Geography
“In our changing world, nothing changes more than Geography.”
-Pearl S Buck-
Intent
Our intent is to enrich every child’s engagement in their geography learning by providing children with hands-on experiences throughout the different topics we teach. We have high aspirations for all children and each lesson has the same learning target for all with adaptive learning to support all children. We seek to build on the experiences our children bring to each lesson and to enrich their cultural capital by demonstrating the relevance of their geographical skills in everyday life. Our progression ensures the children are able to build on prior learning, and the exploration of new skills helps to nurture resilience, curiosity and creativity while developing independent thinkers.
Through exploring the world together at The Highway Primary School, pupils become geographers. We aim to equip our children with awareness, curiosity and the ability to ask questions about our planet and its inhabitants. As they progress, children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place in it. Through enriching experiences the children will gain knowledge of the physical side of the Earth’s natural features such as mountains, deserts, rivers and oceans. They will learn about human geography including the impact that humans have had on the world and how the natural world has affected them. Introducing awareness of environmental issues will equip the children to understand and formulate their own ideas regarding sustainable development. A range of localities will be studied from the local area to contrast with localities both in our own country and abroad.
Implementation
Geography is taught as a discrete subject in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 in blocked units throughout the year, so that children understand the nature of geographical study and learn as geographers in lessons to achieve depth in their learning. These blocks are designed to enable pupils to acquire a rich web of knowledge as our sequencing and selection of units builds on previous topics and feeds forward to future learning. In Reception, we follow the ‘New EYFS Framework’ and geography is covered in ‘Understanding of the World’. Our geography curriculum encompasses not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, but goes beyond the classroom to ensure that our children are exposed to the richest and most varied opportunities that we can provide including using our eco school sessions to fully engage our learners. They experience continuity and depth in their learning. Vocabulary and prior learning will be revisited each lesson equipping our children with geographical language and knowledge. Geography lessons develop a range of geographical skills and utilise a variety of teaching and learning styles to engage all learners, including those with SEND.
The introduction to each new unit ensures that we use learners’ existing knowledge as a starting point and include the use of ‘wow’ activities to hook the children and encourage excitement around the topic.
We recognise the importance that fieldwork plays in developing the children as geographers and learners. We utilise the local area, eco school and educational visits throughout topics in every year group and teachers are encouraged to take classes out to explore the school grounds, local area and beyond to develop their geographical knowledge and skills beyond the classroom and give the children rich practical experiences to enhance their learning. . This contributes to children’s sense of identity and gives them a deeper understanding of where they live.
Impact
Our geography curriculum will allow children to become well rounded global citizens who are aware of the experiences of different cultures and ethnicities and be able to compare them to their own. We want to equip our children with the knowledge of how their actions impact the world, leaving The Highway Primary School as geographers with skills to navigate the modern world. The children will have a breadth and depth of knowledge that will equip them as they progress into KS3.
Children will:
- have a sound understanding of location and place and are able to compare and make links between these.
- deepen their knowledge of human and physical processes and understand how these affect environments.
- acquire vocabulary to interpret and convey their understanding of the world.
- analyse and interpret information in order to question and reflect on the world and its inhabitants.
- have the confidence and be inspired to further their knowledge.
- talk enthusiastically about their geography lessons and show a genuine curiosity and interest in the areas they have explored.
This will be evident through pupil voice, evidence of knowledge and skills and the monitoring of the ambition behind the curriculum. In addition to informal observations during lessons and feedback, we carry out formal assessments at the end of each blocked unit and children are given specific feedback to enable them to develop and deepen their understanding.
