Geography

"Geography explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future." (Michael Palin)

Intent- Why is Geography so important?

At Arkwright Primary School we believe that Geography is an essential part of a broad and balanced curriculum.

We aim to:

Deliver an engaging curriculum which inspires our learners to be passionate about geography
Develop geographical knowledge, skills & subject disciplines
Equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments
Plan & teach geography projects linked to the National Curriculum that produce authentic outcomes and purposeful learning
Provide opportunities for geographical learning to be applied throughout the curriculum
Develop the concepts of our 10 Big Ideas through geography

Implementation- How do we plan, teach and assess Geography?

We plan our geography using Cornerstones Curriculum Maestro platform. Our geography projects are well sequenced to provide a coherent subject scheme that develops children’s geographical knowledge, skills and subject disciplines. Geographical locations are not specified in the national curriculum, so they have been chosen to provide a broad and diverse understanding of the world. Where there are opportunities for making meaningful connections with other projects, geography projects are sequenced accordingly. For example, children revisit the geography of settlements in the history project School Days after studying types of settlements in the geography project Bright Lights, Big City. All geography projects are taught in the autumn and spring terms, with opportunities for schools to revisit less secure concepts in the summer term. Geography is taught in project blocks and is linked to our English writing to build purposeful cross-curricular links. We formatively assess geography through questioning, ‘Do Now’ retrieval practice challenges, marking and low-stakes quizzes which are then used to inform teacher assessments using the Curriculum Maestro platform.

EYFS

The geography curriculum begins as soon as the children start school in the EYFS. Learning in geography links to the EYFS Statutory Educational Programme: Understanding the world. Through hands-on experiences and a range of quality stories and non-fiction books, children explore their local environment and begin to compare it with contrasting environments around the world. They build essential knowledge and understanding that they will apply in geography in KS1. Projects such as Let’s Explore, Animal Safari, On the Beach and Big Wide World support children to explore and find out about environments, people and cultures where they live and world wide.

Key Stage One (Year 1/2)

Cycle A

Year 1 spring term project: Bright lights, big city

Each autumn term begins with essential skills and knowledge projects (Our Wonderful World in Year 1). 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 of Year 1, children 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.

Cycle B

Year 2 spring term project: Coastline

Each autumn term begins with essential skills and knowledge projects (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 of Year 2, children carry out a detailed study of coastal geography in the project Coastline. This project introduces children to the geography of coastal environments and provides children with the opportunity for in-depth coastal fieldwork.

Key Stage Two (Year 3/4)

Cycle A

Year 1 spring term project: Rocks, relics and rumbles

Our children begin with essential skills and knowledge projects (One Planet, Our World in Year 3). 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. In the spring term of Year 3, children study the project Rocks, Relics and Rumbles, which explores physical features and geographical phenomena, including earthquakes and volcanoes.

Cycle B

Year 2 spring term project: Misty mountain, winding river

Our children begin with essential skills and knowledge projects (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. In the spring term of Year 4, children carry out a detailed study of the physical features of mountains and rivers, which includes opportunities for in-depth fieldwork.

Key Stage Two (Year 5/6)

Cycle A

Year 1 spring term project: Sow, grow and farm

Our children again begin with essential skills and knowledge projects (Investigating Our World in Year 5). 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 in the following term. In the spring term of Year 5, children study the seasonal project Sow, Grow and Farm, which explores farming, agriculture and rural land use.

Cycle B

Year 2 spring term project: Frozen Kingdoms

Our children again begin with essential skills and knowledge projects (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 in the following term. In the spring term of 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.