Merry Christmas!

Dear students and parents (7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A Los Fresnos and 7, 8, 9 and 10 La Florida),

As your teacher of geography, I want to thank you for your support and understanding from home during this challenging first term. It has been a very intense first term in many meanings and we have been working hard all.

Let me take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and the best for 2022.

Best regards

Mr. Legaz


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Estimados alumnos y padres de  (7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A Los Fresnos y 7, 8, 9 and 10 La Florida):

Como vuestro profesor de "geography", quiero dar las gracias a todos vosotros por el apoyo y la ayuda desde casa en estos meses tan complicados. Como todos sabéis, ha sido otro primer trimestre muy intenso, en muchos sentidos y creo que todos hemos sabido estar a la altura de las difíciles circunstancias. Aprovecho esta oportunidad para enviar los mejores deseos para esta Navidad y para esperemos un mejor 2022. ¡Felices Fiestas!

Atentamente,

Mr. Legaz

Geography in key stage 4 (Year 10 & 11)

 Dear parents and students of year 9,

I have received some requests about information a little bit more in detail about Geography in year 10 and 11. So, I have decided to make a brief summary of the important information to pay attention about this subject and posted on here. 

_____________________________________________________ 

KEY STAGE 4 – YEARS 10-11 

 
1.Aims 
In Key Stage 4, students in Montessori School La Florida and British Montessori Mataespesa/Fresnos will be prepared for the International General Certificate of Education exam of the University of Cambridge Examinations Board (IGCSE), Syllabus number 0460. The aims are therefore the same as those specified by the exam board and are summarised as follows: - 
1. To develop a sense of place and an understanding of relative location on a local, regional and global scale; 
2. To develop an awareness of the characteristics and distribution of a selection of contrasting physical and human environments; 
3. To develop an understanding of some of the processes affecting the development of such environments; 
4. To develop an understanding of the spatial effects of the ways in which people interact with each other and with their environments; 
5. To develop an understanding of different communities and cultures throughout the world and an awareness of the contrasting opportunities and constraints presented by different environments.

 
2. Syllabus outline 
All students will follow the same teaching syllabus, based on the exam syllabus.

YEAR 10 (Physical Geography)
1. Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, volcanoes, fold mountains, rift valleys, natural hazards and human response. 
2. Weathering and mass movement 
3. Fluvial processes and associated landforms, flooding, river pollution, water resources – uses, competition and conflict 
4. Marine processes and associated landforms, coastal flooding, coastal pollution, and coastal management 
5. The collection of meteorological data and factors affecting climate 
6. Tropical rainforests – climate and vegetation, plantation farming, small-scale subsistence agriculture, deforestation and global warming 
7. Deserts – climate and vegetation 

YEAR 11 (Human Geography)
1. World population distribution and density. World population growth, the concepts of overpopulation and carrying capacity. The demographic transition and variations in world population growth. Pro- and anti-natalist policies. Population structure, population pyramids. Population migration – causes and consequences
2. Settlement site, situation, pattern, morphology, function and growth. Settlement hierarchies and spheres of influence – shopping patterns. Urbanisation and associated problems. Urban land use models and comparisons between MEDCs and LEDCs. Inner cities and their redevelopment, ribbon development, dormitory suburbs/villages, green belts. Rural-urban migration in the LEDCs and shanty towns 
3. Employment structure 
4. Farming – changes in commercial and cash-crop farming 
5. Energy – significance of different energy sources, acid rain, the siting of power stations 
6. Industrial systems - motor vehicle assembly, high technology industries 
7. Leisure & tourism 
8. Revision 

3. Time allocation 

Students will have 3 or 4 x 50 minute periods of Geography and some homework per week. 

4. Resources 

Each student will have a copy of The New Wider World (Third Edition) by David Waugh. Each student will have access to the Oxford Practical Atlas (ISBN 0 19 831836 7). The textbook and atlas are supplemented by many teacher-prepared resources and by past examination questions. 

