“Geography explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future. What could be more important than that?”
Michael Palin
Click on the link below to view our progression of lessons for geography and vocabulary for geographers.
Intent
At Linthwaite Clough, Geography is a valued part of our curriculum, our goal is to inspire children’s curiosity, interest and appreciation for the world in which they live. The children learn about their home and local area, whilst developing a knowledge, understanding and respect of the wider world and the people who live there.
We strive to provide opportunities for children to become confident Geographers; to develop an understanding of scale, space and place through collaborative learning. We want our children to be able to think and behave as Geographers and to nurture and further develop their curiosity about their world, and understand how their actions impact on the local and wider environment and communities. We believe it is important to build a geographical curriculum that promotes respect, inclusivity and which drives a curiosity for learning.
What is Geography?
“It’s places in the world and sometimes a bit of History.” Lola Y3
Implementation
In Geography, our curriculum is shaped by our school vision which encourages children to be confident and creative learners who, regardless of background, ability or additional needs, flourish with high aspirations. We implement a curriculum that meets the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum, incorporating the four main areas of learning at each key stage: place, location, human and physical and geographical skills and fieldwork.
Geography is taught through a carefully organised curriculum that allows children to discover the world around them. Our Geography teaching follows a clear progression of skills and knowledge, which is built on as children make their way through school. Starting in EYFS, geographical knowledge and skills are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. Lessons are designed to be interesting, accessible and stimulating and to provide appropriate challenge and support to all learners using a range of teaching strategies, resources and technologies. Children’s geographical experiences and interests are incorporated into lessons, their pupil voice allowing learning to be more personalised. Children explore a range of places, from the local area to the wider world, developing their understanding of both human and physical processes. Children have the opportunity to collect and analyse data, interpret geographical information (maps, globes, climate data etc.) and to communicate their knowledge in a variety of ways.
Prior learning is frequently revisited, and geography knowledge and skills are revised when children complete geography-based activities in CCL. Post-learning tasks are planned to demonstrate progress, knowledge and understanding. Teachers assess learning in geography against knowledge and skills-based learning objectives within unit overviews.
Within the school locality and the wider local area, fieldwork is planned in order to develop children’s subject knowledge and gain skills which are difficult to work on within the classroom. Fieldwork is also carried out as part of Forest School activities.
“We did some measuring on the computer to find out how far away it was. We found our houses on the map.” Sienna Y4
“At the Sculpture Park, we drew a lake on the map. We put signs on and we put toilets with a picture on.” Elmeri Y2
Impact
Our geography curriculum offers high quality and well-planned lessons, which are progressive in nature. By the end of KS2 our children will know more, understand more and remember more about Geography and the world around them, preparing them as they progress into KS3. Geographical questioning helps pupils to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of the world and its people, while schemes of work explicitly set out the essential knowledge and disciplinary skills of geography to be taught. Through the breadth and depth that our Geography curriculum offers, our children are provided with a broad knowledge of the world they live in and of the places they may go, and understand, as responsible citizens, how they need to care and preserve the planet for future generations.