Humanities News

Mary TAYLOR

Classroom Teacher 

HU896 Beaches & Biomes - Geography Fieldtrip

Miss Taylor, Mr Mitchell & Miss McQueen

On Tuesday 4th March, the Year 8/9 Geography Beaches & Biomes classes went on a fieldwork excursion to study three different coastal environments along the Mornington Peninsula. At our first stop, London Bridge, we were able to get right up close to a natural rock arch and observe the amazing patterns created by wind and water erosion. Then it was onto Sorrento Bay Beach, this time we focussed on the human features and activity that occurs along the coast. Students took lots of photos of these, plus the management features implemented by Council to reduce impacts on the environment. We then got to stop for lunch; eating at picnic tables next to the water as it was a beautiful sunny day. At our final stop in Rye, we were able to see an example of a beach created by a rock groyne and observe the natural process of longshore drift. Overall, it was a great day, and the students collected lots of useful information to put into their fieldwork reports. 

HU104: Year 10 Geography Excursion

Students in Year 10 Geography have been studying poverty and inequality in the world from a geographical perspective. As part of our study of inequality in Melbourne, the class visited various locations in order to investigate issues of homelessness and the differences in living conditions between suburbs. 

The morning was spent in the central business district (CBD), with students completing a scavenger hunt to see how easily they could find life’s necessities such as safe and secure shelter, clean water and healthy food options (with only limited funds). Most found it more difficult than they expected! Next, it was off to ‘The Big Issue’ for a workshop on homelessness. Students got the chance to take part in a range of activities as well as the opportunity to hear one man’s personal experience of being homeless.

After lunch, students visited two very different suburbs – Richmond and Toorak. They completed sketches and observation tables as a way of identifying the unique geographic characteristics of these regions and they will compare these with statistical data once back in class. A big thank you to Ms Brzezek for accompanying us and well done to the students for their exemplary behaviour on the day!