5. Assessment 

No assessment will be made of the students’ notes but assessment will be based on IGCSE style questions and the grades awarded will be equivalent to those that would have been obtained by the student under examination conditions bearing in mind the stage in the course. There will be tests at the end of most teaching units and formal examinations in June of Year 10 and in January of Year 11. All students will enter for Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 4 (Alternative to Coursework).

Year 9s OPTIONS TIME!!! Is Geography for me?

 Dear year 9s

As you get closer to narrowing down your options, I have received some questions from pupils asking me about next year. Most of you are a bit excited and nervous about what to do and choose for year 10 and 11. Well, it is difficult for me to give an individual answer for each of you, for that reason you should think about a few things, and you can read them all down here. This applies just as well to any subject, not just Geography.

Step 1: Most important - do you enjoy it?
If you enjoy a subject you will work harder and be more attentive. That will lead to a happier couple of years, and a better grade at the end of it. If you enjoy several subjects, go to step 2...

Step 2: Are you good at it?
If you have several subjects you enjoy, think about which ones you are best at. Remember though, that if you haven't done well recently it doesn't mean you won't do better next year, especially as the people in your group will change which may help you concentrate better. If you are still struggling, go to step 3...

Step 3: The Department
If you haven't made your decisions based on Steps 1 and 2 (and even if you have), take a look at the department you will be working in. Every subject has huge strengths, and you need to decide which are appropriate for you. In last year's IGCSE exams, most of our Geography students at Montessori School Mataespesa got a grade C / B - and many A or an A*. Is this something that is important to you? You can also think about the classrooms, access to past papers, and the staff - but see the word of warning in Step 5!

Step 4: What will you study next year - is it interesting?
If you still can't decide, get details from other IGCSE students and teachers in the "Options Meeting" on Wednesday 13th of November about the course you are going to study. You might find Geography more interesting than you thought - from global issues like climate change and fighting poverty, right down to why you live in your house and why there isn't a cinema nearby, geography is an interesting subject. Remember also that some new subjects that sound fabulously exciting might not turn out the way you think they will. This brings us on to the next point...

Step 5: The teachers
You might want to study with the same teacher for the next two years. Or you might want to get away from one you have at the moment! :,( But don't let this be something that influences your decision to do any particular subject. Remember that teachers are unlikely to teach all the groups in your year for IGCSE, and even if they do, in all subject areas teachers move on from time to time. We are very busy every year and last minute subject changes may occur.

Whatever you decide, make sure it is the right subject for you. The Geography Department naturally wants you ALL to do Geography because we think it is the most important subject you could take (where else will you learn about global warming, rainforest destruction, shopping patterns and coastal erosion?) but we also want you to make the right decision.  

Ask me at any time if you want more advice.

Here you have some videos. The first one is from a school in UK giving you reasons to choose GEOGRAPHY as IGCSE. I will try to publish some other videos on here to help you with your final decision. Show them to your parents so you make the right choice!!!

Glaciers... Year 7s

Dear year 7s. We have been talking about glaciers in our last topic in geography. We have been discussing different aspects about them, their physical features and many key words about the landforms and processes. In the last lesson we did talk about their importance in our planet and the problem we are facing with global warming. Here we have a newspaper article talking about it to show it is not science fiction. You might click on the link and read a little bit more about it.

http://sociedad.elpais.com/sociedad/2009/06/04/actualidad/1244066414_850215.html

Weather and climate .... Year 8s

Just a quick reminder on here about the difference of "Weather" and "Climate". Feel free to watch it again.

Globalization / Globalisation .... Year 9s

Just a rimender about the meaning of "Globalization/Globalisation". It may help you to understdand our lessons better this end of term. Press play and enjoy it.

Year 10s Plates / La Palma Volcano

As we have been explaining this information in our first topic this term, I want to leave you just a quick message here to show you some links with information about the volcanic eruption in La Palma (Canary Islands). Feel free to watch them.

WELCOME BACK LETTER 2021-2022

Dear parents and students,

As I do every September, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone back for the start of the 2021 – 2022 school year. Although I’m sure everyone hates to see their summer vacation come to an end, there is always a certain air of excitement about the start of a new school year. We have been together in our first week back to school, and here you have my webpage http://mrlegaz.blogspot.com/ with some information about our academic year (all the school terms). Hope you find it useful, it is just a reminder of all the information I have been explaining to students the first week of term. When you visit my webpage, do not forget to click on the upper tags to know more. Most of you are more or less familiar with timetables, rooms, books, and teachers already anyway.

