Geography
Geography - our intent
It is our intent at Checkendon Primary School for the Geography element of the school curriculum to inspire pupils with a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. From the outset, we want our children to begin to understand their place in The World. Our topic-based program of study is designed to provide a context for learning about natural and human environments, together with an understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Where possible, we endeavour to use the local environment and a range of practical experiences to develop children’s place and locational knowledge and to practice geographical skills
Geography - our implementation
Our Geography curriculum covers the skills outlined in the National Curriculum through broad, challenging and inspiring topics. A topic based approach is used to deliver the content within a meaningful context. Subject matter is presented clearly, teachers carefully check learning and identify misconceptions, providing direct feedback. Teaching is designed to ensure children know more and remember more.
Geography is taught within each year group following a two-year cycle. Medium term plans ensure coverage of both the required knowledge and the subject specific skills. Where learning is not able to be taught through projects, discrete lessons are planned to inspire, engage and challenge pupils in response to their needs. Pupils are encouraged to apply their existing skills while developing new ones as progression is achieved throughout school. Children are given a wide variety of experiences both in the classroom and out. We encourage school visits and visitors into school to enable the children to gain first hand experiences to support their learning.
In KS1, children begin to use maps and recognise physical and human features to do with the local area, building to using maps to explore the continents and oceans of the world in year 2. Further, in year 2, children will begin to compare where they live to places outside of Europe and ask and answer geographical questions. In KS2, map skills are developed further using digital maps, more keys and symbols and children begin to use more fieldwork skills. Through revisiting and consolidating skills, our children build on prior knowledge alongside introducing new skills and challenge. All children expand on their skills in local knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, geographical skills and fieldwork. Across both key stages, children have a range of opportunities to experience geography through practical engaging tasks beyond the classroom. Our lessons come with end of unit assessments to give the teacher and adults leading geography confidence in the progression of skills and knowledge and that outcomes have been met. Key words are also highlighted in each lesson pack, to be used by children to deepen their geographical knowledge.
Pupils are encouraged to think like geographers and develop their skills.
Geography - our impact
Geography assessment is ongoing to inform teachers about their planning, lesson activities and differentiation. Summative assessment is completed by all class teachers to inform future lesson planning and record individuals’ progress or skills that still need embedding further. Geography is monitored throughout all year groups using a variety of strategies, such as book monitoring, lesson observations and pupil interviews to discuss learning and establish the impact. We believe the impact of the Geography curriculum at CPS is that learning is loved by teachers and pupils across the school, teachers have higher expectations and quality evidence is presented in books. All children will use geographical vocabulary accurately and understand the different strands of geography, with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Children will begin to make relevant links from geography to other curriculum subjects, such as history and science. They will improve their enquiry skills and inquisitiveness about the world around them, and their impact on the world. All children will realise that they have choices to make in the world, developing a positive commitment to the environment and the future of the planet. Children will become competent in collecting, analysing and communicating a range of data gathered. They will be able to interpret a range of sources of geographical information and they will communicate geographical information in a variety of ways. All children in the school will be able to speak confidently about their geography learning, skills and knowledge using subject specific vocabulary
