Geography

Geography at St. Paul's

In Geography, we strive to develop children’s curiosity of the world and people. Through a broad, balanced curriculum, we aim to develop geographical concepts, knowledge and skills whilst ensuring teaching is progressive and enables the children to develop a love for this subject. Through the teaching of Geography, we teach locational and place knowledge, develop children’s understanding of human and physical geography and geographical skills and fieldwork. 

As well as weekly topic lessons, we encourage educational visits, where children will have the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge beyond the classroom. Where possible, local links are encouraged to develop children’s understanding of the local surroundings.  

Intent

At St Paul’s, the provision of Geography is intended to develop a curiosity about the world and people. Through a broad, balanced curriculum, we will ensure the development of geographical concepts, knowledge and skills is progressive and enables the children to develop a love for this subject. The children engage in Geography lessons through a Topic based approach, with the intention of covering and developing the children’s understanding of Physical Geography, along with linking to Human Geography and how humans interact with, and impact, our world. Children will focus on stand-alone Geography units, whilst making links to Geography through alternate units such as History.

Key Vocabulary:

Pupils will understand and use appropriate topic related vocabulary taken from the National Curriculum, and enhanced through the children’s interactions with geography within their locality and the wider world. The children will develop an understanding off the meaning of the term ‘Geography’ including the terms of Human and Physical Geography.

Locational and place knowledge:

Pupils will develop a knowledge of where places are located, both in Britain and the wider world. They will investigate what these places are like and make comparisons, drawing links between their locality, the United Kingdom, and the wider world.

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork:

Pupils will have the opportunity to develop geographical and fieldwork skills, within their locality, and where appropriate, make connections and links to the wider world. The children will apply questioning skills to develop their enquiries. Children should engage with fieldwork activities within their school grounds, around their locality, and make comparisons with their findings to other locations around the world.  

Human and Physical Geography:

Pupils will learn the differences between human and physical geography, exploring current environmental issues and discovering new ways to look after our environment. The children will learn about a range of different physical features of our earth through our topic lead approach, whilst analysing the impact which human geography can have upon the earth and its people.

Implementation 

A well-planned Curriculum, where creative lessons engage pupils and provide all children the opportunity to develop their geographical skills. Our topic lead approach aims to develop the children’s locational and place knowledge, whilst making connections between physical and human geography within our world.

Through educational visits, children will have the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge beyond the classroom. Where possible, local links are encouraged to develop children’s understanding of the local surroundings and to develop their Cultural Capital.

Through thoughtful questioning and discussion, children are encouraged to consider differing viewpoints and consolidate existing knowledge

Resources are audited and purchased by the subject leader. App’s and other classroom materials are shared with relevant year groups.

Children should engage with a variety of resources, including Maps, online search engines, and atlases to develop their Geographical knowledge and to tailor learning to their individual interests.

Children should engage with case studies within their topics, to learn about different locations and geographical events around the world, to help them to draw links and make comparisons to their locality.

Knowledge organisers are included within children’s Topic books at the beginning of their units, outlining the key learning, vocabulary and case studies which will be learnt throughout their unit.

Key vocabulary for Geography should be displayed around the classroom on Topic displays.

Impact

Through pupil voice discussion and feedback, assessments can be made and changing to the teaching and delivery or the Geography Curriculum can be adapted.

Teachers assess children based on National Curriculum objectives and record if children are below national expected level, at national expected level or working about national expected level.

Children are given an opportunity to self-assess using the knowledge organisers, which are included at the beginning of each unit.

Children are provided with end of unit assessments/tests to measure their learning in Geography subjects, teachers can use these quizzes to analyse children’s understanding and retrieval of their learning from their topics, and can be used to identify next steps.  

Children’s work should demonstrate the high standards and expectation of our geography curriculum.

Display boards around school celebrate the children’s achievements in Geography.

Geography is enjoyed by pupils and staff.