Geography

Vision - If we are 'learning to live life in all its fullest'; Why do we teach what we teach in Geography?

Geography is a subject packed with excitement and dynamism that synthesises aspects of the world and helps us to better understand its people, places and environments and the interactions between them. Geography also helps us understand how and why places are changing and to better imagine, predict and work towards, likely and preferred futures. Underpinning all of this is a strong spatial component that deepens our understanding of what places are like, why and how they are connected and the importance of location. It is our intent for the Geography element of our school curriculum to inspire pupils with a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Intent

Kilby St Mary’s we aim to teach Geography through active, real life learning opportunities, allowing pupils to, not only learn about the world they live, but also how works and fits together. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. By revisiting these areas of learning regularly children will remember more, know more and understand more. We want our children to gain confidence and have practical experiences of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time. Our geography teaching has a wide application to everyday life, promoting curiosity about the world and enabling pupils to have a better understanding of how people live in different locations. Our geography curriculum provides opportunities for all pupils, including SEND and disadvantaged pupils, to develop the skills, knowledge and independence to achieve success in their geography lessons.

Implementation

Geography is taught in all classes from EYFS to Y6 and lends itself well to cross-curricular opportunities. Physical resources/artifacts and books are readily available to all teachers through Leicestershire Library Services and are ordered termly. Teachers are encouraged to make sure pupils can relate new knowledge to what they already know, to build a strong schema and remember more. Teachers plan for regular practice of procedural geography, such as data collection and map decoding, so the skills become embedded and used for pupils to gain knowledge. Lessons are based around the 4 elements of successful geography curriculum: locational knowledge; place knowledge; environmental, physical and human geography and skill and fieldwork.

Geography curriculum 2 year rolling programme

Geography in EYFS at Kilby St- Marys

Impact

Pupils, including disadvantaged and those with SEND, are confident when talking about Geography. They can locate their surrounding area on a map and talk about features of their area. They have a good overview of the wider world and have some knowledge about certain places around the world. They can talk about how the environment is changing and how much humans have influenced and can influence this. Pupils can talk about their experiences of collecting their own data and how geographers use maps, plans and satellite imagery.

Broader Curriculum

Geography provides many cross curricular learning opportunities and opportunities for enrichment sessions. Wherever possible it is linked with History to give a broader understanding of their learning. It has strong links with Maths and Science, especially when looking at data analysis and collection. These links are explicitly pointed out by class teachers. In Geography, we promote a respect for and understanding of different faiths, cultures and lifestyles. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted by learning about their place in the world and how they fit in the wider world. Through Geography, pupils learn the importance of democracy, law, liberty, mutual respect and tolerance. Geography deepens their knowledge of their responsibilities towards the environment and looking after our planet for future generations and how their actions can impact not only their own lives, but the lives of others. 

What does a good learner look like on leaving Kilby St Mary’s?

Pupils should leave Kilby St Mary’s with a good overall knowledge of the world around them, both Britain and the wider world. They will know that the choices we make have an impact on our environment and how events in the past have shaped the world we know today. They will understand how locations on the globe have an impact on daily life and have a detailed knowledge of a range of significant places. A good learner enjoys geography and is able to use the key vocabulary that a Geographer would use, as well as having the skills to make judgments on their own data. They have a good understanding, curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.