Page 19 - Echo Spring '23_for web 3

Geography 17

Year 8 Antarctica Link Year 8 Geography students have been
studying a range of different biomes across
the world as part of a unit entitled Pole to
Pole. As part of this unit, students explored
the polar biome with a particular focus on
Antarctica. Students learned about the
location of polar biomes and their climates
as well as what animals lived there and their
adaptations. Students also investigated who
lives in Antarctica and this was brought to
life by Miss Hoggett who put our Year 8
students in touch with scientists and
researchers based on the continent through
the UK Polar Network.
Students wrote four separate letters to the
scientists which included a number of
excellent questions such as, “to what extent
have you seen animals being affected by
climate change?” and “what is the most
interesting thing you have discovered on
Antarctica?”. The students received
responses a few days later from a range of
scientists including Adam Booth, a
Geophysicist from the School of Earth and
Environment, University of Leeds and Floortje
Van Den Heuvel, a Cloud Physicist working
for the British Antarctic Survey.
The responses were really detailed and gave
students a real insight into the research
being conducted on Antarctica and what
life is like in one of the most extreme
environments in the world. It enabled to
bring to life students’ learning and explore
some of the careers available to those who
continue to study Geography.