Most people think of a glacier as a river of ice – just solid water. In fact they are a combination of water, ice, rocks, pebbles & gravel; allowing them to scrape away at the landscape as they move, carving out valleys, such as Glencoe or the Grassmarket.
The Main Lesson in Geology is an opportunity for pupils to begin to explore a vast and fundamental subject. From the first principles of physics and chemistry, to the processes that shaped the surface of the Earth and the implicit deed of trust placed in the hands of the people who develop and manage it, geology is, perhaps, the first discipline to embody holistic teaching and learning.
As an introduction to Geology the subject block localises and humanises the subject matter as much as possible. The pupils are introduced to elements and minerals in a Scottish context, while subsequent discussions of volcanism and glaciation are illustrated through pictures, diagrams, video clips, experiments, demonstrations and case studies.
ABOVE Creating a comet: key ingredient of dry ice with soil (because comets contain bits of rocky material), water and soya sauce (imitating organic molecules such as carbon and potassium) are mixed together.
This practical process alongside other simple yet surprisingly good analogue experiences – such as the ice cube glacier (headline image) – help the pupils experience the processes which shape and change the natural world in this non-exam morning lesson block.
Frozen CO2 at minus 78 degrees centigrade (dry ice) comes at the beginning of the Main lesson, dealing with the dynamic life of the solar system. The warmer water used the more fierce the reaction, because you are immediately forcing the carbon dioxide to melt and go back as a vapour.
A highlight of this Main Lesson is a trip to the lead-mining museum at Wanlockhead, in the Lowther Hills – one of Europe’s most important mineralogical sites in Scotland’s highest village. The pupils venture deep into a drift mine, visit the preserved living quarters of miners and try their hand (successfully) at panning for real gold.
The excursion seeks to introduce the pupils to the human history and feats of engineering that have made mines and minerals so prominent in the story of Scotland.
Alistair Pugh
Since joining the staff in 2001, Alistair has taught Geography and English in the Upper School. He is the SQA Coordinator and was made Education Manager in 2024, keeping himself involved in the curriculum through the Main Lesson programme.
Alistair holds Masters degrees in Geography (University of St Andrews) and Education (University of Durham), a PGCE (Durham) and a Postgraduate Certificate in the Philosophy of Integrative Education (Alanus
University, Germany).
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