Bedales students just miss Etna eruption

Dec. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Following the climb up the south east crater of Mount Etna, which is the most active crater, the volcano erupted for the sixteenth time this year, producing lava flows and small steam eruptions.
 
The students were keen to note their observations prior to the eruption and then followed the progress of the volcanic eruption online to keep abreast of news from the summit. Thankfully, the airport remained open for the duration, allowing the students to return to school.  In addition to exploring the summit craters of Etna, the students experienced both human and physical elements of their Geographical Skills course, collecting field data in Catania, swimming through the twisted basaltic columns of the Alcantara gorge and investigating the short and long term effects of a volcanic environment.

Commenting on the visit, Kirsty Layton, Head of Geography said, “This was an exciting opportunity to see first-hand how people respond to, and live daily, with an active volcano.  Sicily provides the students with an alternative to the typical coastal or shopping field work often associated with the subject.

At a time when travel within schools is becoming more of a challenge, due to the constraints of health and safety and risk assessment, we will continue to take the concepts beyond the classroom and into the wider world to expand the perspective and understanding of our students, and prepare them better for further study of the subject.”

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Bedales School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school, providing a creative and innovative approach to education, teaching and learning from nursery to sixth form
http://www.bedales.org.uk