheme of work, such as India, or one which is currently topical. Ask groups of pupils to note down their ideas on that place. Click on the Text icon and print off sufficient copies of the 'Locality questions' (Brownlie, 1995, p. 16, quoted in Young and Commins, 2002, p. 161) for pupils to use as a framework.
- Keep notes from this activity for use later in this unit. Use this activity and the locality questions as a basis to inform you of the teaching and learning experiences that will be needed to challenge misconceptions, and to present a positive and more accurate perception of the distant place selected. Other activities in this unit will further help you present positive and realistic representations of distant places.
