Coastline Catastrophe
Aim – To investigate the coastal
processes and landforms of
Stanswood Bay
Taking the role of newspaper reporters,
students investigate the coastal processes
and landforms of Stanswood Bay, our
local coastline. Following an introduction
to cliff erosion and longshore drift,
students visit a nearby private beach
where they are challenged to find
evidence of cliff collapse and retreat.
Findings are recorded in the form of a field sketch – a
key fieldwork technique that focusses the eye on the
relevant geographical content of the coast. Students add
rich annotations, displaying key terms and explanations
of the processes and landforms drawn.
Back at Calshot beach, students develop a thorough
understanding of the process of longshore drift and spit
formation. The need to protect the coastline from erosion
is explored and the use of groynes and revetments are
discussed. Finally, using laptops in the classroom,
students create imaginative newspaper articles to
describe the Coastline Catastrophe, building in their
geographical knowledge and fieldwork experience
Learning objectives:
•
Describe the coastal processes of erosion, longshore drift and deposition
•
Identify evidence of erosion at coastal cliffs
•
Identify evidence of longshore drift on a shingle beach, explain the notion of
coastal protection and the effect of groynes and revetments
•
Record geographical observations in the form of a field sketch
•
Use geographical information to write a newspaper article