Dear Students,

If you are accessing this blog from a pc/laptop/netbook/phone that DOES NOT have a java software (the icon is an orange cup of coffee), then you are not able to view my twitter updates under the "Tweet with Me" column on the right.

As I have mentioned in class, Twitter is a very good site where you really can get real-time updates on geographical issues globally and I just did a fresh batch of updates on articles pertaining to the topics that you are studying now.

So,to solve this problem, I suggest you download Java @ http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp

This is a very safe software in which you will need anyways if you want to play all your free online games (those that are flash files) and practically watch most stuff. This is NOT a compulsory download and I will NOT be liable should anything unwanted happen to your pc/laptop.

Alternatively, you may follow my updates on geographical issues on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/divageographer

Remember : Geography is all around you - if you just open your mind to it. =)

Home-Based Learning : Term 3 Week 4

Re-cap on Natural Vegetation Chapter in preparation for CA 4

Home-based Learning Assignment Week 3 :

Causes of Deforestation (Re-cap)

With reference to the case study of the Amazon Rainforest, we have studied about the uses of the forests and the causes of deforestation in week 1. The article below is taken from an online newspaper

Supermarket suppliers 'helping destroy Amazon rainforest'

Synopsis: Brazilian authorities investigating illegal deforestation have accused the suppliers of several UK supermarkets of selling meat linked to massive destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/21/supermarket-suppliers-amazon-rainforest-deforestation

TASK:

1) Click on the link above and read the full article.

2) With reference to the article, your textbook and the notes that we have done last week, describe how 'agriculture' specifically commercial farming has contributed to the deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. [8m]

3) Type out your answer on microsoft word and send it to atikk.mekrat@gmail.com by Friday 17th July, 10pm.

4) The format of your file should be : coregy_wk3_yourname_class
Example: coreygy_wk3_atikkmekrat_3e7

Late submission or failure to submit will be taken very seriously and you will have to have a 1 hr remedial with me after school the following Tuesday or Wednesday.

My dear students, I know how much you all love to play online games so I present to you ... Miss Atikk's Guide to Online Educational Geography Games.

In this post, I will recommend to you a few online geography games which I personally find very entertaining and fun yet educational at the same time.. I will give you a screenshot, a short description of the game followed by the direct link (if available). I hope that by reading this post, you will take some time to try out these games and who knows, you might just enjoy them as much as I do! =)

Disclaimer: The games that I recommend below are only to be played AFTER you have completed all your homework, house work, revision for school and other chores. Also, these are games afterall and are in NO WAY to be used as a replacement to materials studied in school.

1) Geo Challenge on Facebook by Playfish



What is it? An application on facebook (that is why you need to have an account) where you can challenge your friends on their geographical knowledge of the world! The game goes by level where you will match flags, cities, natural & man-made landforms to their respective countries with the game getting harder and harder as you progress on.

Be warned, this game is SUPER addictive so please only play this game during your free time = after you have done all your homework, house work and revision for school work.

Where to find? http://apps.facebook.com/geochallenge/?pf_ref=x1035


2) Google Earth by Google



What is it? This is not exactly a 'game' but for those of you who are curious about the world and like to play games like The Sims, you will love Google Earth because it lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share with others. There's even a 'flight simulator' that you can download so you can pretend that you are flying high up in the clouds looking down all while being at home in front of your computer! =)

Where to find? http://earth.google.com/


3) Quia by Quia Web




What is it? A website where educators create educational games & quizzes for students. There are a number of games and quizzes that you can try and I especially like the ones to do with matching the right definitions to the landforms and locating the various landforms around the world. Be warned that some of the quizzes are very tough and this website might be more useful for those who are doing revision on their work.


Where to find? http://www.quia.com/shared/geo/


And Viola! I hope you all enjoy this post... and we'll do something more serious in the next post! =)

Welcome to one and all!

Instructions to BLSS 3E Core Geography Students


This blog has been created especially for you so that you are still able to learn, share and discuss geographical happenings/stories from around the world all in the comfort of your own home. =)

Before I go into the 'serious' things, , since we are on the topic of deforestation and with the recent death of the King of Pop (MJ), I want to share with you this video:




TRIVIA QN: Can anyone tell me in which rainforest is the video taken (0:10-0:30)? =)

1) Home-based Learning Assignments

From time to time, I will put up assignments here as blog posts and you will be given ample time and clear instructions to complete the assignments before submitting them back to me (further instructions will be given in the blog post itself)

Failure to abide by the assignment due dates will mean remedial classes for all of us where we will all discuss together about how human beings can go about managing their environment better or the latest eco-friendly device that you have read/heard about. =)

2) News and Updates

If I do find interesting news and updates related to geography that I would like to share with you, I will also post them up here... for these posts, I would love to hear your thoughts and comments on them so do click on the comment button found at the bottom of the posts to share your view.

Note: All comments that you leave has to be constructive or related to the topic and do leave your name so that we will know who's making the comment. Any irrelevant comments or that with inappropriate words and content will be deleted.

3) Twitter Updates

You may have notice the sidebar with the line "Tweet with Me".. well, that is from the twitter programme that I am on and from time to time, it will be updated with what I find interesting in the world of geography. You are very much welcome to follow me on twitter and if you have any difficulties in understanding the programme, do come to me and I'll be glad to help you out! =)

My secondary school geog teacher once told me : "Knowledge is not just based on textbooks alone" and here I am sharing with you the same quote. For those very new to twitter, give it a try - you'll be amazed at the sheer amount of news and information that you learn about the world just from those 140character 'tweets'. =)

4) Questions or Queries

For other questions or queries that you have, it is best that you email me as I check my mail very frequently. You may do so at atikk.mekrat@gmail.com