The website possesses many facts and figures about countries and climates across the world which applies to the NC as it has a focus on the UK, EU and further afield such as the more distant continents to ourselves.

It is easy to navigate with it's search function and dedicated area of the website focused on geography. As a result, it is appropriate to use for both KS1 and KS2.

This website would be particularly useful for developing an enquiry into comparing facts between different countries in the world (e.g. Scotland, Australia, Mexico, Canada etc.).

Provides music for the country you investigate and different animals from there as well!

Set 1

This website is highly appropriate for KS1 pupils as it meets nearly all the criteria needed for the geographical skills and fieldwork section. It is very easy to navigate and is built to test a childs geographical skills.

Enquiry-based approach-

This website is key for an enquiry based approach. This is demonstrated through-

1. Play and exploration= using the games to get a better understanding of their prior knowledge and experience.

2. Observations= there is an option throughout the activity if childrens do not understand to give them a better understanding of the topic. This will enable them to get a better understanding of the topic.

3. Reflections= This activity supports a childs skill with geographical knowledge, and would allow teachers to get a better understanding on if a child is struggling as the game goes up in levels.

4. Learning domains= This would result in a childs knowledge deepening and the game progressing with harder levels.

5. Growth= This game will then result in pupils feeling more confident in their knowledge and can result in new interests beginning.

Libby Riley Set 1

2.) Key Concepts/Skills - Map reading, identifying symbols, reading a compass

3.) Appropriateness - Good mix of information and visual aspects

4.) Navigability - Easy to navigate with clear headings and images to match the topics

5.) Support an equiry based approach - Tailored more towards KS1/KS2 learners

This links in with the first key stage one national curriculum bullet point which is ‘name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans’. It uses the key skill of map marking and location.

This game could be used before and after learning about the 7 continents and 5 oceans to test their subject knowledge and what they have learnt. This could be used as a whole class activity on the interactive white board or individually on the computers or iPads.

The game also lists Australia as a continent, this could be used as a topic of conversation to introduce the different names used for that region as a continent, for example Oceania or Australasia. It could also be used to introduce the idea of map distortion.

NC and key concepts

• Able to make it continental based as well as world based

• Identifying flags

• Capital cities

• Also games on volcanos, mountains, and the sea.

Appropriate for use by pupils

• Can change the difficulty and focus of the games

• Focus on specific areas such as capital cities or flags

Navigability

• Uses icons and big bold text

• No need to sing in and out of the website

Used for support and enquiry

• Focus on 1 specific continent or country

• What’s different between these continents in terms of land, culture, food, and religion.

Concepts and Skills: Using reading and interpreting, Map purpose and Style of map 

Appropriate for KS2 (upper KS2) - easy to navigate between page.  

Could use the maps to ask questions e.g. which country has a high number of earthquakes? Could then expand, get them to research why are their more earthquakes there though this further research can’t be easily done on this website. 

Key Concept of Space: this website helps children to find the five continents on the map. Useful to consolidate / confirm children’s knowledge. The website offers a quick game and may be accessed pre or post lesson or in spare time between lessons. 

Navigability: Easy & intuitive to use individually or as a group. Reward of hot air balloons flying down the screen may appeal to younger children.

Location Enquiry: This website is geared at answering 'where are the continents' & 'how many continents are there?'

A low stakes game, so the children can keep attempting until they correctly locate the continents.

The website is easy to navigate with each game being categorised into the appropriate Key Stage & year group - which would be very helpful for lesson planning - following the NC.

The games are very engaging and are easy to use.

On this website, children learn about recycling and being more sustainable through an explorative map, quizzes and games. This could also be linked with a trip to the local recycling plant. The website is age-appropriate and could also work for younger children with extra scaffolding in place from the teacher. It's easy to navigate, and it can allow children to form a foundation on recycling by themselves before allowing them to enquire (explore) more about recycling and sustainability on their own time and tying in the trip and reinforcing this with their own local knowledge, and to understand how they themselves impact the world around them.

6 different games:

1. place the shapes of the labelled continents onto the correct shape in the correct place on the world map

2. Place the UK capital cities onto the correct UK countries

3. place the symbols into the appropriate season

4. place the correct ocean name into the correct area

5. interactive symbol game to see how the different weathers affect people

6. interactive map game to understand directions

   
   

These games were all interactive, colourful & fun.

After a bit of time without answering, the website would guide the user to the correct answer to help them learn.

This game would help pupils to learn the National Curriculum Geography content as it features:

• learning the 7 continents & 5 oceans

• learning the 4 countries & capital cities of the UK

• identifying seasonal weather

• introducing simple compass directions

Links with NC Geography

-       Key aspect of the national curriculum is locational knowledge

-       The website helps increase understanding of locating countries on the map

-       However, does not explain physical geography (eg. Formation of rivers/mountains)

Focal Key Concepts/ Skills

-       Reinforces special knowledge, map-reading skills and recognition of where a country is on the map.

Appropriateness for use by pupils

-       Colourful, simple and engaging

-       Suitable for Key Stage 2 pupils

-       A competitive nature can increase repeated practice outside of the classroom

Navigability

-       Easy to navigate, colourful and clear where the quizzes are and what they are

-       However, limited scaffolding tools (eg. no hints, may need teacher guidance)

The degree to which a website could be used to support an enquiry-based approach

-       Works well as a supplementary tool

-       Quizzes increase memory recall

-       Fun way to practice country knowledge

-       Does not help with the explanation of physical geography

-       Could help pupils identify previous enquiry (for example, when questioning ‘why do people live near rivers?’, pupils could try identifying where key world countries are and what rivers they are near)

Designed for older pupils (upper KS2 and onwards).

Weekly Crosswords and Teacher resources/lesson ideas.

The UK's hottest summer - related to climate change in England.

Children could discuss seasonality within this topic and describe how the weather could change as heat rises.