Geography Fieldwork - Malta

Geography Fieldwork

Għajn Żejtuna – Mellieħa - Malta

Learning through Experience

As part of the Geography syllabus, students were exposed to conduct fieldwork on geographical subjects. Fieldwork on geographical theories provides firsthand experience on the subject together with the enjoyment of the outdoor life.

This year’s grade 11s conducted their fieldwork at Għajn Żejtuna in Santa Maria estate, Mellieħa. Few are aware of the existence of Wied Għajn Żejtuna and unfortunately, also, of its degradation throughout the years.  During the rainy season, when there is a substantial flow of water through the valley bed, vegetation is more abundant and a good number of flora and species of animals live and survive in this valley. Originally, the land belonged to the Curia of Malta. It was leased to tenants mainly farmers. Field rubble walls had to be constructed to help conserve the soil. Terraced fields on both sides of the valley helped the natural habitat to thrive on. Regretfully, in the mid-sixties, a permit was issued for the building of luxury bungalows and roadways. This had a devastating environmental effect on more than 70% of the area – a large scar in ecological terms.

The students conducted their fieldwork on the small pebbly beach at the lower end of the valley. Here, they investigated a number of hypotheses. The students examined and carefully recorded the varying size of the pebbles found on the water’s edge and those found further up the beach. After collecting data, by sampling pebbles from different areas of the beach, students will prove or disprove the hypothesis, listing a number of reasons for their result. The students also surveyed the flora around the coast to establish whether there are plants that could resist salty water (halophytic plants) or if there was the presence of any plants that could resist drought (xerophytes) for more than three months.

It is clear that fieldwork activities are an effective way of learning because students enjoy applying and experiencing the knowledge imparted by the teacher during the lessons in the controlled environment of the classroom, outdoors.