Year 11 Geographers Tackle Bushfire Risk at Kings Park
What better way to understand natural hazards than to step right into the landscape where they unfold?
Our Year 11 Geography students recently headed to Kings Park for a hands-on fieldwork experience exploring one of Western Australia’s most pressing environmental challenges – bushfires. Armed with data sheets and lots of questions, the girls took part in an engaging and insightful day that brought their classroom learning to life.
Investigating Bushfires Where They Happen
This excursion directly supports the Year 11 ATAR Geography Unit 1, where students investigate natural hazards. Kings Park offered the perfect case study on bushfires and the complexities of managing them in urban green spaces.
Throughout the day, students explored how to assess bushfire risk in the field. Their investigations included:
- Burning leaf samples to assess moisture content in different species
- Measuring soil temperatures
- Collecting climate data using portable weather instruments
“These are the kinds of skills geographers use in the real world,” said Geography Teacher Kerry Dasborough. “It’s not just about reading a textbook, it’s about experiencing the science behind environmental decision-making.”
Learning From an Expert
One of the highlights of the excursion was hearing from Heather, a presenter with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. With a background in science teaching, Heather brought the topic to life with practical insights, case studies and real data. She even equipped the girls with additional resources to support their in-class studies.
Empowering Young Women Through Fieldwork
Connecting learning to life is at the heart of everything we do. This excursion not only helped students apply their critical thinking and analytical skills but also demonstrated the importance of environmental stewardship, one of our key student attributes.
Through practical activities, expert guidance and real-world challenges, our Year 11 Geographers were empowered to think deeply about how natural hazards are managed in our communities and how they might shape better solutions in the future.
- Bushfires, EnvironmentalEducation, Featured, Fieldwork, Geography, KingsPark, NaturalHazards, STEMLearning, StudentExperience, Year11
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
