Sign inThe 2024 geographical model making competition focused on students getting involved and exploring their creativity and geographical knowledge by creating a 3D model on the theme of ‘My local area’.
The goal was for students to design and make a geographical theme 3D model of a key feature of their local area using reused or waste cardboard as the main material supported with other recycled materials.
There are three categories.
Two categories for individual entries:
One category for a group entry (any sized group from 2 students or more):
The judges looked at the geographical relevance of the place represented by the model, the detailed and geographically written explanation, the originality and creativity of the model and the quality and design of the model build.
We received over 100 brilliant entries from students from a range of age groups, schools and countries. We would like to thank everyone involved and for all the entries.
Key Stage 2 group category
1st place: Charisa Laosirichon, Darya Chartikavanij, Shina Tratkosit (Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside)
Title: 100 years of life along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River
Description: Our model demonstrates the progression of Bangkok Chao Phraya River from the past to the present. On the left side of the model is an old Thai house while on the right there is a modern building. We also painted the background of each atmosphere. It is 49 cm high, 104 cm long, and 50 cm deep. It is made of recycled materials which are: straws, candy wrappers, cardboard, popsicle sticks and box packaging.
Bangkok (City of plums) aka Krung Tep (City of Angels)’ is located in the center flat plain of Thailand with a river in the middle of the city called the Chao Phraya River. The river is the lifeline of the capital. In the olden time it was the main transportation for people, cargo and communication. The river helps crops grow green and is the most convenient place for people to bring their goods to sell at the vibrant water markets. During the monsoon the river overflows and floods the land. That is why traditional Thai houses have long wooden pillars lifting up the houses.
Bangkok’s geography has influenced the lifestyle of its citizens. In the past, alongside the Chao Phraya river, houses were made of wood and were held up by pillars because the wood kept people cool during summer and the pillars protected them from floods. It was also mainly used for transportation, growing Thai herbs/crops, and shops where sellers would row a boat up to people’s houses and sell things such as: fruits, fish, and boat noodles.
Today’s Bangkok is a thriving metropolis that seamlessly blends ancient traditions with modern flair. In the past, Thai people shopped on the floating market which was set up in the Chao Phraya river and connecting canals, however, today, people shop at shopping malls built in the city. Among Thailand’s architectural marvels, ICONSIAM shines brightly, a symbol of Bangkok’s contemporary lifestyle.
From making this model, it made us realize the changes of Bangkok landscape and people’s lifestyles over the past century.
Runner up – Year 4, Group B (St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Sittingbourne)
Description: We made a model of King George’s Park. We have recently studied the park as part of our fieldwork and looked at how it can be improved and how important the park is for our local community.
We used recycled materials such as cardboard boxes, scraps of tissue paper, sticks and leaves from the school field and we used paint. Using recycled materials means we are outing less waste into our rubbish bins. We are always trying to save energy and make less rubbish so using old materials is a way we can turn litter into great things.
Our local park is really important to everybody in our town because it is a place for meeting friends, keeping fit and playing sports and for families with children. We also mapped where the park is on Digimaps and then looked at aerial photographs to make our model. We went to the local park and took photos with an ipad. We used these to look back on before we made the model. We tried to make it as accurate as possible.
The model shows the cafe, the playing field and the children’s play area. We made the different species of tree by collecting different sized leaves from the school garden and field.
Key Stage 2 individual category
1st place – Aminah Ghaffar (Northwood College, London)
Title: Ruislip Lido
Description: My model is a representation of Ruislip Lido near my home in Ruislip Gardens.
Materials Used:
- Canvas
- Reused cardboard (used in perfume packages)
- Paints
- Matchsticks
- Cotton wool
- Wood
- Modelling Clay
- Sugar
- Stickers
- Paper
- Cotton buds
Ruislip Lido:
Ruislip lido is a 60 acre lake which comprises of sandy beaches, Woodland Walks and a miniature railway. I have captured the golden beach and the mini train.
History:
In 1811, Ruislip Lido wasn’t a place for fun. It was built to help get water to London through a big canal. But it didn’t work out, and after changing hands a few times, it ended up with Grand Union Canal Company in 1929.
Becoming the Lido:
In 1930s, they changed reservoir into the Lido. They built an Art Deco building and set up a swimming spot.
The Lido became famous for water skiing, with big competitions that people watched on TV. Jon Pertwee, who played “Dr. Who”, was one of the folks who started the water ski club there.
Nowadays, Ruislip Lido is a fun and exciting place the has lots of adventures to share with others. It is a great area to explore and make memories with friends and family. I first came to know about Ruislip lido when I went there for a day out with my friends from school. We made sandcastles and even had ice cream!
Mini Train:
One of the coolest things at the Lido was the mini railway, started in 1945 it was just a small track at first, but it’s grown a lot since then.
Did you know Ruislip Lido is home to Britain’s longest 12”-gauge miniature railway? Ruislip Lido Railway travels around the Lido from the car park, through the woods, to the beach. It is a great way to see the Lido beach and woods. This is a local attraction not only for the people living nearby but also for those who travel very far to experience the wonderful things this place has to offer.
Runner up – Elissa Frawley (St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Sittingbourne)
Title: Geography – Kingsferry Bridge
Description: I created Kingsferry Bridge for geography. It is found on the river Swale in the Sheppey and Sittingbourne area.
