Tracking Santa

Don't forget to keep an eye on where he is on Xmas Eve all across the world using NORAD. Merry Christmas to all readers and Happy holidays.
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html

Tundra High prices in supermarket

Glad I don't live here with those prices! I hope the Carrick pupils have worked out why all prices are so expensive.

Limestone pavement

Thanks to SLN for the tip-off here. Nice limestone pavement footage and the S5/6 class will recognise someone who goes on and on even more than I do!

Volcanoes - amazing footage

For Misty

Misty on PhotoPeach

Volcanoes

by Michael R
One day Victor The Volcano got into a fight with the snow and got really angry and decided to erupt. While doing this he blew his summit off and has left a crater on his body. As Victor errupted his ash from the cremation flowed through the air and landed on the ground which destroyed the area which made others have to evacuate and killing people which was a disaster. Victor's Bowels emptied when he died and caused a lava flow.
comment from Ms A - no comment really about the last sentence but Michael was very proud of his efforts.

Active Learning and a bit of theft

A great lesson from S4 this afternoon using the biscuit trading game. We had theft from Antarctica and some really hard trading from Hannah as Africa only had a crispbread to trade with but ended up with a few better things. A few only traded with their friends and then the mistrust factor wouldn't let them eat the biccies provided in case the teacher went crazy at them! When they realised there was no catch then they all disappeared apart from the one in Connor's pocket that was kept for the way home. A good introduction to the trade and aid unit I think. Apparently -the best ever Geography lesson.

Malaria Videos

Malaria - a lost cause

An intersting article today in the BBC about malaria. Link is here

GPS in action

Made in China

Lovely song here about where things are made highlighted in SLN by Stephen Schwab and Tony Cassidy. Ideal reminder for our S2 looking at the Geography of "stuff".

Active learning - Rivers

A few photos here of ways we try to encourage kinaesthetic learning in Geography and make the most of a day when most of the class were away elsewhere. pupils enjoyed getting outside even although it was only to the school grounds. Geography Active Learning in Action on PhotoPeach

Settlement posters from S4

Thanks to a little reminder from Kenny O'Donnell's blog we did this task a couple of weeks ago and as a consequence pupils were much more confident in their ability to explain the location of land uses when asked in mapwork questions. Their explanantions in the groups were excellent and I loved the "skippy" and cactus in our Australian settlement example. The rest of us were in Scotland and still had prevailing SW winds and as a result had the NE areas of all settlements pretty grotty. Next - what about a trip to Glasgow and a visit to all these areas we discussed. Early Christmas shopping here we come! Settlement Posters from Carrick S4 on PhotoPeach

How to draw and describe graphs

This is a nice site to revise this subject which is an important skill in Geography. It is excellent for S1 especially. Have a look and try the tutorial.
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph/default.aspx

Weathering and Erosion

China's one child policy - Success or not?

This is an excellent article on this topic that we cover with S4 population and S5/6 at all levels for Development and Health. Have a look and see what you think.
China's Policy.

Congratulations

Well done all. I was stunned by how good these results are this year. I must remember to go off sick more often! All your hard work clearly paid off and now I wish you all the best for your future either at school for next year or further afield. Perhaps I'll even see some of you back for Higher or Intermediate 2 either this year or next.

I phone apps Rainforests

I know these are all on their side but I'm afraid I don't have time to change them. Excuse some of our spelling but I really liked some of these. Well done to all concerned.
I phone apps by S1 Carrick Academy on PhotoPeach

Cats

For Bryan
cats on PhotoPeach

Exams

Just a wee last minute note to say Good luck to all in the Geography exams tomorrow. Don't work too late and try to be more awake than I am in the morning! See the note below regarding the standard grades "explain" type questions and use of the word "because" in your answer. Have I ever mentioned that one?!!!!!!! For the Higher be careful to look at the number of marks and choose in Paper 2 Environmental Interactions - River Basin Management Question 3 and Development and Health question 6. If one of these is a really nasty one then have a look at the Rural Land Resources question 1 to see if you make a better attempt at it. Don't be tempted to look at the rest.
Intermediates - look at the number of marks and use all the resources you have been given. You have a choice of answering 2 from River Basin Management / Development and Health / Environmental Hazards. remember though you haven't done the last in a huge amount of detail, so I would only do this in an emergency. Finally girls the pic is apparently a symbol of good luck for you! OK I think it is meant to be the tattoos but I didn't think you would care.

Love Geography

Thanks to Tony Cassidy at ShareGeography.co.uk for finding this one. I like it.

Transport of the future

This is an interesting presentation I think.

China’s bullet train vision

View more presentations from Marcus9000.

Exam luck

Just a short note to all S grade pupils sitting the exams tomorrow. I hope you have worked hard and so don't need this last minute wish. Get to bed at a reasonable time because you will have a busy day tomorrow. Don't panic and remember to read over your answers. Oh and I don't know if I have ever mentioned this..... but if it says "explain" in the question you should use "because" in your answer"!!!!!!!!

Farming Intro?

Ok for a veggie I feel guilty laughing at this but I do like it!

