Curriculum Aims

• To inspire in pupils about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
• To provide pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments.
• To develop a growing knowledge about the world to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.
• To obtain Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills.
• To enable children to learn and explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.

Long Term Plan

At All Saints’ we offer a structure and sequence of lessons to ensure that our children cover the knowledge and skills required to meet the aims of the National Curriculum and more. While the National Curriculum provides a structure, it also preserves choice. The geography subject lead worked with a Geography specialist and school staff to develop a curriculum tailored to meet the needs of our school and children. Our long-term plan (see Appendix 1) shows which Geography topics are taught in each year group. The topics allow for a broader, deeper understanding of the four areas of geography identified in the National Curriculum: locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical Geography and skills and fieldwork. We have developed a ‘spiral’ curriculum where children study the key geographical concepts in context of a place, rather than an isolated topic such as ‘mountains’ or ‘rivers.’ This means that children revisit and deepen their understanding of concepts at a suitable progression and challenge for each age group.

Progression

Our progression map outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each year group. Progression has both breadth and depth, combining a range of experiences with increasing depth of understanding and application. Learning is carefully planned so that pupils acquire new knowledge and skills in a progressive sequence, which encourages them to make sense of ideas in relation to what they already know.

 

Early Years

Geography is taught in Nursery and Reception classes as an integral part of the themes covered throughout the year. Although there are Geography links to all seven areas of learning and development outlined in the EYFS framework, the one that fits best is ‘Understanding the World.’ Children are guided to make sense of their physical world and community through a range of firsthand experiences. In the EYFS, the children look closely at their immediate surroundings and the natural world around them to develop vital skills such as being able to observe, describe and compare. This sets a solid foundation for learning in Key Stage One and beyond.

 

Key Stage One

During Key Stage One, each topic ‘zooms out’ so that the children can build a strong understanding of scale. They begin by looking at the geography of their classroom, followed by the school grounds, surrounding area, town, country and finally continent. Pupils investigate human and physical features of their local area and a contrasting area from a non-European country. They carry out geographical enquiries inside and outside the classroom and use geographical skills such as using a compass and drawing a sketch map. This sets a solid foundation for learning in Key Stage Two, where the children zoom back in and look at the places and concepts studied in greater depth, using a wider range of geographical skills and vocabulary.

 

Key Stage Two

In Key Stage Two, the topics are structured so that each year group completes a local, national, and international study. They will complete in-depth continent studies of Europe and North and South America. Children study the human and physical Geography elements in the context of the place which they are studying. Pupils investigate a variety of people, places and environments in the United Kingdom and abroad, and start to make links between different places in the world. They find out how people affect the environment and how they are affected by it. Children will develop geographical enquiry skills, including asking geographical questions, collecting and recording information and identifying different views. They will acquire the appropriate practical skills associated with Geography, including using suitable vocabulary, fieldwork techniques and using maps, plans and atlases.

 

Sustainability

At All Saints’ we are passionate about conserving the planet for future generations. We believe we have a duty to develop the knowledge students need to understand and engage with important issues affecting our changing world. Our Geography curriculum provides lots of opportunities for children to discover ways to reduce human impact on the planet and gain a sense of personal responsibility. Where possible, children conduct field-based investigations about real-world sustainability issues and then use the data collected and conclusions drawn to take action. Our progression map outlines opportunities for children to explore sustainability in each topic.

Cross-curricular Links

Although Geography is taught discretely, links between subjects are maximized. In particular, the locational knowledge for each year group is carefully planned to link to the historical periods which the children are studying. For example, in Year 4 children study the geography of Europe before learning about the Ancient Greeks and the Romans.

Speaking, listening, reading and writing are essential for learning about and communicating an understanding of Geography. We also provide opportunities for children to develop mathematical skills, particularly during fieldwork and the use of maps. Children work with numerical data, which relates to real situations.

