Subject:
Geography

Keywords:
Transport, bypass, public enquiry.

Resources:
Oxford Geography Project Book1, pp 26-27

Year Group:
    7

Values:
Stewardship, Valuing Others

Teaching and Learning Styles:
Debate, analysis, written work, map-reading

Following this a look at transport development and our understanding of the earth's shape & distances is taught.

Lesson 1
Using the Oxford Geography programme Book 1, pupils are introduced to the area and follow simple map finding questions to familiarise with the Ordnance Survey map. The route of the proposed road should be followed/traced and people likely to be affected are identified.
The procedures for organising a public enquiry should be explained and the values that are being explored written down and defined.

Teacher Activity
The values of stewardship and valuing others should be defined and explained to the class verbally with pupils giving their understanding of the meanings as applied to the classroom and to the exercise. The idea of showing respect by listening and allowing each person to speak, of only asking questions and making comment when asked by the chair should be emphasised from this class discussion. These may be summarised as a few rules to govern the conduct of the inquiry. In addition stewardship is an aspect which each person is required to pay attention to in his/her individual speech. The values could be spelt and defined in exercise books.
Pupil activity
Each person is given a role and instruction to prepare a speech for the public inquiry, begun in lesson time (possibly completed for homework)

Lesson 2
The public enquiry is held in lesson time, with the classroom arranged to reflect seating rows that might be expected in a small town community centre. The teacher acts as chair and representatives from the community give their opinions 'in role' about their feelings and attitude toward the building of the bypass. As a reminder of the values focus the two values are written up on the board at the beginning of the lesson. These are referred to as a reminder only if necessary during the simulated inquiry.
After each person has spoken, two questions or comments are allowed from the rest of the room due to time constraints. If there is enough time later some further discussion can take place.
A whole class vote on opinions can take place.
The lesson should end with a brief review of how well the school values that were focused on were evident. Examples can be suggested and discussed by the class