Fieldwork: Planning and collecting survey data
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can complete an environmental quality survey on my school site.
Key learning points
- Fieldwork enquiries allow geographers to investigate a place or changes over space.
- Geographical enquiry includes asking questions, collecting data, presenting data, analysing, conclusions and evaluation.
- Key questions or hypotheses can be used to frame a geographical enquiry.
- Surveys can help geographers to find interesting patterns of data at their field site.
Keywords
Enquiry - An enquiry is an investigation of a geographical feature or issue.
Fieldwork - Fieldwork is investigating the outdoors using geographical tools and thinking to gather information or data.
Data collection - Data collection is when you collect the data for your investigation using a range of methods.
Hypothesis - A hypothesis is a statement which can be tested.
Environmental quality survey - An environmental quality survey is a type of survey which assesses different factors that affect the environment in one location such as cleanliness and green space.
Common misconception
Fieldwork must take place in an unfamiliar location.
While it can be exciting to do fieldwork in a new place, fieldwork actually can take place anywhere.
Teacher tip
An environmental quality survey gives students an excellent opportunity to work collaboratively and to listen to the opinions of others before reaching a decision on a score.
Equipment
A clipboard or something to lean on. A map of the school grounds.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - outdoor learning
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the first step in planning a fieldwork study?
Q2.Which of these is not a type of data you might collect during fieldwork?
Q3.Why is it important to have a clear research question before starting fieldwork?
Q4.Which of the following tools might you use to collect data on temperature during fieldwork?
Q5.Which of these is a good way to make sure your data is reliable?
Q6.Why is fieldwork important in geography?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Where can you complete fieldwork?
Q2.Match the keywords and their definitions.
an investigation of a geographical feature or issue
investigating the outdoors using geographical tools to gather data
collecting the data for your investigation using a range of methods
a statement which can be tested
a type of survey assessing factors that affect the environment
Q3.When we conduct fieldwork, what do we start with?
Q4.Which of the following could be included in an environmental quality survey?
To help you plan your 7 geography lesson on: Fieldwork: Planning and collecting survey data, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 geography lesson on: Fieldwork: Planning and collecting survey data, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Geography: what makes a geographer? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.