Geography

‘Geography underpins a lifelong conversation about the earth as the home of humankind.’ Geography Association.

Purpose of study 

Geography aims to inspire a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. It should equip children with knowledge of diverse places, people and resources, and natural and human environments. It should also develop a deep understanding of the Earth’s physical and human processes. As children develop through school they should begin to understand how physical and human processes interact and explore how the landscapes and environments develop. Geographical knowledge, skills and understanding provide frameworks to understand our lives and the developing world around us.

Aims

Our curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils: 

• Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes.
• Understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time
• Are competent in the geographical skills needed to: 
  • Collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes
  • Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
  • Communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

Organisation

Geography is taught in EYFS under the umbrella of ‘Understanding of the World’, which covers the three aspects of physical, human and environmental Geography. Learning is organised on a topic basis that focuses on the development of vocabulary, geographical enquiry and map skills. In KS1 and KS2, Geography is taught through theme learning. Children acquire the geographical knowledge, vocabulary and skills to explain how the earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time. Strive to ensure that all Geography lessons taught throughout the whole school are inquiry based and promote independent learning.

Geography Curriculum Overview