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Using the Local Environment and Land Use

FACE would like to thank members of the Geography Department of Furze Platt Senior School who designed this unit. We also acknowledge the authors of Cookham Voices - Ann Danks and Chrissie Rosenthal whose book is used in the Virtual Field Walk.

Introduction
The Geography Department at Furze Platt Senior School(FPSS), Maidenhead, Berkshire have developed their own unit of work for Year 7 in order to introduce pupils to geographical enquiry by using the countryside very near to the school. Furze Platt school is situated on the A308 on the very edge of Maidenhead and overlooks green belt land. The majority of the pupils live in an urban environment. Large modern housing estates adjacent to the school contrast with the farm land opposite the site.

 

About the Unit
The Unit, based on eight Key Ideas, covers a large number of the National Curriculum references outlined in the Key Stage 3 Programme of study. The Unit starts by introducing mapping skills concentrating particularly on different land uses and conflicting land uses on the urban fringe, moving on to investigate the local environment, firstly through a soil study in the schools grounds and then on a field walk. The Geography department have constructed their own ’virtual walk’ so that all pupils whether they take part in the field work or not can fully benefit from and take part in all the activities in this Unit.

Title Download
Virtual Walk Virtual Fieldtrip.pps (4Mb)

The Key Ideas are: NC Refs
1. FPSS has a particular location which can be identified on maps
of different scales. 		3a
2. In the local area, land is used for a variety of purposes. Land use
can be specified for particular areas and shown on a map of a suitable
scale		 2c
3. Some land uses can conflict with others 6ij, 6ki
4. Care should be taken of the local environment by following simple rules 5a
5. Some observed land uses can be explained by the nature of the physical
environment		 4a, 3c, 3d
6. Soil consists of certain recognisable characteristics- content, texture etc.
- which vary from place to place.		 4a, 4b, 6ci
7. Information can be collected, recorded and then presented about the local area by direct observation. 1b, 1c, 1f, 2b, 2c, 7c
8. Careful planning is needed when suggesting an appropriate sequence for
an investigation and showing results.
1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1f, 2a
   

WORK SCHEME - LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND LAND USE

LESSON

1 & 2

LEARNING OBJECTIVES BASED ON KEY IDEAS

1 AND 2

POSSIBLE TEACHING ACTIVITIES

use maps of various scales to show the location of Maidenhead

investigate the location of FPSS in relation to Maidenhead town centre, A308, edge of town

identify contrasting land uses (rural & urban) near

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Pupils:

record various map sources and scales

write a description of the position of the school*

list the types of land use found near the school

RESOURCES

class set of 1:25,000 OS maps of the local area

globe or world map

atlas

ASSESSMENT OF PUPIL ATTAINMENT

using * above:

Pupils:

Level 1 & 2: recognise & describe where things are in the local area

Level 3 & 4: know the location of places they study

Level 5 & 6: know the location of a wide range of places they study

LESSON

3

LEARNING OBJECTIVES BASED ON KEY IDEAS

2 AND 3

focus on the concept of land use

POSSIBLE TEACHING ACTIVITIES

remind pupils of land use activity

use photographs to show/identify land uses

introduce cartoon land use sheet

identify that land uses can conflict with each other (industry/housing, urban/rural)

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Pupils:

list land uses shown in photograph

identify who is likely to use each land use

follow instructions on land use sheet

identify nearby conflicting land uses

RESOURCES

aerial photographs, photographs, video freeze frame

land use cartoon sheet

ASSESSMENT OF PUPIL ATTAINMENT

using * above

Level 1 & 2: recognise conflicting land uses in the local area

Level 3 & 4: recognise and list conflicting land uses in the local area

Level 5 & 6: write explanations about conflicting land uses in the local area

LESSON

4-7

LEARNING OBJECTIVES BASED ON KEY IDEAS

6

POSSIBLE TEACHING ACTIVITIES

dig small soil pit in the school grounds & examine the nature of the soil

discuss how litter can be separated from the soil - mix with water

carry out soil identification tests

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Pupils

identify constituents of soil samples

observe soil/water experiment

carry out soil identification tests

write up experiment using headings - aim, method, equipment, results, evaluation of methods

RESOURCES

spade, trowel, sample bags

standard soil identification sheet

standard texts on soil formation, constituents, profiles, particles, pores and soil types

ASSESSMENT OF PUPIL ATTAINMENT

Pupils carry out soil feel tests at home for homework

LESSON

8-9

LEARNING OBJECTIVES BASED ON KEY IDEAS

4,7,& 8

POSSIBLE TEACHING ACTIVITIES

preparation for field walk - geographical enquiry

discuss design of land use data collection

introduce Countryside Code

field walk click for field walk

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Pupils prepare for and carry out a geographical enquiry

produce a land use data collection sheet

complete the field walk design sheet using the headings - aim, method, equipment, results, evaluation of methods

RESOURCES

OS maps

Field Walk map

Countryside Code link to:

www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk

ASSESSMENT OF PUPIL ATTAINMENT

Using the framework above field walk is written up.

Level 1 & 2: complete support by staff

Level 3 & 4: limited independence

Level 5 & 6: high level of independence

LESSON

10

LEARNING OBJECTIVES BASED ON KEY IDEAS

5

takes place after the field walk

POSSIBLE TEACHING ACTIVITIES

To focus on two hypotheses:

Land Use changes along field walk lane

There is a variety of soil along field walk lane

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Pupils produce results of their field work design and complete their enquiry

land use map with a key + annotations

annotations could be descriptions of soil types

RESOURCES

outline map of field walk lane

ASSESSMENT OF PUPIL ATTAINMENT

Using the two hypotheses - continues until lesson 13

Level 1 & 2: identification of land uses & soil types

Level 3 & 4: description of land use patterns & soil types and recognises human impacts

Level 5 & 6: links land use with soil types and explains land use through variation in soil types and recognises human impacts.

LESSONS

11-13

LEARNING OBJECTIVES BASED ON KEY IDEAS

all

POSSIBLE TEACHING ACTIVITIES

discuss hypothesis queries

introduce skills work

explain interview assessment procedure

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Pupils

complete field work enquiry explanation

practice and develop their geographical skills

discuss the unit in an individual interview

RESOURCES

skills work from text books

ASSESSMENT OF PUPIL ATTAINMENT

Using their written work each pupil interviewed and enquiry reviewed (approximately 5 minutes)

See above for assessment criteria