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Back to Impossible places

Impossible places

This module explores how human activity can create or change places that can be considered to be "impossible"

  • Key Stage Three,
  • Module,
  • Environmental interactions and management,
  • Urbanisation, migration and society
  • Overview
  • Is Las Vegas a Real place?
  • The Skywalk, a step too far?
  • Thirsty city
  • Building the impossible city
  • A sustainable future for Dubai?
  • No Admittance, Forbidden places
  • Assessment

No Admittance, Forbidden places

Students undertake independent research into forbidden places using web based tools. They complete a short project and respond creatively to their chosen location. Finally they consider the nature of forbidden places in their local area.

Key questions

Why some are places forbidden?

What would it be like to visit a forbidden place?

Why are some places forbidden?

Some places are restricted because of past or present military activities. Places may also be forbidden for cultural, political or environmental reasons

Links

  • Wikipedia entry for Pripyat

  • Wikipedia entry for Gruinard

  • Bikini Atoll

  • Sedan Crater

  • Area 51

  • Hawthorn (nuclear bunker)

  • Vozrozhdeniya

  • Centralia

  • Korean Demilitarized zone

  • Imber

  • Nanda Devi Sanctuary

  • Mecca (for non Muslims)

  • Guantanamo Bay

  • Chagos Islands

  • Diego Garcia

Starter

Watch the You Tube video 'Visions of Pripyat'

  • Where is it?

  • Why is abandoned?

Pripyat is an abandoned city in the ‘Zone of alienation' in northern Ukraine, near the border with Belarus. It was the home to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant workers. It was abandoned in 1986 following the Chernobyl disaster. Its population had been around 50,000.

Main Activity

Use the list of forbidden places.

For each place research to find out:

  • Where the place is located (preferably a screenshot from Google Earth/Google Maps)

  • Why the place is forbidden

  • What special clothes, equipment and permission is required to visit the place

  • An image of the place

Plenary

Read excerpts of your work to rest of the class.

Are there any ‘forbidden places’ in your local area?

Annotate an OS map of your local area to show places where you are made to feel unwelcome or are prohibited from entering.

Mark on the spaces or places where you are made to feel welcome.

Downloads

  • Impossible Places Lesson 6 List of Forbidden Places (.doc)
  • Impossible Places Lesson 6 List of Forbidden Places (.pdf)
  • Download all

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