World Thinking Day takes place annually on 22 February.

This date in the calendar offers a time to encourage young people to think about and reflect on, the variety of challenges, changes and issues both in their own lives and the world around them.

It is a great opportunity to reflect on and think about their own locality, one which they might be very familiar with but often fail to take notice of in any great detail.

The questions which follow many be ones they can answer from noticing things on their way to and from school or they might form the basis for some enquiry fieldwork during the school day. They might also usefully provide homework tasks so students can think about them in relation to where they live.

• What do you like most / least about the area?
• What are the reasons for your thoughts?
• Have you noticed any changes a) in the past b) more recently?
• Ask some older people about the changes they remember. Have these improved the area?
• What changes would you like to see? Why?

The following questions are to stimulate some deeper thinking about, and consideration of, the place.

• If someone who lived here 50/100 years ago were able to visit what would surprise them? Is there anything they might recognise?
• If you visited the area in 50 years’ time what are the changes you might expect to see?
• What are the main challenges for your area? Are these being tackled?
• Who is making decisions about your area? Which people or groups? Is anyone left out of making decisions? Why does this happen?

Task

An artist has been commissioned to paint a mural in the centre of your area to represent the local landscape and community. You have been asked to suggest things which should be included.

This can also be developed so that students create their own mural to include aspects they feel represent their community and local area.

Summary

In fieldwork we do a lot of counting, measuring and drawing but we also need to develop the skills of noticing, considering and critically thinking about matters. It is important that students are able to think carefully and creatively about their locality as they may well be the decision makers of the future there.

The GA has a helpful guide for more ideas about developing critical thinking in the classroom:
Critical Thinking in Practice Guide

This Teaching Resource was written for the Geographical Association by Paula Richardson.