The Geographical Association (GA) is delighted to host the National Festival of Fieldwork again in 2024.
So, what is this event? Fieldwork is an important part of geographical learning in the classroom, but it is sometimes a challenge to organise it.
The GA is supporting teachers by providing free resources to help you all to plan some fieldwork for your classes.
The festival, entitled Fieldwork for Everyone, will take place in June 2024, with 3–15 June being the main focus. But you can count any fieldwork undertaken in your school until the end of term.
So how does the Festival of Fieldwork help?
The GA is committed to supporting and inspiring teachers to return to, or rekindle, the benefits of outdoor education for all pupils.
Recognising that finance is a big block to carrying out fieldwork, the GA has provided open access to a dedicated area on our website which provides plenty of support for everyone on developing fieldwork for all ages.
“The GA is committed to supporting and inspiring teachers to return to, or rekindle, the benefits of outdoor education for all pupils.”
The area around our school is boring and uninteresting…
The reality for many schools is that they are located in often unpromising residential areas or near places that are inaccessible for practical work such as urban rivers or industrial sites.
You can find suggestions for locations and ideas for investigation in the GA resource section ranging from:
- > Ideas for investigation for both primary and secondary age groups
- > Local organisations which might help you
- > Suggestions – have you thought of these locations?
How can we record taking part?
There is a free certificate in the resource section that can be given to every teacher and pupil who takes part – a really great way of celebrating the work they have all done.
Be sure to send in some pictures to the GA and let us know what you have been doing. You can share pictures by emailing info@geography.org.uk.
What does the Geographical Association do?
Now you’ve had chance to see for yourselves what the GA can produce, you might want to look at what we do as a major subject association for geography.
We publish primary and secondary journals three times a year and offer an excellent conference for all teachers at Easter time each year.
You can also take part in the Quality Mark process or a range of CPD activities for teachers of pupils of all ages.
Providing young people with enjoyable, exciting, and worthwhile fieldwork experiences affords them not only learning opportunities but ones that create lifelong memories. You probably remember your own experiences too!
Visit the GA website’s NFF page to find out more, view the resources and get involved!
