Geography Field Trippers
Year 12, 10 and 8 Geographers travelled to Felixstowe, Aldeburgh and Dunwich recently, making the most of the Spring sunshine to embark on various field trips in the local area. Read more about what they got up to in our report from Mrs Gill, Head of Geography.
Mrs Gill, Head of Geography
The Geography department have been making the most of the Spring sunshine to embark on various field trips in the local area.
Year 12 were at Felixstowe, firstly measuring to what extent the beach between groynes conforms to a typical model diagram and later walking along the prom and up into town investigating the theory of rebranding. The day is a chance to practise fieldwork techniques, to learn new ways of measuring different types of data and also to confirm and question ideas learned in the classroom. The formal writing up of their investigations helps reinforce good enquiry structure for when they do their own individual investigation, worth up to 20% of their actual A level.
Year 12 at Felixstowe – an interesting way to use a tape measure?
The whole of Year 8 took over the beach at Dunwich to try to identify what processes are occurring and if erosion is still happening. They measured beach profiles, sediment characteristics, wave types, longshore drift and learned a little about the history of this once great medieval city – now a village of less than 200 people – all because of erosion! We also had an interesting study in how long it takes 90 people to each get their bag of chips! In the GCSE exam, students are questioned about fieldwork techniques, such as sampling strategies, and have to use their own experience to answer questions on things such as the accuracy and reliability of their data collection methods or assessment of the validity of their conclusions.
Year 8 on a breezy Dunwich beach – is that cliff eroding?
The coastal defences to the south of Aldeburgh provide an excellent opportunity for Year 10 to see if the groynes, seawall and riprap are effective and to find out what other alternatives might be being considered.
Year 10 at Aldeburgh – where has all the sediment gone?
