Unit 3: The Study of my Local Area

Assessment 2: Neighbourhood Enquiry

The Scenario: You have been commissioned by the local council to produce a detailed report about the characteristics of your local area. It is vital that you are able to write about 5 key areas explained on the next page.

Learning Intentions: By the time you undertake this Enquiry, you will have learnt a range of map skills and about a range of settlements in the UK. The aim of this enquiry is to build on your map skills and your understanding of settlements by undertaking an investigation into your village or neighbourhood.

Your Enquiry title will be “What are the features and characteristics of *********?”

*If you live in a small village, such as Cefn Fforest, Markham or Aberbargoed, you can undertake a study of the whole village. In most cases, you will need to choose just one part of your settlement where you live (approximately 1km2 in area). Look at a local OS map to help you locate your area.

SKILL / STRAND / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
Locating places, environments and patterns / Read & use maps
Draw maps
Locations, patterns & Connections
Understanding places, environments and processes / The features of places
Processes & change
People & environment
Investigating / Asking questions
Collecting & recording info & data
Analysis & findings
Communicating / Views & opinions
Presenting findings, ideas & information

What do you need to find out?

1.  Where is it located?

You will need to produce a sketch map, showing the location of your neighbourhood. You can use hand drawn, photocopied or ICT based maps but you need to add information to them to make them your own.

You need to provide a description of the site (the exact location, e.g. on a hill, in a valley, by a river) and the situation (how your neighbourhood fits in with the local geography: what are the main roads? Where do they lead? What are the neighbouring places? In which direction is the town centre? How far is it? What surrounds your neighbourhood?).

2. What is the function of your neighbourhood and what are the main services?

For this you will need to draw another sketch map at a larger scale and you will need to survey your neighbourhood. Your map should have a key and should be annotated to show the functions, services and types of buildings. Are there shops? Are there factory buildings? Is there any open space? Are there bus stops, parks, entertainment facilities, car parks, post boxes, public telephones, etc? If there are mainly houses, what type are they (terraced, semi-detached, detached, flats, etc.)?

You will also need to decide what the main function of your neighbourhood is. Is it a residential area, an industrial area, a commuter village, etc? What do most people who live in your neighbourhood do?

3.  What are the signs of change in your neighbourhood?

There are signs of change in almost every neighbourhood. These might be very obvious, such as new buildings, building sites, new traffic calming schemes or new shops. However, a closer look will reveal other changes, for example shops and pubs and old barns that have become houses? What were village ponds once used for? Why are there newer houses between older ones? Look at street and building names for clues. For example, why is there a Railway View in Fleur-de-lis? Why is there a house called Police Station in Cefn Fforest?

Try asking some of the people in your neighbourhood who have lived there for a many years what changes they have seen?

4. What are people’s opinions of their neighbourhood?

Devise a short questionnaire for people in your neighbourhood to complete. From this you can find out about the characteristics of the people in your neighbourhood (age group, sex, types of job, etc.) and their opinions. What do they see as the advantages and disadvantages of living where they do? Do they like living there? Are they concerned about litter, vandalism, crime, transport or change?

5. What is the environmental quality of your neighbourhood?

You need to use an environmental quality index to judge the environmental quality of different parts of your neighbourhood. Are some parts neater and better kept than others? Why is this?

The following page tells you how your Enquiry will be marked. Study this closely before you start.

Year 7 Settlement Module, Neighbourhood Enquiry – Mark Scheme.

Please hand this sheet in with your completed study

Name ……………………………………… Form …………. Geography Teacher ……..……………………………

Criteria / Description / Levels & Marks / Mark awarded
1 / Location / ·  The enquiry includes a detailed location map and a clear explanation of the site and situation of the neighbourhood.
·  The use of map skills is evident, including the use of scale, symbols, a key and indication of direction. / Basic
Good
Excellent / 1
2
3
2 / Function and Services / ·  The enquiry includes a well annotated land use map showing services/functions. This is supported by a written description and interpretation.
·  The use of map skills is evident, including the use of scale, symbols, a key and indication of direction. / Basic
Good
Excellent / 1
2
3
3 / Signs of Change / ·  The student describes clear evidence of past, present and/or future changes.
·  Evidence is interpreted and logical analysis is made based on the evidence. / Basic
Good
Excellent / 1
2
3
4 / People’s Opinions / ·  The student produced a well organised and appropriate questionnaire
·  A good sized sample was used in the survey (up to around 30).
·  Results are presented using a variety of appropriate graphical and/or mapping techniques.
·  Results are analysed and patterns are identified. / Basic
Good
Excellent / 1
2
3
5 / Environmental Quality / ·  Use of an environmental quality index in a minimum of 5 different sites.
·  Results presented on a map to display patterns.
·  Reasons for the patterns are suggested. / Basic
Good
Excellent / 1
2
3
6 / Analysis, Conclusions & Evaluation / ·  Throughout the study there is evidence of interpretation and explanation of the findings.
·  Clear conclusions are reached about the neighbourhood based on the evidence
·  Methods and possibly results are evaluated.
·  There is recognition by the student that the results are partial, tentative and incomplete. / Basic
Good
Excellent / 1
2
3
7 / Organisation and Presentation / ·  The work is handed in on time.
·  The student manages her time well and keeps on task.
·  The work is clearly organised with headings, page numbers and a list of contents.
·  Secondary sources and help received are acknowledged. / Basic
Good
Excellent / 1
2
3
COMMENT: / Total mark / 21
Mark / Grade / Level
21 / A+ / 8
19 / A+ / 7
17 / A / 6
15 / B / 5
13 / C / 4
11 / D / 3
To be completed by the student when the work is returned after it has been assessed.
Strengths in My Enquiry / Areas for Improvement
Write three different ways in which you intend to improve the way you tackle your next Geographical Enquiry.
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·  Drag the transparent overlay on top of the photograph.

·  Right click on the overlay and choose Format Object. In Colors and Lines choose Transparency, and move the slider around. Isn’t that great?

·  See below for instructions:


Instructions:

  1. Acquire your aerial photograph. www.multimap.com should do it.
  1. Use the drawing tools in Word to create polygons around the different land uses on the photo – Click View / Toolbars / Drawing /
    Then Auto shapes / Lines / Freeform
  1. Fill each polygon with an appropriate colour.
  1. Create the Key using Text boxes.
  1. Hold down Shift and highlight all the polygons and textboxes.
  1. Right click and choose Group
  2. That’s it! Drag the overlay around and change the transparency as desired!

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