Emma's educational round-up
A weekly/fortnightly insight into developments within the realm of education.
My recommendations
News
Last week saw me engaging with well over 65 schools via our in situ and virtual Primary Geography Subject Leader Network meetings. A blog post report about the meetings can be viewed here: https://create2inspire.co.uk/2026/02/06/virtual-primary-geography-subject-leader-network-pgsln-meeting-2-2/. At the in situ event, we had a go at speed-dating as a means of sharing recommendations and best practice and facilitating a spot of networking. Some of delegates’ recommended websites, resources, books, experiences, etc. are contained within the blog post. A couple of new ones for me too.
Climate Adapted Pathways for Education (CAPE)
Teaching Climate Change Through the Primary Geography Curriculum is just one of several new guides that are now FREE to download.
This guidance is written for teachers and school leaders and is designed to support collective curriculum making. It sets out the curriculum thinking we have undertaken with a range of expert curriculum partners.
The guidance is designed to help you identify clear entry points into your own curriculum, rather than to be implemented in full.
We hope this guidance supports the development of your curriculum and practice for climate change education in your setting.
https://www.capealliance.org.uk/reports-articles
You can find out more about CAPE, their work and wider programmes by exploring their website: https://www.capealliance.org.uk
Geographical Association (GA) blog
Jon Cannell’s latest post, ‘Celebrating communication, connection and community: 100 GA blogs and counting’, is only a four-minute read and may even inspire you to have a go at blogging yourself if you have not done so already!
Website
Oak National Academy
Just released: 11 new lessons in the Oak National Academy primary geography curriculum, created in partnership with the Geographical Association.
🌍 New primary fieldwork unit
We have a new primary fieldwork unit, which guides pupils through the fieldwork enquiry process as they investigate the sustainability of their school. Fieldwork and sustainability have always been at the heart of Oak’s primary geography curriculum, so it was really pleasing to see these themes given greater prominence in the recent Curriculum and Assessment Review.
🗺️ New lessons using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
We’ve also published five new lessons using GIS, helping pupils use digital maps to unlock geographical understanding. These lessons use the Esri/ArcGIS Geography Visualiser to explore themes such as global biomes, earthquakes, time zones and land-use change.
GIS provides a powerful way for pupils to visualise spatial patterns and primary pupils will love the opportunity to investigate the world through interactive mapping.
If you’re a primary teacher, do take a look at the new resources and try them out in your classroom.
Resource/s
The Early Years and Primary Phase Committee (EYPPC) of the Geographical Association (GA) has been working on a FREE resource that will sit alongside their already highly popular GeogLive! series of webinars. Their first resource bank, with a focus on place, is full of innovative, creative teaching ideas from Early Years to Year 6.
The Committee Chair, Helen Martin, is keen to advocate for creative ideas that motivate and support all learners in primary classrooms and for them to gain a deep interest and curiosity about local and global places.
Have a look at this fantastic FREE resource, collated together with ideas from committee members and enjoy using these ideas in your classrooms.
My Environment My Future has added a new section of Place Studies to the A Level section. To begin with, they look at Copenhagen and explore its liveability and sustainability whilst keeping a spotlight on how Built Environment careers have made this possible. Five questions are posed, which allow students to explore the themes of sustainability and liveability through the thoughts of Built Environment professionals.
Another step in their mission to build a professional pathway for geographers into the built environment.
All of their resources are FREE to access. Visit: www.memf.careers
Book/s
Raindrops by Robin Boyden
A new picture book for those between the ages of 3 and 6 years, with a very apt title given the wet weather we have been experiencing over the past few weeks.
Will Mouse make it safely home with a very special parcel?! Discover the picture book adventure that will make you fall in love with rainy days…
When a drop of rain turns into a storm, a small mouse on a mission must find courage, ingenuity and resilience to make it home safely. But what will happen to the very special parcel he is carrying … and who is it for?!
A rainy day adventure with a difference! This unique, mouse’s-eye view of the world is sure to enchant young readers and their parents.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raindrops-brand-illustrated-picture-children/dp/0008743657
In conjunction with World Book Day 2026, the Ocean Conservation Trust have a special ocean-inspired storytelling session created especially for learners. This pre-recorded session will be available to stream online from 9.00 am on Thursday 5th March, giving groups a flexible and engaging way to take part.