It is going to be a challenging year for us all (students, parents, and teachers), with many different issues to deal with academically or not, in and out of the school. As you know already, I am going to be very busy between different sites, - Montessori School Los Fresnos-Mataespesa and La Florida, so please be patient and I will try my best as usual. And for that reason we all must make an extra effort in our own responsibilities, being supportive of each other under these special circumstances we are all going through.

- Students, I expect you to work hard, study a lot, following the same last year's school rules (Covid 19).
- Parents, I know and appreciate your support and understanding of the hard work of teachers and the special conditions we are going through at work. So, I give you all my biggest thank you in advance.
- Teachers (myself) As a teacher I understand the effort all of you (parents) are making to bring your kids here and I will do my job as professional as ever to get outstanding and best academic results with every single student I am responsible in every subject, group and lessons I teach and especially even more now.

Ok, enough is enough... time to say bye for now.

I just wish you the best of luck this academic year.

Mr. Legaz

GEOGRAPHY TEXTBOOKS 2021-2022 (NEW EDITION GEOG 1, 2 &3 >>> 5TH EDITION)

 IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

THESE WILL BE THE TEXTBOOKS FOR GEOGRAPHY IN KEY STAGE 3 

PLEASE NOTICE THAT THEY ARE ALL THE 5TH EDITION. 

ANY OLD EDITION WILL NOT BE VALID. THANK YOU!

SUMMER LETTER >>>> 2020 - 2021

 Estimados padres y alumnos de British Montessori School Los Fresnos-Mataespesa de “Geography” en year 7A, 7B, 8, 9A, 9B y Montessori School La Florida “Geography” 7, 8, 9A, 9B y “History” 7, 8, 9A, 9B :

Como cada año cuando llegan estas fechas, me gusta comunicarme con vosotros para agradecer vuestro apoyo y trabajo desde casa. Especialmente este ha sido un curso intenso, y no sólo en lo académico, no hace falta que os lo comente pues aún estamos adaptarnos a los cambios que hemos sufrido en el último año y medio. Si normalmente os agradezco vuestro reconocimiento y apoyo desde casa durante el año académico, en esta ocasión aún con más razón ya que vuestra ayuda ha sido insuperable e imprescindible.

Espero disfrutéis de un buen verano y más que merecido descanso. Como cada año, aunque hemos estado todos entregados al 100%, recomiendo que mis estudiantes de year 7, 8 y 9, sigan en contacto con actividades relacionadas con la lectura y repaso de conceptos aprendidos durante el año, ya sea de forma lúdica como puede ser el visionado de videos, documentales, o con la lectura de libros o revistas que puedan tener relación con lo estudiado y trabajado.

También espero que durante esta pausa veraniega, descansemos y el sol nos recargue a todos de energía para así empezar el nuevo curso con fuerza y energía renovada para enfrentar un nuevo curso académico que esperemos poco a poco vuelva a una calma y normalidad que todos hemos echado de menos.

Un abrazo y gracias una vez más.

Félix Legaz

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Dear parents and students of British Montessori School Los Fresnos-Mataespesa “Geography” in year 7A, 7B, 8, 9A, 9B and Montessori School La Florida “Geography” 7, 8, 9A, 9B and “History” 7, 8, 9A, 9B :

Let me take this opportunity to communicate with you to thank you for the support and help provided from home. I do not need to say how challenging and stressful this academic year has been. I really appreciate your support and understanding during all these months more than ever.

I encourage to work with your child (year 7, 8 or 9) over the summer with just the right mix of fun in the sun, family time, new experiences and friends and studying to reinforce the skills learned this year- reading every day, watching a documentary, writing, discussion, and review of concepts.

I also hope that this summer break will bring us lots of sun and rest, so we will be back to work with renewed strength and energy. 

Best regards and thank you very much one more time.

Félix Legaz

La Florida > Year 9 >>> Lengua contest winners!

