Geography

 

Intent 

To provide children with a curriculum that enables a coherent understanding of the world around them and different cultures. Children will understand where they are from and how their local area has changed over time. They will recognise physical and human geography of different locations around the world. Children will develop their geographical skills by collecting and analysing data, using maps, globes, atlases and digital mapping. To inspire curiosity and fascination in the world in order to question how the world is changing, what impact humans are having and how to preserve it. Children will have opportunities to complete field work in the local area and will benefit from educational visits. 

Implementation

The National Curriculum for geography aims to ensure that all pupils:  

  • Have an understanding of places in the world and their key physical and human features.
  • Have an understanding of geographical processes.
  • Have an understanding of their local area and develop key knowledge about the features of this environment. 
  • Develop geographical skills that enable children to be competent to: 
    • Carry out fieldwork where data is collected, analysed and communicated.
    • Use maps and digital mapping.

NC – KS1

  • Name and locate continents, oceans and studied countries in the world.
  • To be able to locate the equator, the North and South Pole and how the position of a country is effected by this.
  • To observe seasonal change through field work in the local area.
  • To complete field work at Beach School.
  • To have a good understanding of the UK including its position, physical and human features.
  • To compare the UK to a non- European country.
  • To use simple geographical language relating to human and physical features.
  • To begin to use maps, atlases, globes, aerial photographs, basic 4-point compasses

NC – KS2

  • Name and locate countries and cities beyond the UK and Europe and to discuss and compare their physical and human geography.
  • To understand on how land is used differently in different locations around the world and how this may have changed over time.
  • To communicate key geographical information using: technology (digital mapping), maps, atlases, globes, aerial photographs and 8-point compasses.
  • To observe, measure, record and present human and physical features of the local area, including communication through sketch mapping and graphs. 

 

We meet National Curriculum expectations for geography through a coherent scheme of study that is progressive throughout the school and ensures there is a focus on both knowledge and skills. Throughout their time in school, our children learn about many of the human and physical features of their local environment and understand how and why they may have changed over time. Children will understand the world around them (nationally) and will be able to compare this to places around the world. 

Our curriculum is enriched by visits to local and significant places such as Newcastle Quayside and Marsden Beach, which helps the human and physical environmental features come alive.  Children also attend Beach School and Farm School and have experiences of learning about other cultures in Culture Week. These opportunities to explore enable our children to question the processes in the world around them.

Geography is a way of ensuring children understand where they come from, the features that are present in their local area and how this looks in the context of the wider world. It provides children with the opportunity to engage and impact upon the future of the environment.

Impact 

Within geography, we strive to create a supportive and collaborative ethos for learning by providing investigative and enquiry based learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. Children are given opportunities for investigations and fieldwork. As children progress throughout the school, they develop a deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation of their local area, and its place within the wider geographical context.

Our geography curriculum is planned to demonstrate progression. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills and related vocabulary. We support progression using a range of resources, which also form part of the units of work.We also ensure children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is supported and is embedded further during Culture Week. 

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

  • Formative assessment through marking and feedback.
  • Assessing children’s understanding of topic linked vocabulary before and after the unit is taught using the geography passport.
  • Continuous assessment of pupil discussions about their learning.
  • Interviewing the pupils about their learning.
  • Moderation where pupil’s books are scrutinised and there is the opportunity for a dialogue between teachers to understand their class’s work.
  • Annual reporting of standards across the curriculum.
  • Regular check ins with staff.