Geography AS Residential

As part of my AS level Geography trip, I took part in a field trip to the south Devon coast where I took part in several investigations and collections of field work data which will help in my end of year AS Geography exam.

Below is the article Mr Moat wrote for the school newsletter which probably sums up the trip a lot better than I can:

GEOGRAPHERS LEARN MOOR IN THE FIELD
Geography AS Residential Fieldtrip to Colehayes Field Centre, Dartmoor 14th - 16th November

Last week a group of 48 AS geographers, 5 staff and one student who had flown in from Italy went down to Dartmoor to get their hands dirty (and feet wet) to put much of their learning this term into practice in the field, and test whether what Mr Brewer claimed rivers did was actually true.

The first day was spent above the honeypot site of Shipley Bridge by the Avon Dam carrying out river experiments on one of the rivers which supplies Exeter with its water. All students got to grips with a range of techniques including field sketching, velocity measuring, cross sectional analysis and presenting their findings to camera. Many students also attempted rock hopping and a few were forced to master unplanned swimming. The second day we journeyed to a small beach called Elbury Cove just outside of Exeter to examine the beach profile of this pebble beach, putting the coastal theory Mr Brewer had explained the evening before to the test. In the afternoon, we studied counter-urbanisation by examining how peoples’ desire to live in the rural idyll manifested itself in the leafy villages surrounding Exeter, with many students getting fully involved with interviewing the locals in the local cafes and pubs. That evening the students produced presentations detailing their days work which were put under the intense scrutiny of ‘The A*
Factor’ judging panel with the teachers taking on the roles of X Factor judges to provide ‘in character’ feedback to students. Special mention must be given to Yvans’ rapping skills, Mr Anstey’s knowledge of Take That song titles and to Sophie, Natalie, Poppy and Lauren for winning the hotly contested and highly prestigious ‘A* Factor’ title. On the final day, we travelled to Dawlish Warren examining coastal defences and processes at this unique and highly vulnerable location, with several students getting their feet wet in the name of geographical research. The geography staff would like to say a big ‘well done’ to all the students who put in long hours during the day and evening sessions to maximise their learning, their fine conduct as ambassadors for Beechen Cliff School, for getting stuck in to the geography at each of the different locations, and for some excellent karaoke in the buses on the return journey. A big thanks to Ms A Milland and Mr A Mason for supporting us and making the trip possible.

Mr T Moat
Geography Department