How a visit to Killhope can inspire

PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY AT KILLHOPE
How a visit to Killhope can inspire learning in Geography
Killhope can be used to support learning in primary geography either generally, as a site to
practice fieldwork skills and examine areas of woodland, or water-based ecology, or more
specifically, to support the following QCA units:
• Unit 6: Investigating Our Local Area – this can be adapted well to Killhope if you
live within five miles of the site (Suitable for Year 3)
• Unit 13: A Contrasting UK Locality (Suitable for Year 5)
• Unit 14: Investigating Rivers (Suitable for Year 6)
Killhope is particularly useful for studying Geography, as it is located in a European / Global
Geopark, and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and must deal with issues such as
environmental sustainability on a daily basis. The natural environment has an enormous
impact on Killhope. The galena in the hills led to mining, and all the machinery on-site is
still water-powered, supplied by reservoirs. The site is next to a river, and accessible
primarily by a ford, which can flood. This allows excellent opportunities to study the effect
of the environment on a site. Resources such as maps and aerial photographs can be
provided: please mention at the time of booking.
It is recommended that most school-groups who come to study geography do so for most
of the day in order to maximise use of the site. An Information Assistant should accompany
you around the site, explaining the various features to the children, and encouraging them
to actively study the site. No prior knowledge is necessary before a visit: Information
Assistants are trained to quickly establish the level of knowledge the children possess and
tailor the day around it. If there are any particular topics you would like the Information
Assistant to cover on your visit, please mention this at the time of booking.
Not all the activities listed need to be carried out at Killhope: many are more suited to
follow-up work in the classroom.
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