Intent
At Randlay Primary School and Nursery it is our Geography intent that all learners aspire to be knowledgeable Geographers who develop a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people as well as to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. Our teachers will offer children the opportunity to investigate a range of places – both in Britain and abroad – which will in turn develop their understanding of the Earth’s physical and human processes. Children will be equipped with a knowledge of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, and how they are all connected. We are committed to providing children with opportunities to investigate and make enquiries about their local area of Telford and Shropshire so that they can develop of real sense of who they are, where they belong in the world and what makes our local area unique and special. We want children to develop geographical skills: collecting and analysing data; using maps, globes, aerial photographs and digital mapping to name and identify countries, continents and oceans; and communicating information in a variety of ways, individually and collaboratively. We are also developing the children’s ability to apply geographical skills to enable them to confidently communicate their findings and geographical understanding to a range of audiences. We also strive to teach children to respect their environment and to develop an understanding of the impact human factors have on the wider world around them. We want children to enjoy and love learning about geography by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits.
Implementation
Children will be taught Geography through a broad and creative curriculum, across a two-year rolling programme. Units have been chosen to engage children, but to also gain the best Geographical coverage, focusing on knowledge and objectives stated in the National Curriculum. Teachers will use assessment for learning to ensure all lessons are relevant and to plan next steps. These curriculum blocks throughout the year will enable children to achieve depth in their learning. Consideration is also given to how greater depth will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.
Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each unit and consideration has been given to ensure progression throughout each key stage. Cross curricular outcomes in geography are specifically planned for, with links between geography and literacy lessons identified, planned for and utilised. The school grounds and local area are utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice. Children will access resources to gain knowledge through atlases, text books, maps, digital technology and photographs. Children can also take part in field work activities to gain hands on experiences. They will have access to the local area and will experience educational visits to enhance their learning. Using the organisation ‘Educating Kids Outdoors’ Years 1-6 spend a term learning outside in our school grounds. Our EYFS children have one session of ‘Little Explorers’ a week in our small forest area. Children will also learn and revisit the importance of our world and how it should be treated through a range of cultural activities and experiences.
EYFS
Geography in our Early Years links closely with the specific area of learning ‘Understanding the World.’ ‘Understanding the World’ provides a powerful, meaningful context for learning across the curriculum. Geography will be taught through the following key strands:
- Past and Present
- People, Culture and Communities
- The Natural World
At Randlay Primary School, we support our children to make sense of their expanding world and their place within it by encouraging their wonderment, curiosity and desire to explore. To nurture this curiosity we offer our children opportunities to discover, observe and find out about people, places, technology, and the environment and engage the children in independent and collaborative activities which promote inquiry, problem-solving and shared decision making. Children are regularly observed interacting with their environment, and how the environment influences them. Through meaningful conversations and carefully thought out questions, we encourage our learners to develop their sense of curiosity about the world around them. Learners are offered the opportunity to seek out answers to their own questions during child-initiated learning opportunities. We would like our children to enter KS1 with a growing knowledge of the physical world around them and their local community.
KS1
In KS1, pupils at Randlay primary school develop their knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They are taught to understand and use basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness.
Pupils are taught across the following strands:
Locational Knowledge – this includes naming the world’s seven continents and the five oceans, as well as name and locating the four countries of and their capital cities of the United Kingdom.
Place Knowledge – understanding geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of a small area of the United Kingdom, and of a small area in a contrasting non-European country
Human and Physical Geography – identify daily weather patterns in the UK and the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles, as well as studying key human features.
Geographical skills and fieldwork – using maps, atlases and globes as well as compasses to understand location. Pupils also use a range of aerial photographs and plans to devise their own simple maps.
KS2
In KS2, pupils at Randlay Primary School begin to extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom and Europe, North and South America. This includes studying the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. They also begin to develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.
Pupils are taught across the following strands:
Locational Knowledge – locate
Place Knowledge –
Human and physical geography –
Geographical skills and fieldwork –
SEND
IMPACT
It is expected that children will at least achieve age related expectations in Geography at the end of their cohort year and will be equipped with the relevant geographical skills for the next year group. This will be evidenced in creative curriculum books and literacy books, showing a broad and balanced curriculum. Children will have the opportunity to review their successes in achieving the lesson objectives at the end of every session with success criteria. Children will be able to demonstrate their excellence within the subject, drawing on the skills they have developed and having the opportunity to apply this knowledge in a given context. As children progress throughout the school, they develop a deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Telford and its place within the wider geographical context. They will also have a good understanding about the world around them, how it has been shaped and the implications that we have as citizens on it. Children will know more, remember more and understand more. We want the children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about geography and have the courage to undertake new life experiences now and in the future.