Geography Lessons In Iceland: Spectacular School Trip

Geography is a thrilling and fascinating subject, but it is best taught out in the world rather than just the classroom. Geography school trips are a fantastic way to show your pupils what you are teaching in a real-world environment; this is how you can ignite a passion for the subject in young minds. If you are looking to dazzle your class with a valuable learning experience, an Iceland school trip is a superb idea as this amazing country is home to volcanoes, waterfalls, glaciers and thermal pools, and allows the class to see and touch what they are learning about.

Climate Change

Understanding climate change is vital in today’s day and age. It is the younger generation that will need to do what they can to reverse the damage already done. AnIceland school trip can reveal the shocking evidence of climate change, which can be hard to see and understand in the classroom. The most notable feature for showing the effects of climate change is Sólheimajökull glacier – this glacier has retreated almost a kilometre in the past decade, highlighting the threat to our natural world.

Volcanoes

Unsurprisingly, an Iceland school trip is a superb way to educate pupils on volcanoes as the island is famous for its volcanic features. Volcanoes are always a popular subject, but it is made much more exciting when you see these gigantic natural formations as your class can see and experience the effects of geothermal activity first hand. This can be done at the Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths where people flock to use the mineral-rich waters for healing, heating and cooking.

It is also highly worth arranging a trip to the excellent Lava Centre, a state-of-the-art educational centre which shows the effects of volcanic activity on the country over millions of years. This is done with a range of interactive exhibits that cover all different aspects of volcanoes and shows how the country now monitors earthquake zones and volcanoes for dangerous activity.

Waterfalls

Iceland boasts many of the most beautiful waterfalls in the entire world that are sure to leave your class in awe. Gullfoss, in particular, is an iconic waterfall which cascades between the walls of a canyon formed by glacial shifts millions of years ago. This creates a truly stunning setting that will also prove to be an interesting learning experience. Just remember to bring waterproof clothing: over 200 cubic metres of water falls every second!

These are just a few of the amazing features waiting to be discovered in Iceland. School tripshere are an excellent idea as they can bring your teachings to life and provide the students with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to this wild and ruggedly beautiful country. Geography is best taught out in the elements and there is nowhere better for this than Iceland. School trips can be time-consuming to organise yourself, so consider using an educational travel tour operator. These companies are highly experienced in arranging fun, valuable and memorable educational excursions.

Author Plate

John Gardiner is the Managing Director of The School Travel Company, a tour operator specialising in educational travel for school and youth groups. Whether you’re planning a residential visit to Normandy, a music tour in Spain or an Iceland school trip, you can trust both the educational and economic value of their itineraries, whether ready-made or specifically designed to suit the needs of your group.