I took this photo today at about 10.30am as part of my “homework” for Geography. I get homework most days in most subjects and must be honest that some of the tasks slip under the radar. Today was one such day – I had been supposed to walk Armada Way, the main pedestrian thoroughfare through the city and think of ways in which geographical exploration could come from the inspiration there. Even though I was tardy in doing mine, I reckon I was one of only a handful of people who had done it at all. So, the sundial can be used to teach about navigation and the points of the compass, the relationship of the sun to the Earth, as well as to teach about the human geography of it being a common meeting place, both in the day time for shoppers and at night.

The lecture started with a different exercise – we were all given a post-it note and asked to write on it (and draw an icon) a place that is important to us. We were not told why. We later discovered that a world map had been put on the wall and we went out one by one, armed with our post-it, a long thin bit of brightly coloured paper and some blu-tak and asked to put the post it around the edge of the map, with the thin, coloured strip pointing to the location on the map, then explain to the class why that place had been chosen…see if you can work out my place:

My place is a place that I first went to with my first love but I have also visited it on many occasions with the two men I have been married to. My relationship with the location has lasted and will continue to last longer than any of the relationships I have had in my life, other than those with my family. I have forged deep and lasting friendships there. I have experienced intense emotions – extreme joy, deep sadness, absolute desperation, horrible humiliation, excitement, anticipation, love and on an odd occasion dare I say even a little tiny bit of boredom. I've kissed strangers there and placed bets there (and I'm not a gambler). Even more important is that I've truly belonged there in a way that I have rarely felt about anywhere else. It’s a place which is geographically ambiguous because it has the same name as something that is about half a mile from my location of choice. It’s a place I miss with all of my heart.

I am pleased to report that I had them on the edge of their seats. They were all intrigued as to what this location could be. Most other people seemed to report locations where they met or were proposed to by their partners, places with great holiday experiences or places they’d lived. All fine reasons for choosing a location. Two people had places that were in the same “ballpark” as mine, although both were quite different, one being in Beijing and the other in Melbourne.

What was my location? White Hart Lane of course.


Now think of the cross-curricular activities that there are to be had there!