Social Sciences Fieldwork Activities

Social Sciences Fieldwork Activities

Fieldwork and geographical inquiry is a compulsory element of the study of Geography and Global and Environmental Studies.

Our Geography teachers have been very busy co-ordinating fieldwork activities across all year groups including:

Year 11 Geography excursion to Surry Hills

Last Wednesday Year 11 Geography students explored the diverse culture of place in our neighbouring suburb, Surry Hills. Throughout Term 1, we have been learning about culture of place which is defined as the enduring identity of a specific location and is made up of seven elements, which are colour, lifestyle, architecture, streetscape, street life, heritage, energy and noise. Surry Hills as a suburb has been undergoing gentrification and urban renewal since the late 1980s, developing it into a diverse and vibrant community close to Sydney’s CBD, making it an ideal area to investigate culture of place.

Departing SCEGGS at recess, we set off towards Taylor Square to begin our fieldwork. Shortly after crossing Oxford Street, we were presented with multiple examples of Surry Hills’ colour and inclusive culture; rainbow painted pedestrian crossings and muraled buildings stood out amongst the terrace houses and busy streets, establishing its unique identity. Weaving our way through the streets, our cameras were out capturing Surry Hills’ bold street art and striking architecture nestled amongst sandstone terraces and refurbished brick warehouses. A highlight amongst the cohort was McElhone Place, tucked in on the east edge of Surry Hills. Its heritage was presented through restored workers cottages and lush gardens (along with a few cute cats) which contributed to its beautiful streetscape and demonstrated the resilient efforts of urban renewal within the area and its culture of place.

Crossing Devonshire Street, past Wimbo Park with stomachs rumbling, we were all ready for a delicious meal at Samir’s Indian Kitchen. Enjoying a warm plate of butter chicken, we listened to Samir’s experience as a Bangladeshi man opening his restaurant just as COVID hit, his resilience keeping his business strong. Samir now owns two restaurants in Surry Hills, bringing diversity to the community.

After a great meal, we continued along Crown Street where we began investigating the diversity of culture of place surrounding Shannon Reserve, looking into vast cuisine diversity in the local restaurants and recording noise levels in several areas. Testing our surveying skills, in small groups we interviewed residents, business owners and visitors regarding their experience of Surry Hills and any changes that they have witnessed over time. The responses demonstrated the significant gentrification of Surry Hills over time as well as the successful improvements of the streetscape more recently.

Concluding our fieldwork, we made a few stops at the local Salvation Army and Crown Street Public School as final destinations of inquiry, before continuing back to school. After a great day of exploring, we were all satisfied with an understanding of Surry Hills’ cultural diversity, urban renewal and gentrification which makes it a welcoming and vibrant community we are glad to be surrounded by at SCEGGS.

April Palling and Elspeth Herbert (Year 11)

Year 12 Geography Bonna Point Wetlands Fieldwork

Staff often equate a scheduled Geography excursion with the need to bring an umbrella to school! The hardy Year 12 Geographers didn’t let the significant rainfall event bearing down upon Sydney the day prior to our departure deter us from embarking upon our study of the Bonna Point Intertidal Wetlands, located in Botany Bay. Putting our faith in the BOM radar paid off, as forecasted clearance in the weather enabled us to successfully achieve the programme run by AUSECO, the fieldwork operators. Characteristics, functioning and impacts associated with the wetland ecosystem were explored via a range of primary research methodologies that involved measuring, counting, photographing, wading, dip-netting and acquainting ourselves closely with the Mangroves. Getting our boots muddy and enduring a light rain shower were small sacrifices on the day, considering the valuable information and observations gathered in support of this case study, which constitutes an important component of the HSC Geography syllabus.

Darryn Sullivan
Social Sciences Teacher

 

Year 9 Global & Environmental Studies excursion to Cabramatta

To enrich their studies of Asia-Pacific cultural elements and settlement within Sydney, the Year 9 Global and Environmental Studies class recently ventured to Canley Vale and Cabramatta to immerse themselves in the vibrant and diverse Asian culture of the area and to learn more specifically about the Vietnamese Community. Included in the day was an enlightening guided visit to the Kwan Yin Buddhist Temple, experiencing Vietnamese/Chinese fusion cuisine at the Tan Viet Noodle House and listening to an informative address from Guest Speaker Dai Le, Independent Federal Member for Fowler, regarding the history, diversity and promotion of the cultural groups that reside in the district. The class now look forward to applying their primary findings to their associated research assignment. Special thanks to current parent Dianne Nguyen for organising our guest speaker on the day.

Darryn Sullivan
Social Sciences Teacher

 

Zoe Thompson
Head of Social Sciences