Congratulations Sofía and Lucila for your work and winning prize in a national Lengua contest.
Well done!

https://sofiaramos07.wixsite.com/laresideestudiantes

British Montessori at Mataespesa site >>> Graduation YEAR 13 .... 2021

 Dear year 13 (students born in 2003) ,

Congratulations for your graduation next Friday (18/06/2021) 

Wishing the BEST for the future to you all! 

Los Fresnos _ PROJECTS INFO 3rd TERM_ GEOGRAPHY

  

Information for LOS FRESNOS students of YEAR 7, 8 and 9 >>> GEOGRAPHY

Keep working in your PROJECTS and this is just a reminder about  some rules and the dates for presentations.


RULES:       

- Each group has 10 to 15 minutes for their presentations.

- Everybody must talk in the presentation.                                                                                                                    

- You must do an introduction (5% of yout time),a development (85%) and a plenary/conclusion (10%)




DATES:            GEOGRAPHY (ALL GROUPS)

                       - YEAR 7A  >>>  17/06/2021  THURSDAY
                       - YEAR 7B  >>>  17/06/2021  THURSDAY
                       - YEAR 8    >>>  17/06/2021  THURSDAY
                       - YEAR 9A  >>>  17/06/2021  THURSDAY
                       - YEAR 9B  >>>  14/06/2021  MONDAY *

                       *(9B will have a special PE lesson on Thursday 17/06/2021)

 

 

La Florida _ PROJECTS INFO 3rd TERM_ GEOGRAPHY and HISTORY

Information for LA FLORIDA students of YEAR 7, 8 and 9 >>> GEOGRAPHY and HISTORY

Keep working in your PROJECTS and this is just a reminder about  some rules and the dates for presentations.


RULES:       

- Each group has 10 to 15 minutes for their presentations.

- Everybody must talk in the presentation.                                                                                                                    

- You must do an introduction (5% of yout time),a development (85%) and a plenary/conclusion (10%)




DATES:            GEOGRAPHY (ALL GROUPS)

                       - YEAR 7    >>>  18/06/2021  FRIDAY
                       - YEAR 8    >>>  16/06/2021  WEDNESDAY
                       - YEAR 9A  >>> 18/06/2021  FRIDAY
                       - YEAR 9B  >>> 18/06/2021  FRIDAY

 

                        HISTORY (ALL GROUPS)

                       - YEAR 7    >>>  18/06/2021  FRIDAY
                       - YEAR 8    >>>  18/06/2021  FRIDAY
                       - YEAR 9A  >>> 18/06/2021  FRIDAY
                       - YEAR 9B  >>> 16/06/2021  WEDNESDAY

 

 

Children’s Day in Spain

 Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose date of observance varies by country. In 1925, International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. 

Spain celebrates "Children's day" every 15 of April....and Google just reminds it today.

GOOGLE CLASSROOM for BRITISH MONTESSORI FRESNOS and MONTESSORI SCHOOL LA FLORIDA

 Just a quick reminder >>>>>> You have access to GOOGLE CLASSROOM. You already have information about every single lesson, work, activities, homework and videos that we have been using and working since September until now. So, if you have missed a lesson or you did not complete work, etc.... do not hesitate to go and have a look, as you will find all that you need there.

Geography in Key Stage 4 (year 10 & 11)

 

Dear parents and students of year 9,

A quick reminder about the IGCSE GEOGRAPHY. This information has been provided to you already, but I have decided to make a brief summary of the important information to pay attention about this subject and posted on here.

_____________________________________________________ 

KEY STAGE 4 – YEARS 10-11 

 
Introduction

Geography is the study of people and their environment in different parts of the world. It is at the centre of many of the major issues affecting the world today. 

How are we going to feed the world’s rapidly expanding population? How will global climate change affect our lives? What is happening to the overcrowded mega-cities of the world? How will we ensure enough clean water for our future? How does tourism affect the places people visit? How can people respond to natural hazards such as flooding, earthquakes and hurricanes? These are the kinds of questions that students will explore if they choose to study IGCSE Geography. 

