GEOGRAPHY:
Geography Department Staff (from Left to Right):
Anthony Catto: PGCE (Rhodes)
Sue Webber: BSc:HONS(Rhodes), HDE (UNISA), PGCHET (Rhodes); Currently studying for an MEd (Rhodes)
Claudia Chandler: Head of Department - BA:HONS; MA (UND); PGCE (Rhodes)
Luc Hoefnagels: BA (Stellenbosch); HDE (UCT)
The Geography Department is staffed by six capable and energetic teachers who continuously develop and nurture learners in their care. Our aim in the department is to engender a love for Geography and the environment - natural, built and socio political - through a variety of innovative and traditional teaching practices. We encourage independent and critical thinking and challenge our learners to present work based on sound and rigorous academic principles. Our results in the Independent Examination board's National Senior Certificate exam continue to be impressive with a 100% pass rate. The practical application of theoretical concepts is integral to Geography, consequently we try to integrate fieldwork into our daily teaching as far as possible. Over and above individual teachers' field work whole grades go on set field trips. The matrics and Grade eleven's undertake Geomorphology day long fieldtrips. The Grade 11 classes go to Kenton to study how the ocean impacts our coast lines and the Grade 12's study the landforms created by the relationship between the forces of water and weather on intrusive volcanic rocks as well as horizontal and inclined strata. The erosional and depositional work of rivers is also examined. Grade 8 learners focus their attention on the local urban environment and the department has introduced an innovative 'exam' in which the learners spend the morning in the field - observing and recording the practical aspects of what they have learned in theory in the classroom. The 'exam ' is written at the end of the field trip where learners are able to consolidate what they have been exposed to during the course of the morning. Grade nines, on the other hand - with their focus on development - apply their knowledge to the environment and how they might develop practices to improve their relationship with the natural environment so as to lessen their impact on the earth. Members of the department also mark IEB scripts at the end of the academic year and are actively involved in the regional activities of the IEB. On the whole the department aims to prepare pupils for a socially responsible role in society - we aim to educate our pupils to be thinking contributors to an ever changing society. Equipping them with skills, values and attitudes that will enable them to confidently confront issues of climate change, globalisation, the growth of global populations and their impact on the world - global disparities in health, wealth and welfare and the wonders of what the world has to offer. While many think of Geography as one of the 'learning' subjects we like to think of our discipline as one of the 'thinking' subjects. While the factual basis and understanding of both physical and human aspects of the world are essential to being a successful Geographer - it is the ability of learners to be able to synthesise knowledge from a range of sources and apply that knowledge to spatial problems that makes for a truly vibrant Geographer.
Grade 8 Geography "exam" 13 August 2010:
The Grade 8 'exam' took the form of a field trip in which the years work to date was cemented via a visual journey through Grahamstown. The aim of the morning was not only to make real those elements that the pupils have been learning about in class, but also to provide them with a far broader picture of Grahamstown. The grade 8s were divided into three groups and they rotated through the three activities. There was a bus tour through the various residential and industrial areas of Grahamstown with a stop in Artificers Square. Then a climb to the top of Sugar Loaf Hill which provided a vantage point from which to locate a whole array of land uses on a map. Following from this the grade 8s walked along High Street, from the Drosdy Arch to the old railway Station noting the condition and function of the buildings. They then returned to school in time to have a quick tea and were given an opportunity to sit calmly and make sure that they had completed their map drawings en route, and to write a reflection about what they had learnt during the morning. C Chandler 13 August 2010.
Click on the thumbs nails to enlarge:
Grade 12 Excursion 21 July 2010:
The Grade 12s investigated fluvial geomorphology and structural landforms in a fieldtrip to Carlisle Bridge. This involved observation, explanation and the drawing of horizontal, inclined and massive rock landforms. At Carlisle Bridge they pondered the decline of the local farming community as a result of land use changes ( sheep farming to game farming) as well as the impact that the several floods that have occurred over time would have had on the community, the land and the infrastructure. Observation of the river considered how the river shapes the valleys that it moves through.
Geography trip for Grade 11s to Kenton:
Grade 11 boys and girls on a recent trip to Kenton to study coastal landforms as part of their Geography syllabus. A morning long walk from the Bushman's River to the Kariega River saw the learners analysing and sketching the various landforms that they encountered.
Chumani Nkwinti, Grade 8, pictured here with a group of Grade 4 learners from Samuel Ntlebi Primary School working together on creating a paper mache dustbin during a community engagement afternoon activity.
Sir Henry Strakosch Memorial Scholarships 201229th January 2012
To encourage and reward excellence in Science and Maths
18th January 2012
Three College boys travelled to Kampalato to join this amazing experience.
