Geography at Kenilworth School: Toads can predict earthquakes!

Thursday, 1 December 2011

Toads can predict earthquakes!

Scientists believe they have an explanation for Italian toads' apparent ability to sense the earthquake that struck the city of L'Aquila on 6 April 2009. Animals may sense chemical changes in groundwater that occur when an earthquake is about to strike and this could be the cause of bizarre earthquake-associated animal behaviour.

By chance, Dr Rachel Grant of the UK's Open University was monitoring a toad population at San Ruffino Lake, around 74km from the quake's epicentre. Five days before the 6.3 magnitude shake, "the number of male common toads in the breeding colony fell by 96 per cent", while "most breeding pairs and males fled" three days before the earth moved.

click on the title for more information

Eco Schools!

You may or may not be aware that the government would like all schools to be sustainable by the year 2020 (see the video on sustainability above. There is another video below about practical things we can do to reduce climate change)

You can find out being sustainble means for schools by clicking on this link.

So....what is a sustainable school?

A sustainable school prepares young people for a lifetime of sustainable living, through its teaching and its day-to-day practices. It is guided by a commitment to care:

• For ourselves (out health and well-being)
• For others (across cultures, distances and generations) and
• For the planet (both locally and globally

A Sustainable School puts a high value on the well-being of its pupils and the school environment. We aim to:

• Waste little and recycle, compost or donate anything surplus
• Support local suppliers where possible
• Perhaps collect rainwater for schools ground maintenance and
• Have a zero tolerance approach to litter, graffiti and bullying.
• Save electricity and gas
• Reduce water waste.
• Look at using renewable energy resources.

If making sure the school is sustainable and doing the best it can for the environment is something that interests you then you should join the school eco team. Speak to Mrs Whewell or Mrs Pointon (go to main reception to ask for them) or go to the next meeting of the Eco group

Important exam dates for 2013

GCSE Geography (OCR B)

RE-SIT ONLY: Sustainable Decision Making (Mon 10th June 2013) 1hr (25% of the final grade)

This is the decision making paper and will be based on Natural Hazards (not the Population and Settlement that you would have sat in Jan). We already know that the theme for the paper is "All shook up - how do people in different parts of the world cope with the aftermath of earthquakes?". In other words, how do MEDCs and LEDCs respond to earthquakes differently.

Key Geographical Themes (Weds 12th June 2013) 1hr 30mins (50% of the final grade)

This is the "normal" exam that you'll need all the case studies for.

AS Level Geography (Edexcel B)

Unit 1 - Global Challenges (Tues 14th May 2013 - afternoon) 1hr 30mins

This paper is based on Going Global and World at Risk (30% of total A-level)

Unit 2 - Geographical Investigations (Tues 21st May 2012 - morning) 1hr 15mins

This paper is based on Rebranding Places and Crowded Coasts (20% of total A-level)

A2 Level Geography

Unit 3 - Contested Planet (synoptic paper) (Fri 7th June 2013) 2hrs 30mins (afternoon). Per-release date 3rd May.

This paper is based on the 6 units (Superpowers, Technological Fix, Energy security, Water conflicts, Bridging the Development Gap, Biodiveristy under threat). You will have to answer 2 extended essay questions and for the synoptic element you need to answer shorter essay style questions (based on pre-release material) (30% of total A-level)

RE-SIT ONLY: Unit 4 - Geographical Research (Friday 14th June 2013 - morning) 1hr 30mins (20% of total a-level)

For those of you in Year 13 sitting re-takes of the AS units, the date for Unit 1 is Mon 14th Jan (am) and the date for Unit 2 is Mon 21st Jan (am)

Year 10 Controlled Assessment (coursework)

Year 10 fieldtrip to Norfolk (April 2012) - you will be producing a piece of controlled assessment (coursework) on the title "How do geomorphic processes affect the North Norolk coast?". You will have a word limit of 1200 words to do this.

A student guide will be availablefrom the shared area or from this blog soon.

IGCSE Geography - Fieldwork Data Presentation

View more presentations from Richard Allaway.

Follow this link to see an example report. It is on a different topic than the one we are studying, but look at how it is set out and organised.

sample fieldwork focus controlled assessment

and this is what the examiner had to say about that piece of work

examiners comments on sample work

Fieldtrips for 2012/2013

AS-level

The next A-level residential trip will be in March 2013.

This trip can be paid for using the school parentpay system. Click here to be taken to parentpay. If you are unsure of what this is contact the school.

Click here to download the Warwickshire medical/consent form which ALL parents must complete if you are to go on a trip

GCSE

The trip to Norfolk will run between 29th April and 1st May 2013

The title of the work you will write up is "How distinctive is the North Norfolk coast"

Year 8

Following the work undertaken at the local shops as part of the "Local Study" (a unit completed in conjunction with the History department), the next visit will be to Kenilworth Castle. This will take place in July 2013. You will receive information nearer the time.

Pages

Thursday, 1 December 2011

Toads can predict earthquakes!

AS level Cornwall Fieldtrip, March 2009

Rebranding Cornwall - Year 12 fieldtrip

Year 10 trip to Swanage, Dorset (June 2010)

What's your travel IQ?

Hurricane Katrina, August 2005

Listen to an interview with the designer of the floating house.

What is Sustainable development?

Find out more about Sustainable development from these sites

Eco Schools!

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