Geography

Intent

Our geography curriculum will encourage children to have a curiosity about the world, their place in it  and impact on it. Children will learn about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments. They will begin to understand the Earth's key physical and human features. As pupils progress through the school, their growing knowledge about the world will prompt thoughts and questions, which they can try and answer through research and exploration.  

Implementation

Our Geography curriculum is delivered through Cornerstones. Teachers will follow the long term plan which means children will be immersed in a  knowledge rich topic, this may have a geography or history main driver.  If the main driver is history a geography companion project will sit alongside it.

Every classroom will have a map on display and access to a range of atlases. Geography will be taught through discrete lessons but also referenced across the curriculum - literacy,  history, science, RE etc

Reception - In Understanding the World children will be immersed in a series of projects :

Winter Wonderland - teaches children about the changes that happen during winter, including the types of weather associated with winter. It also explores places that have snow all year round and the types of animals that live there.

Puddles and Rainbows - teaches children about the weather that happens during spring and allows them to explore natural phenomena, including rainbows.

Big Wide World -  teaches children about the global community to which  they belong and explores how living things, communities and climates differ around the world.

Sunshine and Sunflowers -This  project provides opportunities for outdoor learning and teaches children how to care for the plants and animals in their local environment and how to stay safe in the sun.

Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1, each autumn term begins with essential skills and knowledge projects (Our Wonderful World in Year 1 and Let’s Explore the World in Year 2). Teaching these projects in Years 1 and 2 enables children to be introduced to, or revisit, critical geographical concepts, aspects, skills and knowledge. These projects prepare children for the study of more thematic geography projects in the following term.

In the spring term children will either study the project Bright Lights, Big City. This project introduces children to the geography of urban environments and the physical and human features of the United Kingdom.

Or  Coastline,  this project introduces children to the geography of coastal environments and provides children with the opportunity for in-depth coastal fieldwork.

Lower Key Stage 2
In Lower Key Stage 2, children study the  essential skills and knowledge projects (One Planet, Our World in Year 3 and Interconnected World in Year 4). Teaching these projects in Years 3 and 4 enables children to further develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of key geographical aspects and concepts and prepares them to study more thematic geography projects in the following term.

Year 3 /4 children study the project Rocks, Relics and Rumbles, which explores physical features and geographical phenomena, including earthquakes and volcanoes.

Children will also carry out a detailed study of the physical features of mountains and rivers, including in depth topographical study as part of the Misty Mountain and Winding River Project.

Upper Key Stage 2
In Upper Key Stage 2, children will study the  essential skills and knowledge projects (Investigating Our World in Year 5 and Our Changing World in Year 6). Teaching these projects in Years 5 and 6 enables children to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of key geographical aspects and concepts and prepares them to study more thematic geography projects during the year.

Year 5, children study the seasonal project Sow, Grow and Farm, which explores farming, agriculture and rural land use.

In Year 6, children study the polar regions in the project Frozen Kingdoms. The project includes an in-depth analysis of the characteristics of these regions, including environmental issues.

Throughout the geography scheme, there is complete coverage of all national curriculum programmes of study.