2nd Edition Edexcel Textbooks
[AD] March 2024 saw Issue 6 of the Edexcel A-Level Geography specification published for first teaching with Year 12 students in September 2024. To reflect the (much welcomed!) changes and tweaks to this specification, the second edition of the excellent OUP Geography for Edexcel textbooks has been published. In this short blog I spend some time looking at the globalisation and superpowers chapters of these 2nd edition textbooks and share my top 3 take-aways for teaching these topics, using this resource. For a free online inspection copy of these textbooks, please click here.
Year 1 Section 4.4 TNCs and globalisation
This double page spread In the Year 1 textbook begins with the sub-heading ‘Transnational Corporations: corporate colonialism?’ and is an excellent example of where these textbooks invite us to think critically with our students- something we know is essential to being a successful geographer. Going beyond the specification, this spread discusses TNCs in depth to ensure that students truly understand how TNCs help accelerate globalisation through their motive, means and mobility. In my own teaching, I will consider using this sub-heading to frame the delivery of this content- building the lesson around this question before asking students to draw together their knowledge to consider the extent to which TNCs represent a form of ‘corporate colonialism’.
Year 1 and Year 2 ‘Over to you’ and ‘On Your Own’ activities
The wide range of activities in these sections throughout the Year 1 and Year 2 textbooks is a real strength and an incredibly useful tool for all- both new and experienced teachers alike. One highlight for me is the regular questions that ask students to distinguish between key terms. Carefully considered by the authors, students are asked to distinguish between key terms that can often be confused or conflated. For example, in Section 4.10 where students are asked to distinguish between a) Transition towns and local sourcing and b) Fairtrade and ethical shopping. I will be using these activities in my own teaching to ensure that I’m teaching students to use key terms with the clarity required and thus avoiding embedding misconceptions.
Year 2 Section 3.6 Players in international decision-making
This spread covers a part of the specification that I have always found difficult to teach. How much detail do students need about the various UN bodies? What would warrant over-teaching? How can I concisely summarise the key information for students? P.127 of the Year 2 textbook gives me exactly what I need to teach this well summarising the necessary UN bodies onto one side of A4. I will copy this for students and place the A4 text into the middle of an A3 sheet. This will provide the space either side for students to annotate around and add to this information with anything additional discussed such as links to other areas of the specification, further examples or more info to add context.
With such a wealth of up-to-date and expertly written information, picking out 3 key take-aways wasn’t easy but hopefully this has given you a taste of how these textbooks could be used in your own classroom to help ensure the very best teaching possible. For a free online inspection copy of these textbooks, please click here.