Muddy boots, clipboards, and a buzz of geographical inquiry filled the air as our Year 11 Geography students recently embarked on their annual pilgrimage to the picturesque Curly Burn. This essential trip, a cornerstone of their GCSE fieldwork, saw students get hands-on with real-world river studies, bringing their classroom learning to life in the most practical way possible.
The rain stayed away from our determined group of geographers, armed with a range of equipment from ranging poles to tape measures and stop watches. The Curly Burn, with its accessible features and varying river characteristics, provided the perfect natural laboratory for the students to gather vital data for their upcoming GCSE assessments. Under the watchful eyes of Natalie, students meticulously measured a variety of river characteristics at different points along the burn.
“It was so much better to actually see and measure everything than just read about it in our notebooks,” commented Katie, “You really get a sense of how all the different processes of a river interact.”
Our AS Geography students also ventured to the iconic Benone Umbra to conduct an investigation into plant succession as part of their studies. Their mission was to meticulously chart the biological, microclimate and soil changes occurring from the sandy beach all the way to the established back dunes. Armed with soil testing kits, they diligently collected samples, analysing crucial variations in moisture, pH, and soil structure across different sites. It was another thoroughly successful day of fieldwork, made all the more memorable by a friendly encounter with the local herd of cows!
Mrs Cupples, Mrs McCollum and Mrs McConnell, expressed their pride in all their students’ efforts. “The Year 11s and 13s approached their fieldwork with fantastic enthusiasm and professionalism.
The Curly Burn and Umbra always delivers, and this year was no exception! Well done everyone!”
Here’s to the next generation of geographers, making their mark (and their measurements!) on the world, one river and sand dune at a time!