Geography at BMS

Ok kids, slight hitch – the video file was too large to upload! So if you follow the link below you should find a page with some video links (it’s he sight of Millfield School). Scroll down the list to the Nairobi.wmv file, and watch the film.

Click here

When you have watched it answer these Q’s on paper and hand them in next Tuesday (16th Dec)

1. Why have so many people migrated to Nairobi from the countryside?
2. What impacts has this had on Nairobi?
3. What problems face migrants living in the squatter settlements?

As you Year 8’s need to do some of your own research on the Amazon, I thought I might post some useful weblinks to help. It is always essential to use the internet very carefully. It is a magnificant resource… when you use it with a little thought. First, try to make your searches as specific and focused as you can - I would suggest using google advanced search or a ‘meta-searcher’, like Dogpile. Secondly, look carefully at the results: filter out the ones that do not sound relevant. Read the websites that seem to be appropriate for your task and level of understanding. If they are relevant and you understand the information they contain, bookmark them. When you have several sites to use, read them more thoroughly and start to extract the information you want to use in your report. Try the sites below to get you started:

BBC h2g2 – The Amazon Rainforest

BBC Bitesize 1

BBC Bitesize 2

BBC Bitesize 3

Rainforest Concern

Wikipedia – rainforest

Rainforest Live

Pinatubo was one of the largest eruptions in the 20th century. It was also one of the loudest noises! We are going to do some work in class on Pinatubo. You will need some information to help you. I want you to do some research on the eruption in 1991. Can you find out how the volcano effected the surrounding land and people. Produce one page that describes one effect in detail. You may paste in pictures, but you must describe the effect in YOUR OWN words. The links below may help:

Wikipedia Pinatubo page

USGS Pinatubo page

Georesources Pinatubo page

Your HW is to find some information about flooding in Mozambique – the flood we have been looking at in class happened in 2000, but there have been others since. Investigate this further and produce a page of information and pictures showing what you have found out. Try to find any personal experiences or eyewitness accounts if you can. The link to the BBC below might get you started…

BBC Mozambique Flood 2000 coverage

Your HW this week is to compare and contrast the two earthquake case studies we have investigated: Kobe (1995) and Kashmir (2005). If you did not complete the case study sheet, have lost it or were away, you can upload both below.

Kobe Case Study Table

Kashmir EQ Case Study Table

You can use the PPT text book for information anbout Kobe. For Kashmir, follow this link to a useful Wikipedia page, or this one to the BBC.

The homework itself was to compare the imapct of earthquake hazards in MEDCs and LEDCs. You need to answer the following questions in detail (remember to EXPLAIN/GIVE REASONS):

1. Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between, causes, primary and secondary effects, and responses to the earthquakes in Kobe and Kashmir.

2. Where are the effects of earthquakes greatest, MEDCs or LEDCs?

One of the issues of rapid urbanisation in LEDC’s is that growth has been so fast it has outpaced the cities ability to provide essential services and homes for all the new inhabitants. This has resulted in the development of  a variety of informal settlements within these cities. These places (often known as squtter settlements, shanty towns or slums) grow in any free space, often occupying undesirable land (steep slopes, marsh, railway sidings, etc). They vary in size and age, but share several key charcteristics. Watch the two video clips of Kibera, Nairobi, and favelas in Brazil, below. Make notes about the charcteristics of informal settlements using the following headings: HOUSING, SERVICES, QUALITY OF LIFE.