The story is brought to life by staff from across the Ocean Conservation Trust, filmed reading while going about their daily activities around the National Marine Aquarium - sometimes in places you might not expect! By combining reading, imagination and a love of the ocean, the session shows that reading can be joyful, playful and just for fun.
Perfect for learners celebrating World Book Day with an ocean twist and plenty of storytelling magic!
https://oceanconservationtrust.org/ocean-experiences/education/ocean-classroom-resources
Podcast
People fixing the world: Can AI power a green fashion revolution?
With a huge carbon footprint, vast water usage and filling up of landfills, the fashion industry’s impact is well documented. But companies throughout the supply chain have rolled out tech solutions, many of them AI powered, to address these issues.
At the growing stage, AI apps are being used by farmers to grow regenerative cotton. Other companies are using such tech to optimise orders, reducing the amount of garments that go straight to landfill. AI powered machines are detecting defects at the manufacturing stage and retailers are using it to help their customers make more informed choices.
Fashion journalist Brooke Roberts-Islam follows a pair of jeans across the full fashion supply chain. We visit a cotton farm in India, where AI tools help to reduce water and pesticide use; in Bangladesh, algorithms in garment factories prevent waste through identifying defects in materials and retailers in the West are providing their customers with detailed information on the materials used in each product.
Featuring contributions from Kuldeep Khatri, director of nature at Materra; Max Easton, CEO of Smartex; and Andrew Xeni, founder of the ethical retailer Nobody’s Child.
Presenter: Brooke Roberts-Islam
Sound engineer: Jarek Zaba
Producer: Jarek Zaba
A 2 Degrees West production for BBC World Service
A topical podcast at just over 20 minutes in length. Have a listen, perhaps with your KS3, KS4 and KS5 students too?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct6xyr
TV programme/movie clip
Geographical Association (GA) SPC ‘Geography headache’ series - GIS
The Secondary Phase Committee (SPC) have created a series of geography headaches videos. This video focuses on GIS.
Headaches discussed in this video:
1. What is GIS?
2. How can we teach it without access to a computer room/ laptops?
3. How can I switch on other team members to GIS?
4. How can I avoid a "checklist of actions" lesson where the Geography gets lost?
5. Where can I find great GIS CPD?
App/game
One teacher mentioned this website to me in conversation last week, so I decided to explore it further. Have a play over half-term and then give students a daily challenge on your return, perhaps?
https://world-geography-games.com/
‘Geography in the news’
A hugely thought-provoking Story Map about the future of the Winter Olympics can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/extra/xmtwwy6anf/the-future-of-the-winter-olympics. One to share with GCSE and A level students.
CPD
Have you booked your ticket yet?
The Geographical Association (GA)’s Annual Conference and Exhibition takes place from 8th to 10th April this year. Three days to broaden and deepen your geographical knowledge and understanding, gain inspiration to ensure high-quality teaching and learning takes place both in and beyond the classroom, a chance to meet and network with like-minded professionals, feel supported and be suitably entertained!
Third release tickets are now available until 27th March.
Further details can be found here: https://portal.geography.org.uk/event/view/E000184
Do let me know if you are venturing to Sheffield as it would be great to catch up in person.
Competition/challenge
Children’s Mental Health Week, organised by the charity Place2Be, runs from 9th to 15th February this year, taking the theme of ‘This is My Place’ and belonging. In the latest edition of The Week Junior, artist Ricky Martin encourages youngsters to make a map of their happy place to help them reflect upon the things that make them feel they belong. You can watch a video of Ricky creating his map here. Why not encourage your pupils to have a go?
https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/resources/this-is-my-place-art-activity/
Opportunities for pupils
Secondary
Don’t miss taking part in this if you are in or close to Gloucestershire. Always an enlightening and entertaining afternoon/evening, with some healthy competition and welcome refreshments! Several teams have registered to take part already.
Geography GIS workshop day
Thinking ahead a little. The University of Gloucestershire is hosting a geography GIS workshop day on Thursday 15th April 2026, from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm, aimed at students in Year 12 and Year 13.
Discover more about the event here, including requesting a booking: https://www.glos.ac.uk/event/geography-gis-workshop-day/
Hope the above provides some inspiration and saves you time. Do let me know if you make use of any of the recommendations or have others that I have missed; I do love to hear about, and see evidence of, pupils in action both in and beyond the classroom.
Emma Espley