Geography Curriculum
OVERVIEW
At St. Mary’s, we aim for a high quality geography curriculum which should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. Our teaching equips pupils with knowledge about places and people; resources in the environment; physical and human processes; formation and use of landscapes. We also want children to develop geographical skills: collecting and analysing data; using maps, globes, aerial photographs and digital mapping to name and identify countries, continents and oceans; and communicating information in a variety of ways. We want children to enjoy and love learning about geography by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits.
INTENT
- To explore, ask and answer questions about the natural and human worlds.
- To make sense of their own surroundings through learning about their own locality and the interaction between people and environment.
- To inspire awe and wonder of the natural world around them.
- To develop an appreciation of ethnic, cultural and economic diversity.
- To inspire them to think about their own place in the world and their rights and responsibilities to other people and the environment.
- To develop an understanding of maps and a range of investigative and problem-solving skills.
- To enrich and support other areas of the curriculum.
IMPLEMENTATION
At St. Mary’s, Geography is taught as part of a half-termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. Our curriculum ensures that Geography has the same importance given to it as the core subjects, as we feel this is important in enabling all children to gain ‘real-life’ experiences. We aim to excite and intrigue the children to find out more about the world and it’s people. Our young Geographers are given a variety of experiences both in and out of the classroom to create memorable learning opportunities and to further support and develop their understanding.
We use a variety of teaching and learning styles in geography lessons. Our main aim is to develop the children’s knowledge, skills and understanding of geographical topics. We organize our geography lessons that offer children opportunities to learn in different ways. These include:
- Whole class teaching.
- Group, paired or independent work.
- Use of ICT resources.
- Studying resources and equipment
- Research and explorative work.
- Providing as many cross-curricular links as possible.
- Fieldwork and educational visits (each class undertakes at least one educational visit per year which plays a vital part in enhancing their learning).
EYFS
Children in EYFS, learn about geography through their ‘understanding the world’ learning goals. They know about similarities and differences in relation to places. Children talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how environments might vary from one another. Children’s learning is extended and enhanced through areas of provision.
Key stage 1
Pupils should will develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They will understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness.
Pupils are taught about:
- Locational knowledge
- Place knowledge
- Human and physical geography
- Geographical skills and fieldwork
Key stage 2
Pupils will extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom and Europe, North and South America. This will include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. They will develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.
Pupils will be taught:
- Locational knowledge
- Place knowledge
- Human and physical geography
- Geographical skills and coursework
