Geography

Curriculum Statement for Geography

Rationale

The study of Geography is to enable pupils to understand the interaction of human beings with their environments– at personal, local, regional, national and global scales.

Incorporating the programmes of study from the National Curriculum, our Geography curriculum aims to:

Foster in children a curiosity and appreciation of the world around them.
Enable children to know about physical and human geography of our locality, of the UK and areas of the wider world.
Develop an understanding of the impact of physical and human geography on the lives of individuals and communities.
Develop an understanding of the legacy of our industrial heritage
Develop an understanding of our cultural heritage, for example, the Dartmoor National Park.
Promote knowledge and understanding of the rich cultural diversity of our world.
Develop place knowledge (countries, continents, rivers, seas, oceans, etc) and specific skills related to map reading.
Teach subject-specific vocabulary which will pupils will use accurately in oral and written work
Develop an understanding of issues through global learning, for example, climate change and fair trade.
Develop the skills of Geographical enquiry: observe, compare and contrast, locate, reason, explain, evaluate, hypothesise, predict.

Curriculum Intent

At Sherford Vale Primary School, we follow the National Curriculum in KS1 and 2 for Geography. We use the "Opening Worlds" scheme in KS2.. Our curriculum is sequenced, with a clear progression in knowledge, geographical skills, concepts and vocabulary which links to other curriculum subjects.

In EYFS, pupils are taught the knowledge and skills for ‘Understanding the World’ using a thematic approach outlined in Development Matters (2021).

In both KS1 and KS2 the following geographical disciplinary concepts are followed:

Enrichment

The Geography Curriculum is enriched in a variety of ways including:

Visits to the locality and wider area including Dartmoor National Park and the Devon coastline
Workshops from visiting specialists
Themed curriculum days
Displays and exhibitions for parents/carers
Volunteer Expertise eg Local resident who is a retired University Geography lecturer.

Curriculum Implementation

EYFS

The EYFS Curriculum for Understanding the World is taught in a variety of ways through adult-led and adult-supported tasks and child-initiated learning in well-resourced provision areas, both indoors and outdoors.

Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1, one Geography topic is taught every other half-term, in a block of lessons, alternating with our History curriculum. This enables pupils to focus on aspects of particular topics for a greater period of time, allowing for greater depth of study. Pupils follow the National Curriculum and develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They are taught subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness.

Our Geography lessons, follow the structures of the Opening World scheme in KS2.

Key Stage 2

In KS2 we follow the National Curriculum which is delivered by the "Opening Worlds" scheme, on a termly basis.

In studying geography as a discipline, pupils will:

-engage in geographical reasoning about change (including past, present and future change), diversity across space, and interaction between places, phenomena and processes in the world; •

-collect, analyse, record and interpret geographical data, gaining skills of geographical enquiry, including fieldwork; •

-interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and digital technologies;

-communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

Cross Curricular Links

Cross-curricular links have been mapped to promote creativity through subjects such as RE and History.

Progression and Assessment in Geography

EYFS

Children will be assessed in EYFS against the Development Matters (2021) outcomes for Understanding the World.

KS1

Regular, ongoing observational assessments are made during lessons. Quizzing and synoptic tasks are used to assess knowledge and understanding.

KS2

End of unit quiz-style assessments of knowledge are made alongside observational assessments and assessments of independent work.

Impact

The impact of the curriculum will be reviewed (during the year and at the end of the year), through observations and assessments of pupils’ learning and through pupil discussions about their learning, which includes discussion of their thoughts, ideas, processing and evaluations of work.