My junk model was created by me using recyclable and unrecyclable things (e.g cardboard, fabrics, packaging, and bottles) to show how much rubbish we have in the world.
Kingsferry Bridge is important since it provides a crossing for cars and other transport. The railway line also runs along it, which helps greatly. The bridge also provides a way for boats to sail along the Swale. It can raise and allow ships with tall masts past, not harming the bridge or the boat.
I made the wind-turbines out of skewers, the grass and water out of plastic and paper, the bridge out of cardboard, tissue-paper, bottles and boxes and the boats out of paper and cardboard.
Key stage 3
1st place – Jaanvi Varadharajan (The Tiffin Girls’ School, Kingston)
Title: West Thames College in Isleworth
Description: I have created a model of part of the West Thames College in Isleworth, based on a sketch from the website of a company which renovated it recently. Currently, there are around 2000 students who attend it full time and a further 5000 day students. I used cardboard from old packaging and other boxes, hot glue to stick things, paint, sustainably sourced bamboo sticks and a few other old things I found, such as LED lights. It is approximately 60cm wide, 35cm tall and has a depth of about 40cm.
West Thames College in Isleworth is important geographically for several reasons, but I will talk about change and sustainability. Currently, the college has 5 buildings surrounding the Spring Grove House, which is a Grade II listed building, indicating its historical relevance. It had been part of the Spring Grove House estate since the Civil War. Then, in WW1 it was used as a hospital until claimed by the Middlesex County Council, becoming Isleworth Polytechnic. It later combined with Chiswick Polytechnic to be known as Hounslow Borough College and was renamed West Thames College in 1967.
Additionally, due to its recent renovation the lighting and water systems are more efficient, and the drainage system is now more eco-friendly. The college is also considering other renewable energy sources. Its design has been considered based on the surrounding houses, open spaces and the fire station, and is inclusive for those with disabilities, making it a key feature of our local area.
I chose to research this college because I recently had to research Freddie Mercury as part of my history homework about migration to England. As it turned out, he attended Isleworth Polytechnic, which eventually developed into West Thames College as previously explained. This link between him and the college inspired my curiosity.
2nd place, with special commendation – Joseph Wall (The Minster School, Southwell)
Title: Experimental Prototype Flood Town
Description: My model is of an “Experimental Prototype Flood Town” This is made from cardboard and card both of which are sustainable recyclable materials. The idea is for an environmentally friendly and sustainable flood town to ‘save lives in an environmentally good and sustainable way’.
My model is inspired by local flooding that has taken place within the River Trent basin, Nottinghamshire. It has been getting worse due to climate change. I believe that the best way to lessen the impact of flooding is through an environmentally good way. The concept is that my E.P.F.T. will achieve this.
There are four zones. Zone one is the River Trent. Zone two is a dyke that lets water have somewhere safe to go. It is used to generate power as the water uses water wheels to generate power, using the excess water to our advantage.
In zone 3 we have raised houses. These houses have all the ‘living quarters’ on the second floor up. On the first floor there is a basement that is designed to flood and stay in a liveable condition. These house designs are inspired by a local home in Fiskerton. It has a basement that is designed to flood as it is just by the River Trent. These buildings make up zone 3 which is all the area in the town that is on the flood plain.
Zone 4 is on the highest land (not on the flood plain) with key services such as a church and school, like on the model. To mitigate the future flood risk the roofs have solar panels to help reduce climate change by producing renewable energy. We also have underground cables to prevent power outages.
Another way to mitigate flooding are the large green spaces which allow water to infiltrate naturally, this will reduce surface run off to reduce future flood vulnerability.
3rd place – Shay Wood (Swinton Co-op Academy, Pendlebury, Manchester)
Title: My local area
Description: I have picked this model because it is very local to me.
It represents the processes of how my local area has developed and changed over time.
I used cardboard, twigs, paper, pom poms, wood and foam.
My model shows that the area was used to mine coal in the past, but now the area near to where I live is a nature reserve and country park.
There is a lake known locally as the ‘Marina’, which is man made.
When I was researching for this project I found out that the gravel produced by digging the hole to make the lake was used to help make the nearby M62 motorway (later merged to the M60).
This meant that my project area had an impact on local travel and transport systems too, so I included the motorway into my model.
My project shows that the local area has developed greatly over the years, and this is mostly due to human involvement on areas of nature.
The coal mines were important many years ago because they produced a source of power and fuel that people depended on to use for heat, light and cooking. They also provided jobs for local people who depended on them as a way to earn money.
The coal mine of my model of the local area was known as the Wet earth colliery.
It is historical because it was the first deep cast coal mine in Irwell valley, but water from the River Irwell used to leak into the mine and a system had to be made to pump water up and out.
The colliery closed in 1928.The landscape changed and the Coal Authority planted trees. The lake was created in the 1960’s and the area was recognised as a country park by the 1990’s. It was given the status of a local nature reserve in 2005.
The country park now is for everyone to enjoy. It has a children’s playground, thousands of trees, a farm, a walking trail, visitors centre and cafe, and a marina where people can go to fish, and there is a lot of wildlife to see that live in ecosystems in which animals all rely on each other.
Humans benefit from this park because the many trees produce lots of oxygen, which is essential for life. They can relax, get fresh air, learn about the local area, socialise, play, and take part in their hobbies. The farm has a riding school so you can learn to ride horses.
The creation of this facility also helped local transport systems to be made by recycling some of the waste products as usable materials to make the motorway.
