London 2012

Year 7

Type: Letter
Individual or group work: Pairs and individual
Levels of assessments: Four, five, six, seven
Number of lessons: Two
Number of homeworks: Two

Key Processes

• Enquiry Skills

• Use of Evidence

• Presentation

• Making conclusions

• Geographical communication

Writing Styles

• Persuasive (level seven also analysis)

Although planned for the end of Year Seven this topic is likely to be recurring on the run up to the 2012 Olympics. Whilst this assessment is planned as a one-off assessment it would be possible to revisit it in later years to reassess progress in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games, may be looking at it from a Citizenship perspective. The assessment requires students to write a letter about how a place is being affected by the 2012 Olympic Games. Students' choice of places is left open; they can use places studies in class or places that they know about from their own visits, television or films.

The assessment is designed for students to research in pairs and then write up individually. It is assumed that students have prior experience of how to effectively search on the internet.

The assessment requires students to produce a letter suitable for a Mayor. The assessment is written at four different levels - four, five, six and seven. For levels four and five students follow a plan (Resource Sheet C) and for levels six and seven students produce their own plan; it is advisable to check level six and seven student plans before they start their work.

A guide to planning would be:

• Lesson one: Set up assessment, start paired research and fill out Resource Sheet D

• Homework: Further paired research and completion of resource Sheet D.

• Lesson three: Write letter to Mayor as individuals.

• Homework: Finish letter to Mayor as individuals. Completion of resource Sheet B

Writing frames are provided to help capture information and to structure writing. Resource Sheet D, the table about the benefits and problems of the 2012 Olympics, is aimed at helping students with the organisation of geographical content. Whilst the template is similar for levels four to seven the extent of support reduces towards the higher levels. It is expected that students' content will differ also, becoming more sophisticated, complex and intertwined at the higher levels. The style of students' writing should also change from description of characteristics and their changes to analysis of them. Writing frames are provided for the letter and students are encouraged to ensure that their letter follows correct format protocol; students will most likely need guidance on how to address a letter to a mayor.

Presentation of work is of paramount importance in terms of layout, neatness and accuracy. Word processing and digital images would help here.

Resources available for this assessment are:

• London 2012 Teacher guidance

• London 2012 Levelling Grid 

For Level Four

• Resource Sheet A4 - Assessment Activity

• Resource Sheet B4 - Using Sources

• Resource Sheet C4 - Planning for Poster

• Resource Sheet D4 - How the 2012 Olympics May Change a Place 

• Resource Sheet E4 - Letter Writing Frame 

For Level Five

• Resource Sheet A5 - Assessment Activity 

• Resource Sheet B5 - Using Sources 

• Resource Sheet C5 - Planning for Poster 

• Resource Sheet D5 - How the 2012 Olympics May Change a Place 

• Resource Sheet E5 - Letter Writing Frame 

For Level Six

• Resource Sheet A6 - Assessment Activity 

• Resource Sheet B6 - Using Sources 

• Resource Sheet C6 - Planning for Poster 

• Resource Sheet D6 - How the 2012 Olympics May Change a Place 

For Level Seven

• Resource Sheet A7 - Assessment Activity 

• Resource Sheet B7 - Using Sources 

• Resource Sheet C7 - Planning for Poster 

• Resource Sheet D7 - How the 2012 Olympics May Change a Place 

Whilst this assessment does not include assessment for Citizenship, it could with further time be included as the topic will be relevant, and controversial, over the next few years.