An all day session

Session 1
Activities on the riverside and in the classroom will introduce pupils to the River Lea and its connection to London and the Thames. Pupils will learn about geographical features and the water cycle. This is followed by Role play with the Regeneration game, a large floor game that is used to investigate the river environment and why land/river use has changed over time. Through drama pupils will explore environmental issues and find “pollution solutions” to help devise a sustainable future for the local area. The riverside trail will take pupils on a journey around Three Mills Island to find evidence of past and present environmental change.

Session 2
A tour inside the 18th century tidal mill (the largest in the world!) will allow pupils to recognize the importance of the mill and tides; helping pupils to understand why rivers are important to industry. Fieldwork includes recording simple abiotic data (water temperature, weather, state of tide), assessing water quality through chemical tests and assessing the impact of rubbish on local wildlife, plus the investigation of river processes such as erosion, transportation and deposition.

We are happy to help you plan a KS5 geography course. We can adapt our courses to suit your learning objectives or A level course work criteria. A pre-visit consultation allows us to create a memorable field work day for your pupils. Please contact us to discuss your needs.

Sites: Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Greenwich and Museum in Docklands

A full day programme

Session 1a (with foreshore fieldwork): Fieldwork includes recording simple abiotic data (water temperature, weather, state of tide), assessing water quality through chemical tests and invertebrate sampling, assessing the impact of rubbish on local wildlife, plus investigation of river features such as erosion, transportation and deposition.

Session 2: Role play with the River of Life floor game to investigate pollution and human impacts on the river environment. Includes revision of geographic features and the water cycle. Pupils find “pollution solutions” to help devise a sustainable future for the river.

Sites: Chiswick and Kew Bridge

RIVER BANK OPTIONS FOR SESSION 1A AT CHISWICK (WHEN TIDE IS HIGH)

EITHER 1b – Riverside Challenge
On the riverside pupils turn detective to find evidence of riverside settlement, flood protection, river uses and wildlife. On the Pier pupils will record simple abiotic data (water temperature, weather, state of tide), assessing water quality through chemical tests and assessing the impact of rubbish on local wildlife, plus investigation of river features such as erosion, transportation and deposition.

OR 1c – Meet the Lifeboat Crew
A great example of Citizenship in action! Pupils have the opportunity to visit Chiswick Lifeboat Station, which is the second busiest in The RNLI fleet. In 2011, they were called out to 231 incidents. Learn first-hand about features of the E-class Lifeboat, the crews’ kit and what happens when the crew are called out on a shout! Learn how to prevented accidents from happening by developing an understanding of water safety. The station is crewed by both full-time staff and volunteers who work towards keeping the riverside community safe. Please note Chiswick is an operational lifeboat station so sometimes it is not possible for pupils to meet the crew as they will be watching them race off to answer a call for assistance.

Site: Chiswick

A full day programme, with two options for Session 1

EITHER Session 1a (with foreshore fieldwork): Fieldwork includes recording simple abiotic data (water temperature, weather, state of tide), assessing water quality through chemical tests and invertebrate sampling, assessing the impact of rubbish on local wildlife, plus investigation of river features such as erosion, transportation and deposition. An Environmental Impact trail gathers evidence of how riverside settlements have adapted the river for different purposes including flood protection.

OR Session 1b (no foreshore, as tide is high): On the riverside we gather evidence of how riverside settlements have adapted the river for different purposes and record different types of flood protection. Impact of change is assessed. Physical geography fieldwork includes recording and sketching key features such as meanders, island formation and tides, plus erosion and deposition if visible, measuring and recording activities (depth, speed, width, temperature, pH, water hardness).

Session 2: A presentation highlights main geographic features, human impacts and options for future management. Pupils investigate environmental issues and help devise a sustainable future for the river

Sites: Chiswick, Kew Bridge

We are happy to help you plan a KS4 geography course. We can adapt our courses to suit your learning objectives or GCSE course work criteria. A pre-visit consultation allows us to create a memorable field work day for your pupils. Please contact us to discuss your needs.

Sites: Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Greenwich and Museum in Docklands

A full day programme

Session 1: Fieldwork includes learning river words through games, discovering the local river environment, identifying river features and wildlife, observing how people use the river and assessing the environment. On the foreshore the pupils will have the opportunity to experience the life of a mudlarker by collecting archaeology as evidence of past river use. Back in the classroom pupils will use specially designed sorting boards to identify their artefacts to help build up a picture of the past.

Session 2: Allows pupils to explore the lives of mudlarkers; using storytelling, old photographs and drama to experience London life during the Victorian Times. This allows pupils to visualise and compare how the local area has changed from past to present times.

Sites: Greenwich

A full day programme

Session 1: Fieldwork includes learning river words through games, discovering the local river environment, identifying river features and wildlife, observing how people use the river and assessing the environment. On the foreshore pupils will have the opportunity to do river dipping.

Session 2: Role play with the River of Life floor game to investigate how people can harm the river and its wildlife, and what can be done to improve the environment.

Sites: Chiswick and Kew Bridge

A full day programme

Session 1: Fieldwork on the foreshore and riverside trail includes recording river features, assessing and recording water quality through pH testing. Pupils gather evidence of how people have used and changed the river and the environmental issues which arise from these changes. Indoors we compare the past and present using historical resources to reveal information about the local area.

Session 2: Pupils practice investigative skills, using historical sources to interpret the local settlement and find out how (and why) the area has changed. At the Museum in Docklands we explore the old London Docks. At Greenwich we explore the Naval College and Cutty Sark and find out how life has changed since Victorian times.

Sites: Museum in Docklands, Greenwich

A full day programme

Session 1: A presentation highlights Thames landforms, human impact on the river and causes and effects of flooding. Outdoor activities include measuring and recording activities (depth, speed, width, temperature, pH, hardness) and field sketches of key features (meanders, erosion, deposition, transportation, island formation and tides).

Session 2: Fieldwork on the foreshore includes investigating erosion caused by fluvial and biological processes. An investigation of water quality will be carried out through invertebrate sampling. A mapping exercise on the riverside records local flood protection. The session finishes with a discussion on possible human responses to flooding.

Site: Chiswick

A full day programme

Session 1: Fieldwork on the foreshore and riverside trail includes recording river features; assessing and recording water quality through water and invertebrate sampling; gathering evidence of how people have used and changed the river and the environmental issues which arise from these changes. Indoors we look at what photographs and maps both past and present can reveal about the local area.

Session 2: Pupils then practice investigative skills, using both maps and photographs to interpret the local settlement and find out how (and why)_ the area has changed. At The Museum of London Docklands we visit the Victorian Gallary, while at Greenwich, we follow a historic trail around the riverside to find out how life has changed since Victorian times.

Sites: Greenwich & Museum of London Docklands

A full day programme

Session 1: Fieldwork on the foreshore with Thames Explorer includes recording river features, assessing water quality through chemical analysis and assessing the impact of rubbish on local wildlife, plus collecting historic artefacts. On the riverside trail pupils collect evidence of past river use.

Session 2: The Golden Hinde circumnavigated the globe from 1577 – 80 and this visit offers a unique and memorable opportunity to investigate life afloat in Tudor times. We will help organise this visit; but should be paid for directly to the Golden Hind Educational Museum.

Site: Southwark

Fieldwork on the foreshore and riverside trail includes recording river features; assessing and recording water quality through water and invertebrate sampling; assessing the impact of rubbish on local wildlife; gathering evidence of how people have used and changed the river and the environmental issues which arise from these changes.

Half day only – no lunch room available

Site Isleworth and Southwark