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The general methodical recommendations on geographical evenings preparing
can be formulated thus: the definition
of an evening theme; selection of necessary
literature; registration selection and training; script writing.
The theme of an evening is usually defined by the pupils who are engaged in
geographical circles, with the help of a teacher. Seniors can independently prepare
the scenario. If an evening is prepared for the first time, the main work on preparation
of the scenario is carried out by a teacher.
Work starts in 1,5-2 months to prepare all necessary materials without an
overload, to carry out rehearsals, decorate a hall (or a class).
The special place in the extracurricular work content is given to acquaintance
with the life and work of outstanding scientists - geographers, travelers. This helps to
broaden pupils’ horizons, orient their professional, and develop an interest to
geography. Educational value of such evening is multidimensional: it is both a
vocational guidance, and an acquaintance with history of the science development.
7. Conferences on geography
The attention is paid to conferences as one of the forms of extracurricular work.
It is connected with that they help to study interesting
and actual material more
deeply, involve a large number of pupils in independent work with various sources of
knowledge, closely liaise with academic work on the subject, systematize and
synthesize knowledge on other school subjects. More often conferences are
conducted with the pupils of the senior classes.
Conferences on the geography, carried out extracurricular, may differ according
to the contents:
1. Conference generalizing and systematizing knowledge on
the program topics
2. Conference disclosing the practical application of the knowledge acquired.
3. Conference, the contents of which reveal the life and work of great people.
4. Conferences revealing additional material of the object or phenomenon.
5. Conferences summarizing the knowledge of intersubjective character:
«Person and environment».
Conferences are held in the form of games when participants get the role of a
journalist, ambassador of the country, employee of scientific research institute etc. In
this case pupils should think over the questions under the direction of the teacher and
find the answers to them in books and magazines (press conference) or independently
make a report and decide the suggested problem on behalf of some organization.
Such actions play a big educational role. Pupils should prove their views, opinions,
they form an active civil position, affirm communistic views. However it is possible
to carry out conferences in the form of a game in the case when pupils are interested
in a subject and have independent work skills. If the teacher casts himself, distributes
necessary material, rehearses "conference" several times, the advantage of such a
game is too small.
8. Verbal journal
Carrying out verbal journals on geography is urged to satisfy the pupils’
inquisitiveness. It differs from other forms of extracurricular work in informational
width. The verbal journal includes elements of entertaining, presentation. Verbal
journals on geography may be of 2 types: themed, if they open the same topic, and
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review if they address different issues. Usually a verbal journal is entitled «Behind
the pages of the geography textbook», "Regional specialist" etc. Issue of one verbal
journal consists of pages, each of which has a certain title.
Carrying out the verbal journal demands a lot of work. It is necessary to define a
person responsible for each page, to help to pick up necessary literature, to issue it in
the form of the message, a sketch, installation, to find expressive, bright illustrations.
Usually a verbal journal is carried out by the leader who
opens each page with small
introductions or musical insert.
Verbal journals devoted to a certain problem, for example nature conservation,
are interesting. It is expedient to devote one of the pages of this release to
acquaintance with the literature on the matter. The page usually begins with
acquaintance with the author of the book, the short summary to it, then 2-3 messages
according about the most important sections of the book.
Thus, verbal journals are the effective form of extracurricular work promoting
public awareness of geography. This form of extracurricular work is closely
connected with other forms: quizzes, conferences etc., they give the chance to
acquaint pupils with many questions on geography at a short period of time.
9. Geographical quizzes and games
One of the games popular and loved by pupils is a quiz. Its main objective is to
increase interest to a subject, fix and deepen the knowledge received in the course of
training. Geographical quizzes are considered to
be a universal form of
extracurricular work as they are used on geographical evenings, conferences etc.,
besides, the quiz allows to capture a significant amount of participants.
A teacher should remember when carrying out quizzes it is necessary to consider
the pupils’ age, otherwise the questions may be inaccessible to many of them, and it
will reduce the cognitive interest.
Geographical quizzes are subdivided into two groups: thematic and mixed.
Thematic quizzes are about local history. The mixed quizzes contain questions from
various areas of geography. Similar quizzes are often carried out at the meetings of a
geographical circle, during campaigns, excursions. The mixed quizzes give a chance
to broaden the pupils’ horizons, to check their erudition.
The most widespread form of geographical quizzes is the oral quiz. The one who
raises a hand the first answers. The main lack of such quizzes is unequal conditions
for participants. But oral quizzes have advantages as well: they can be conducted in
any conditions (in a class, a campaign).
If circumstances allow, it is better to conduct a written quiz. A question is read,
and everybody is given identical time for questioning. Pupils wait for the following
question after each answer. For economy of time participants do not write down the
questions, but put down a serial number. If a pupil finds it difficult to answer a
question, a dash is put down.
10. Week of geography at school
Week of geography at school is the complex action combining various forms of
extracurricular work: evenings, conferences, competitions, newspapers or papers
contests etc.
