Aston by Sutton Primary SchoolGeography
Geography Curriculum Intent:
At Aston by Sutton we believe that a Geography curriculum should develop children’s enthusiasm and enjoyment of geographical learning and understanding.
We intend on delivering a curriculum which promotes practical and engaging, high-quality Geography aiming to provide children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. It promotes geographical enquiry and engagement with the local environment to ensure that children learn through varied and first-hand experiences of the world around them.
Our curriculum offers fieldwork and themed projects so that children develop an understanding of the impact of human development on the natural and physical world around them. It intends to capture children’s natural curiosity about the world and what they observe, to promote respect for the environment, living things and processes and their own and other’s health and safety.
At Aston by Sutton through the study of Geography children will develop geographical skills through practical and engaging lessons, with identified key knowledge, technical vocabulary and skills that build on previous learning. It recognises that geography impacts our daily lives, always has and always will.
The curriculum makes rich connections through Year Group themes to develop a deeper thinking about the applications of geographical knowledge and conceptual understanding and makes links between different experiences.
Geography at Aston by Sutton provides equal opportunities for children to apply their geographical knowledge to other subjects, (cross-curricular links) and is in line with the expectations in the National Curriculum 2014.
The intent of the Geography curriculum is outlined and detailed in the geography progression map which is organised into knowledge and skills.
Geography Curriculum Implementation:
Children have lessons in geography throughout Key Stage 1 and 2, planned using National Curriculum programmes of study and the year group plans. In Early years, Geography is taught through the children learning about the world around them in their learning through play, natural exploration and linked to specific texts.
Additional opportunities are provided in Geography, such as visits to habitats in the local environment and trips to sites of more expert knowledge e.g. Country Parks, Jaguar Landrover and B & M Waste Services. Residential visits are also planned for upper Key Stage 2 pupils and provide additional first-hand opportunities for pupils to further develop their fieldwork and map skills.
Teachers create a positive attitude to Geography learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards.
EYFS
In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we relate the geographical aspects of the children's work to the Development Matters statements and the Early Learning Goals (ELG) for Understanding The World, as set out in the EYFS profile document. Geographical development involves providing children with opportunities to observe changes around them and develop skills in questioning, exploring and observing, then explaining what they have discovered.
- In EYFS the children develop geographical skills through planned sessions or challenges linked to texts, stories and books; through self-selected play in continuous provision; through links to seasonal changes and observations, and activities linked to use of the Forest School Area, or through the children’s own interests.
- Children are assessed through observation against the Development Matters statements and ELG’s. These judgements are entered into the EYFS assessment system as part of each child’s learning journey.
Year 1 - Year 6
- Geography is taught in planned and arranged topic blocks by the class teacher that link to the year group theme for that term. These units are identified on the Year Group curriculum maps and the whole school overview for Geography. This allows achievement of a greater depth of knowledge and application of thinking within the year group and a progressive increase of key knowledge, vocabulary and skills across key stages.
- Teachers create knowledge organisers to make the key learning explicit for children. These will be stuck in children’s Geography books at the start of each unit and revisited regularly.
- Assessments are recorded on the class assessment record sheets each term.
- We build upon the learning and skill development from the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, they become more proficient in fieldwork, map reading, use of secondary resources, research, enquiry and locational knowledge and their understanding of physical and human processes.
- Children record their Geographical learning in their individual books.
Geographical enquiries have a clear structure; over KS1 and KS2, children develop increasingly complex skills in enquiry, mapwork and direction, as well as developing their knowledge and understanding of places and geographical processes. Each year group has specified places or environments to learn about over the year.
Basic Skills: Cross curricular links are made to give children opportunities to apply and embed skills from other areas of the curriculum and use their skills in purposeful contexts.
Language: Technical vocabulary is taught, which is essential to acquire a rich knowledge and understanding of Geography.
Independent Learners: Children communicate, investigate and research.
Collaborative Learning: Children work as part of a team when undertaking map work and enquiries. They use skills to negotiate, learn how to work with others and respect and value the work and opinion of others.
Capital Culture: Opportunities are mapped out across the curriculum for pupils to learn about the essential contribution made by people of different races, ethnic groups and religious beliefs to the wealth and well-being of the nation.
Enrichment: Fieldwork in the local area, visits and visitors are arranged to provide our children with first-hand, purposeful experience to support and develop their learning.
School Values: Geography teaches children about the world we live in and through contextual comparisons with where they live in comparison to for example someone who lives in the rainforest, they are able to reflect our school values of Respect, Inspire and Achieve.
Geography Curriculum Impact:
Children at Aston by Sutton will know more, understand more and remember more about Geography and the world.
Children will develop a range of life skills, which they can use and develop beyond school life.
Children will display confidence and enjoyment in Geography.
Children will use and apply skills across the curriculum, making meaningful connections in purposeful contexts.
Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first-hand experiences of the world around them. Through various fieldwork activities, enquiry questions and themed units of work children have the understanding that geography has impacted upon our lives.