Iceland Volcanic Eruption

I know you can’t understand what they are saying – me neither but great pics.

I thought I’d better write a few lines on this eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. Here are some excellent links with some cracking photos identified by various people on the SLN forum.
Photos here are excellent
More photos here
Interesting satellite photos here too
The UK's air traffic control service (Nats) said no flights would be allowed in UK airspace because of fears of engine damage.
Some good up to date comments here including a nice one on the problems people are having pronouncing the name of the volcano!
If you really want the live action then how about a look at the webcams? Try this one here -or here
There is a nice BBC explanation here on why the planes cannot fly though this ash.
Nice maps here too
Finally for the moment how about a comparison with this old one?

Earth Hour

Good to see S ayrshire encouraging us to be involved this year. If you haven't seen anything about this it is encoursging us all to "switch off" for an hour at 8.30pm on 27th March. There are some good videos here and you can vote for your favourite. I've put them all below for you to see.

World Water Day

Today is world water day. Just a little here to make you think. Look at the other links on this too elsewhere on the blog.

Hello all at Carrick

Hi folks
I hope you are all working hard for Mrs Lyon and Miss Grant. Highers should finish the biosphere by Easter. Make sure you have seen a few past papers on this and the Rural needs to be finished soon too. Listen to Mrs Lyon - she knows her stuff! You will need to do some of this at home but I know this won't be a problem! You will move on to the section on the Hyrdrosphere after this ie rivers. This is a good section. It is easy and has a bit of mapwork in it too to make it easy to pick up marks. All will be doing the same stuff too. Intermediates_ how is the env hazards doing? I hope you are nearly finished the sheets and ready to see the videos this week. Ask Miss Grant or Mr Brown to set up the tv and video for you for this - I know a bit antequated but the film is good! You have questions with part one but the rest you can just watch. Watch also the next sections -called "the science" after each bit. Don't cry at the sad bits!.
S4 Your comments are on Glow already along with lots of revision stuff. Work well for Mrs L and Mr W. S3 are ready to do your tests. Good Luck! Rivers after that will be a dawdle.
S2 are about to start the Maybole bypass debate preparations. I'm sorry I'm going to miss this. It is always good fun. S1 are doing the weather test next week. Also Good Luck!
I am doing ok at home but missing you all! I hope to be back soon after Easter.

Urban change in Glasgow

Thought a little timely reminder of settlement would come in handy as you revise for those dreaded exams. A few good films here on urban regeneration in Glasgow

Sony Bravia

Making of Bravia paint ad

Recycling can be fun

Earthquake in Chile

Terrible news today of the massive 'quake in Chile earlier. It is roperted to have killed dozens of people, flattened buildings and triggered a tsunami.
The 8.8-magnitude quake, the country’s largest in 25 years, shook the capital city Santiago for a minute and half at 3:34am (6:34am our time) today.
A tsunami warning has been extended across 53 countries, including most of Central and South America and as far as Australia, Hawaii and Antarctica.

Some articles here for S2 to read as well as S5 Int 1 and Int 2 who are ready to start the Environmental Hazrads "back up" unit next week on this topic.Links here
Sky new article with videos
BBC site
Guardian newpaper
List of the biggest eartquakes ever
Times newspaper
The Sun newpaper
The Mirror
Daily Mail newspaper

see this film

me on film

How to make your home 'quake proof inside

Landslides

Just as we talked about today in class S5/6. Geography in your face yet again. (Stop groaning!. Here is a short video on an Italian landslide
Italian landslide

Aim High

Thanks to Doug Belshaw for highlighting this one. I know it is designed for younger kids but the sentiment is the same for all of us. Highers, Intermediates and Standard grades - that clock is ticking a bit louder now on the countdown to those exams.

USA understated weather forecast!

This guy is too similar to me really. Ask the Carrick kids.

anti-malaria plant

Researchers have mapped the genes of Artemisia annua to allow selection of high-yield varieties. Artemisinin combination therapies, or ATCs, are used widely to treat malaria and are seen as the best solution to the disease. ACTs are expensive and demand threatens to outstrip supply.
Plant breeding, new drugs and clever ways to make artemisinin in the lab are the answer, according to world experts.
Scientists hope a better supply of the drug might also help with the problem of fake drugs being distributed.
Read the complete article here

Strong aftershock shakes Haiti

More links if you want to use this as your casestudy.
BBC site
amputations
keeping in touch
how long can survivors last?
Guardian Haiti updates
The Sun's articles with lots of videos
Boy rescued after 8 days

Earthquake in Haiti

As you know we have talked a lot about the dreadful events of the massive ‘quake in Haiti last week. If S2 want to do this as their case study rather than the San Francisco one then thee are a few links below to get you started. Haiti is in the Caribbean, and is the western half of an island, the eastern half of which forms the Dominican Republic.
Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries, and even before the earthquake many of its population were struggling to live.
The BBC as usual has loads of good stuff and I suggest you start at this page and then use the links from it to lots of others. Don’t forget the tabs with the pictures too.


BBC site
Aid 1
Aid 2
Aid 3
Aid 4
lots of good links here
Medical Help
Why water is needed
Looters
Rebuilding after the quake