M4 Cross Curricular Trip 2023/24

To supplement and support the M4 students’ in-class curriculum studies the students in M4 took part in a cross-curricular educational field trip to Khao Yai National Park, Pak Chong, Nakorn Ratchasima. The trip is organized in conjunction with Big Outdoors Education Centre which is professionally run by outdoor education specialists. The fieldwork includes geography and science field study, which is a vital part of education, while English and Math are used extensively in the data handling and presentation.

The field work included studying the ecology and biodiversity of rivers, including:
– Measuring and recording river speed of flow and river channel cross sections. Identifying and explaining the formation of river features.
– Field sketching and annotations.
– Pollution assessment and stream invertebrate surveys to determine the impact of human activities on our environment.
– Further study of industry and its impact on the environment.
– Studying the vegetation variation and biodiversity along an environmental gradient and identify the adaptations of vegetation in a tropical Forest.
– Undertaking a tourism impact survey of sites around the area. This specifically includes identifying human impact and surveying a tourist site to obtain primary data.

Day 1
We stopped in Pak chong to find our first river site, and after a couple of attempts, we did find a good river spot. Students investigated the speed of flow and spent some time collecting insect samples to determine levels of pollution in the river. Following this, we headed into the park to do the same again at a much higher location of the river.

Day 2
An early start, into Khao Yai National Park. It was a cool morning and we were lucky to see 3 gibbons in the trees next to where we were eating breakfast. The students set of for the biodiversity walk, investigating the flora and fauna of Khao Yai. In the afternoon, we did further investigations of the rainforest, students measured and counted the trees and used belt transects to determine species diversity. In the evening, we all went on the night safari – no elephants this time, but we did see lots of interesting animals, including porcupines, snakes, some nocturnal birds and civets.

Day 3
This was spent studying two examples of the impact of tourism, on the environment at the natural spring, another opportunity to play in the water… and then the change in services available as you approach the National Park from the main road. This was a fantastic trip and enjoyed by everyone. The students did seem to miss out on the food being sold along the road, but soon filled up on the way home.

phs@panyarathighschool.ac.th