Study Resources

We are currently developing this section of our website, to provide schools and students with access to videos, PowerPoints and worksheets. These Arran-based examples of Geographical, Geological and Biological fieldwork will introduce you to key concepts in each of these subjects, and should develop your understanding in different areas of the environmental sciences.

For specific resources, or for assistance in teaching field studies under the current restricted circumstances, please contact the Centre.

New resources will be added continually to this page, so do come back soon to see what's available!

Geography

Rivers

Field Sheet

Example, designed for investigating four sites.

Justification of Methods Sheet

A table to help you think about the pros and cons of your methods, and how they might be improved.

Class Sheets

Rivers Summary

Cross Sectional Area

Drainage Basin Map

Scatter Graphs

Spearman's Rank

Risk Assessment

PowerPoint

An introduction to the study of rivers.

Secondary Data

Measurements of twelve sites from source to mouth along the River Chalmadale. Use these to complete the exercises on the class sheets, if you don't have any data of your own!

Videos

Learn how to measure a river, why rivers need measuring in the first place, and key features of rivers.

All videos available on the Rivers playlist of our YouTube channel.

Coasts

Field Sheet

Example, for studying longshore drift and the beach profile.

Justification of Methods Sheet

A table to help you think about the pros and cons of your methods, and how they might be improved.

Class Sheets

Longshore Drift Analysis

Coastline Construction

Beach Profile Analysis

Multiple Line Graph

Mann-Whitney Test

Spearman's Rank

PowerPoint

An introduction to the study of coasts and their processes.

Secondary Data

Longshore drift and beach profile measurements made between Catacol and Lochranza. Use these to complete the exercises on the class sheets, if you don't have any data of your own!

Videos

Learn about coastal processes, what makes their study important, and how to measure longshore drift.

COMING SOON!

Cold Environments

Field Sheet

Example, for sediment analysis of glacial or fluvial deposits.

Justification of Methods Sheet

A table to help you think about the pros and cons of your methods, and how they might be improved.

Class Sheets

Definitions and Examples of Glacial Features

Identifying Glacial Features

Sediment Analysis

PowerPoint

An introduction to our glacial history and how to study it.

COMING SOON!

Secondary Data

A-axis orientations of pebbles from sediment deposits in Glen Easan and Glen Rosa.

Videos

Learn about Arran's glacial history, and ways of studying our glaciated landscapes.

All videos available on the Cold Environments playlist of our YouTube channel.

Changing Places

Field Sheets

Building Survey

Pedestrian Survey

Traffic Survey

Items of Change

Past and Present Images

Landscape Evaluation

Landscape Character

Bipolar Adjectives

Placecheck Survey

Class Sheets

Census Data

Population Pyramids

Social Commentary

Bipolar Adjective Scale

Landscape Description

Pie Chart

Bar Chart

Divided Bar Chart

Justification of Methods Sheet

A table to help you think about the pros and cons of your methods, and how they might be improved.

PowerPoint

An introduction to Arran's human geography, a summary of fieldwork methods, and a brief history of tourism on the island.

Secondary Data

Isle of Arran census data and population pyramids.

For data to complete the class sheets, we urge you to collect your own - qualitative data in particular is very subjective and doesn't lend itself to being offered as secondary data.

Photographs

Photos from the past and present of settlements around the island, for understanding historical changes.

Videos

Understand different qualitative and quantitative methods for studying settlements, and learn about Arran's human geography, both past and present.

COMING SOON!

Geology

Introduction

PowerPoint

Introducing the essential Geological Skills:

Notebook Setup

Rock Descriptions

Field Sketches

Strikes and Dips

Dyke Measurements
Sedimentary Logging

Sampling Strategies

Arran through Time

A table charting the changes on Arran though the geological time periods.

Worksheets

A geological map of Arran and a structural map of Scotland, to colour in and annotate yourself.

Environmental Science

Carbon

Field Sheets

Carbon Flux
Vegetation
Soil

Topography
Climate

Land Exposure (TOPEX)

Woodland Carbon Content

Justification of Methods Sheet

A table to help you think about the pros and cons of your methods, and how they might be improved.

Class Sheets

Summary table, scattergraph and questions, and located data charts

Secondary Data

Data of carbon flux in relation to temperature.

PowerPoint

An introduction to the carbon cycle and how to study its interactions with ecosystems under the influence of present climate change.

Fieldwork Guide

An explanation of how to carry out carbon fieldwork, how to conduct the follow up analysis, and what it all means!

Study Resources

Geography

Rivers

Example, designed for investigating four sites.

A table to help you think about the pros and cons of your methods, and how they might be improved.

Rivers Summary

Cross Sectional Area

Drainage Basin Map

Scatter Graphs

Spearman's Rank

Risk Assessment

​

An introduction to the study of rivers.

Measurements of twelve sites from source to mouth along the River Chalmadale. Use these to complete the exercises on the class sheets, if you don't have any data of your own!

​

Learn how to measure a river, why rivers need measuring in the first place, and key features of rivers.

​

All videos available on the Rivers playlist of our YouTube channel.

Coasts

Example, for studying longshore drift and the beach profile.

A table to help you think about the pros and cons of your methods, and how they might be improved.

Longshore Drift Analysis

Coastline Construction

Beach Profile Analysis

Multiple Line Graph

Mann-Whitney Test

Spearman's Rank

​

An introduction to the study of coasts and their processes.

Longshore drift and beach profile measurements made between Catacol and Lochranza. Use these to complete the exercises on the class sheets, if you don't have any data of your own!

Videos

​

Learn about coastal processes, what makes their study important, and how to measure longshore drift.

COMING SOON!

Cold Environments

Example, for sediment analysis of glacial or fluvial deposits.

A table to help you think about the pros and cons of your methods, and how they might be improved.

Definitions and Examples of Glacial Features

Identifying Glacial Features

​

Sediment Analysis

PowerPoint

​

An introduction to our glacial history and how to study it.

COMING SOON!

A-axis orientations of pebbles from sediment deposits in Glen Easan and Glen Rosa.

​

Learn about Arran's glacial history, and ways of studying our glaciated landscapes.

​

All videos available on the Cold Environments playlist of our YouTube channel.

Changing Places

Building Survey

Pedestrian Survey

Traffic Survey

Items of Change

Past and Present Images

Landscape Evaluation

Landscape Character

Bipolar Adjectives

Placecheck Survey

Census Data

Population Pyramids

Social Commentary

Bipolar Adjective Scale

Landscape Description

Pie Chart

Bar Chart

Divided Bar Chart

A table to help you think about the pros and cons of your methods, and how they might be improved.

​

An introduction to Arran's human geography, a summary of fieldwork methods, and a brief history of tourism on the island.

Isle of Arran census data and population pyramids.

​

For data to complete the class sheets, we urge you to collect your own - qualitative data in particular is very subjective and doesn't lend itself to being offered as secondary data.

​

Photos from the past and present of settlements around the island, for understanding historical changes.

Videos

​

Understand different qualitative and quantitative methods for studying settlements, and learn about Arran's human geography, both past and present.

​

Dyke Measurements
Sedimentary Logging

Carbon Flux
Vegetation
Soil

Topography
Climate