Geography in Iceland case study case study
Heathside School's Geography Trip
Hear about the transformative Geography trip to Iceland which moved both teacher and students alike
Hear about the transformative Geography trip to Iceland which moved both teacher and students alike
“I wasn’t prepared to feel emotional when standing in between the mid-Atlantic Ridge of the USA and European plates. I have been teaching this for years and then to finally see it in front of me and not in a text book made it all seem worthwhile.”
The Learning Objectives for the trip were to gain an understanding of plate tectonic processes and to bring this learning to reality.
We started our visit with a trip to the Blue Lagoon, a great introduction to Iceland and truly amazing! The geothermal pool was a wonderful experience for staff and students alike and gave pupils plenty of time to ask questions as to how the water gained it’s colour and how it was heated.
Our guide for the Golden Circle tour on day two met us at the hotel and I would give them 5 stars - he was very good at interacting with staff and students alike. He was extremely knowledgeable, speaking with ease about the tectonic plates when we were at Thingvellir Park and showing us the folds in the rocks, formed by volcanoes. Our next stop Golfoss was truly stunning. When you get off the coach all you can hear is a roaring noise, but it is not until you get close you gain your first sight of this large and magnificent waterfall. The stunning landscapes, waterfalls, as well as watching the great Geysir erupt managed to keep students engaged throughout a very long day.
The weather was a little rainy for our South Shore tour day, but it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. One of the most memorable experiences was walking around and behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Our guide then took us to Vik to see a typical Icelandic fishing village, as well as the black volcanic sands on the beach. Our guide explained the various rock formations, as well as explaining the meaning behind the Icelandic flag - red for fire, white for ice and blue for water. We completed the day with a trip to the Eyjafjallajokull visitor centre - the volcano which erupted and stopped the world travelling!
On our last day we finished with a walking tour of Reykjavik, before heading to the airport and our flight home.
Iceland is not cheap, but in terms of what we saw and the experiences we gained, it was all very much worth it.
“The Hotel Ork was perfect for our group, in a ideal location for all the visits. The hotel had a games room, heated swimming pool, plus the staff were very friendly and accommodating.”
“The food was great, with a choice of hot and cold food for breakfast, with students making their own sandwiches for lunch. Dinner was always a lovely hot meal - much needed after some very long days exploring.”
“Back in the classroom when I was doing the lesson on tectonics, it was wonderful to hear the students talking fondly of their trip to Iceland and talk confidently about their understanding of plate tectonics and to keep hearing “we saw this in Iceland”. I now have some students using Iceland within their own case studies.”
“Voyager was recommended to me by the MFL department who run a French trip with them.”
“The best part of the service was that nothing was too much bother and people were always helpful and friendly. We had last minute pupils wishing to join the tour and Voyager dealt with professionally.”
“Voyager ensured the trip came in on budget.”
Day 1 |
Fly to Iceland, Blue Lagoon visit. |
Day 2 |
Golden Circle tour, incl. Kerid Crater, Gullfoss waterfall, geysir. |
Day 3 |
Guided South Shore, incl. Seljalandfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, Solheimajokull glacier, Reynisfjara black beach & Vik. |
Day 4 |
Raufarholshellir Lava tube and walking tour of Reykjavik before return to UK. |
Teacher resources
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