As well as requiring the understanding of many important global issues the study of Geography involves the use of many transferable skills. These include understanding and drawing a wide variety of graphs and diagrams, effective use of ICT, carrying out an investigation in the local area and being able to interpret different types of maps. Students will develop a broad range of other skills, from data presentations skills to interpretation and analysis skills through the exploration of topical news and articles. As a summary, Geography provides students with many transferable skills in demand by employers: communication skills (presentation, writing, debating), teamwork, problem solving and IT skills.

Employers and universities see geography as a robust academic subject rich in skills, knowledge and understanding. As a subject linking the arts and the sciences it is highly flexible in terms of what you can combine it with, both at IGCSE and A Level. Geography gives us the understanding and skills to make sense of the world around us and is an invaluable tool for further study and the workplace.

1.Aims
In Key Stage 4, students in Montessori La Florida and British Montessori Mataespesa / Fresnos will be prepared for the International General Certificate of Education exam of the University of Cambridge Examinations Board (IGCSE), Syllabus number 0460. 

The aims are therefore the same as those specified by the exam board and are summarised as follows: - 

1. To develop a sense of place and an understanding of relative location on a local, regional and global scale; 
2. To develop an awareness of the characteristics, distribution and processes affecting contrasting physical and human environments; 
3. To develop an understanding of the ways in which people interact with each other and with their environment; 
4. To develop an awareness of the contrasting opportunities and constraints presented by different environments; 
5. To develop an appreciation of and concern for the environment; 

6. To develop an appreciation of the earth including its people, places, landscapes, natural processes and phenomena.                       

2. Syllabus outline 
The Y10 and Y11 students are prepared for IGCSE Geography, syllabus 0460 (2020-2022). The following is a link where the syllabuses can be found.

http://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-geography-0460/

YEAR 10 (Physical Geography)
1. Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, volcanoes, fold mountains, rift valleys, natural hazards and human response. 
2. Weathering and mass movement 
3. Fluvial processes and associated landforms, flooding, river pollution, water resources – uses, competition and conflict 
4. Marine processes and associated landforms, coastal flooding, coastal pollution, and coastal management 
5. The collection of meteorological data and factors affecting climate 
6. Tropical rainforests – climate and vegetation, plantation farming, small-scale subsistence agriculture, deforestation and global warming 
7. Deserts – climate and vegetation 

YEAR 11 (Human Geography)
1. World population distribution and density. World population growth, the concepts of overpopulation and carrying capacity. The demographic transition and variations in world population growth. Pro- and anti-natalist policies. Population structure, population pyramids. Population migration – causes and consequences
2. Settlement site, situation, pattern, morphology, function and growth. Settlement hierarchies and spheres of influence – shopping patterns. Urbanisation and associated problems. Urban land use models and comparisons between MEDCs and LEDCs. Inner cities and their redevelopment, ribbon development, dormitory suburbs/villages, green belts. Rural-urban migration in the LEDCs and shanty towns 
3. Employment structure 
4. Farming – changes in commercial and cash-crop farming 
5. Energy – significance of different energy sources, acid rain, the siting of power stations 
6. Industrial systems - motor vehicle assembly, high technology industries 
7. Leisure & tourism 
8. Revision 

3. Time allocation 
Students will have 4 x 50 minute (La Florida) or 3 x 55 minutes (Fresnos-Mataespesa) periods of Geography and some homework per week. 

4. Resources 
Each student will have a copy of The New Wider World (Third Edition) by David Waugh. Each student will have access to the Oxford Practical Atlas. 

The textbook and atlas are supplemented by many teacher-prepared resources and by past examination questions. 

5. Assessment 
No assessment will be made of the students’ notes but assessment will be based on IGCSE style questions and the grades awarded will be equivalent to those that would have been obtained by the student under examination conditions bearing in mind the stage in the course. 

There is a test at the end of each unit (see syllabus) and formal examinations in June of Year 10 and in January of Year 11. These are marked according to IGCSE standards. The grade awarded in the report is a guide as to how well the student is progressing towards the final exam. A, B and C are pass grades. D and below are fail grades. 

All students will enter for Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 4 (Alternative to Coursework).