GCSE GEOGRAPHY EXERCISES
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Introduction
Queen's Island in Belfast is undergoing a vast period of change. Queen's Island is home to Harland & Wolff which was once the largest shipyard in the world, at its peak during World War Two employing 35,000 workers. This has dropped to 120 in 2003. The following exercises explore some of the results of this decline both positive and negative and look at the changing future of Queen's Island.
Exercise 1
Go to Titanic Quarter website:
Watch the slideshow (click on 'slideshow' in menu) and study the interactive map (click on 'interactive map' in menu).
Make notes, then outline the main developments proposed by Titanic Quarter.
How does this fit with the planners aims to regenerate the area?
Compare this with what the Planning Service website outlines for the site.
Exercise 2
Read the following interview extracts and write a paragraph on how the decline in the shipyard has affected the workers.
- What wider social implications has the decline in the shipyard had?
- Compare this with the recent closure of the Rover car factory in England.
- Who will benefit from these changes?
George Matchett: "A lot of the guys unfortunately have gone away from their trades because there is no prospect of them using them here - so they are working in supermarkets, taxiing, security work, etc. That is sad, because those guys are in possession of skills way beyond the positions they find themselves in now."
Joe Bowers: "I believe there was a future for shipbuilding in Belfast and that the destruction of the skills in the shipyard was almost a crime."
Exercise 3
View the 2 images of the drawing office below.
- Use the internet to research what plans there are for this building.
- What should be taken into account when a site is being developed with existing heritage buildings?
Suggested websites:
The internet is an extremely valuable tool for research but you can't always assume that because information on the internet exists that it is correct.
Things to remember when you are viewing a website:
- What organisation has produced the website?
- What issues are the concerned with?
- What message are they trying to put forward?
- Is the website update regularly?
- Check if the website has 'last updated' information.
For further information on using the internet for research click here
This is an Australian website but will give you an idea of the issues although copyright laws will be different.
Exercise 4
Read the Planning Service outline of what is to happen with the Titanic Quarter.
What main areas are the planners taking into consideration and why?
eg. Building height, purpose of buildings etc.