This unit is made up of the second part of Section B of Paper 3 of the AQA GCSE Geography specification and links directly to the work students did at the end of Year 10.  Students carry out two fieldwork investigations, one relating to physical geography and the other to human geography.

 

Intent

Knowledge acquired:

• The geographical theory underpinning each investigation
• Background information about the location and characteristics of each of the places used for investigation
• The reasons for selecting locations, methods of data collection and presentation.
• How the risks for fieldwork enquiry can be mitigated
• The main results and conclusions of each investigation

Skills developed:

• Data collection techniques
• Ability to analyse and interpret data using appropriate statistical techniques
• Ability to analyses and evaluate methods of data collection and presentation

Understanding:

• Ability to understand the most appropriate methods of data collection and presentation.
• Ability to reach conclusions and to evaluate methods.

Links to previous study (where applicable):

• Links to investigation and enquiry techniques studied at Key Stage Three
• Link to prior learning at KS4 – Fieldwork Skills, studied in Year 10

Links to future study / the wider world (where applicable):

• Link to A Level e.g. AQA A Level – Geography Fieldwork Investigation

 

Implementation

Number of Lessons: Approx. 15 lessons (some lessons take longer than one hour to complete)

Sequence of lessons: 

(Followed in turn for both fieldwork investigations)

1. Identifying a suitable question for geographical enquiry
2. Selecting, measuring and recording data appropriate to the chosen enquiry
3. Selecting appropriate ways of processing and presenting fieldwork data
4. Describing, analysing and explaining fieldwork data
5. Reaching conclusions
6. Evaluation of geographical enquiry

Main resources:

• OUP GCSE Geography Textbook for AQA: Pages 306 - 324
• Teacher-prepared PowerPoint activities for each lesson
• Fieldwork investigation booklets
• Exam papers from previous exam series

Method(s) of assessment: 

• Summative assessment at the end of the unit
• Assessed as part of December Mock in Year 11.
• Final assessment: assessed within Paper 3 (sat in June of Year 11)

Use of assessment result(s):

• Used to identify areas of weakness in terms of knowledge and skills.  Addressed throughout the remainder of the course.