The use of pupils’ personal experiences of places, news items or exciting global sporting events such as the Olympics, enable learning to become embedded in pupils’ memories because of the meaningful links to their interests and authentic real-world issues.

Geography in All Saints’ will be underpinned by the study of real places and discovering how the people living there are influenced by and affect the environment of those places

We will develop pupils’ knowledge and geographical understanding by first immersing them in the area where they live and then by gradually widening their horizons and increasing their awareness of their town, their region, their nation, other lands and continents.

Teaching and learning will use exciting first-hand experiences, imaginative resources and ICT to build pupils with knowledge about different places, peoples, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.

We use the National Curriculum as the basis for our planning in Geography. The NC programme of study will be adapted to suit our local context and make them relevant for the children. The scheme of work is designed so that pupils are increasingly challenged as they move through the school.

In this school, fieldwork and first-hand experience will be fundamental to the teaching and learning of geography and where appropriate, all pupils will be given the opportunity to go out into the local and wider environment to research and discover the world in which they live.

Research projects in geography will be linked to other core and foundation subjects, particularly Geography, RE, Art and Science and meaningful connections will be made as pupils increase their knowledge, skills and understanding of the world.

 

· We will begin the teaching of Geography in the Foundation Stage. The children will begin developing their knowledge and skills in the ‘Understanding of the world. We will use fiction and non – fiction texts, songs, photographs, artefacts, visits out into the locality etc.

· Displays / Working Walls – They will serve as reference points to support children's learning, encouraging independence and reinforcing key concepts. Working walls will be regularly updated to reflect current learning, enabling children to actively use them as a resource.

· Vocabulary – revision and introduction of vocabulary is identified in our ‘Vocabulary Progression Map’ Vocabulary will be introduced and revisited in every lesson

· Enquiry – for each topic studied, children will carry out enquiries with each lesson having an enquiry question.

· Quiz / Knowledge Recall - Teachers will devote between five and eight minutes at the start of a lesson, to review previous learning. (Rosenshein’s 10 Principles of Instruction)

· Mind Mapping - mapping to help children retain knowledge taught, it can help improve memory. The mind maps will also help teachers complete their Teacher Assessment.

· Geography Educational Visits – Key Stage 2 children will visit and take part in educational visits delivered by Geography specialists. They will be immersed in an aspect of geography and given the opportunity to be a real geographer.

· Books and Internet – Children will have access to a range of fiction and non-fiction books in the class reading area and the school library. iPads and laptops will be available for children to carry out fieldwork, research and present their research findings.

· Class Readers / Literacy Texts - Through rich, high-quality texts, students can engage with geography. These texts bring geography to life, enabling children to explore while enhancing their literacy skills.

· Class Assemblies – Children will present their learning to the whole school and parents for one of the units covered that year.

· Art, Design Technology, Drama will be closely linked with geography as children use these subjects to communicate what they have learnt.

· Geography Awards – Certificates will be given every term to two children to recognise and celebrate students who demonstrate outstanding engagement, progress, and enthusiasm in geography learning.

· Geography Competitions – These competitions may include quizzes, research projects, or creative presentations to engage students and encourage enthusiasm for historical topics.

· On every appropriate occasion teachers will use first-hand experience, visits, visitors and the local and wider environment to engage children’s interest and imagination.

Through the process of repetition, retrieval and enriching and deepening their learning, children will have a bank of knowledge and vocabulary that will stay will them for life. Children will have developed geographical knowledge and skills to help them explore, navigate and understand the world around them and their place in it. Children’s knowledge and skills will develop progressively as they move through school, enabling them to meet the National Curriculum requirements and prepare them to become competent geographers in secondary education.

Our Geography curriculum aims to help children acquire and develop the skills and confidence to undertake enquiry, investigation, problem-solving, decision making, computing and presenting their conclusions. As such, it prepares children for adult life and employment.

 

• Geography National Curriculum.pdf