Geography
Living to learn, learning to live.
Aim: That pupils develop a sense of place and people.
We have designed a vocabulary rich curriculum that connects learning by building an understanding of ideas, concepts, chronology and themes through the framework of ‘here, there and then, now, next’. These thinking threads link learning meaningfully to create opportunities to learn from the past and present as well as equipping children for an ever-changing and exciting future.
In Geography pupils are taught about the world and its people in ways which encourage curiosity and fascination about the diversity of people, environments and Earth’s physical and human processes, the world here and now, learning from past environments then, and developing the tools to navigate global challenges next, fostering environmental stewardship.
Pupils are taught to use geographical skills such as collecting, analysing data and interpreting and communicating geographical information. Practical learning is recognised as an important aspect of Geography, teachers plan exciting field trips that challenge pupils understanding of the local world around and allow them to practice the skills of field work and map skills.
Summer Term Topics
Please see below for details of the Geography units being covered in each class during the Summer term.
Busy Zone - Journeys
Linking with our vehicles learning in History we will start to consider where we can go!
Beginning with the story of ‘Snail and the Whale’ we will journey across the world, making links with different countries and what we like about.
We will share our own experiences of other countries before making comparisons, explaining similarities and differences between life in different countries.
Wonder Zone - Why don't Penguins need to fly?
This enquiry introduces pupils to the concept of biomes and natural regions which they will study in greater depth at a later stage. It enables them to understand the importance of location in relation to the Equator and poles in determining weather and climate, which in turn have such an influence on shaping the natural geographical features of environments. We will look at the distribution of hot and cold places in the world and how living things have to adapt to survive in such places – the more extreme the environment, the more specialised the adaptation.
Smart Zone - Earthquakes
Within this unit we will use first hand experiences to look at the impact of the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand in 2011, together with a range of data sources. Children will investigate the technological development and overall quality of peoples lives in different countries.
Study Zone - The Caribbean
This unit focused a study on the Caribbean, linking with our learning on the Windrush Generation in History. We will be looking at where the Caribbean is located and the geographical features of the area. We will also look at the climate (how this differs from weather) and also the human geography through learning on the Caribbean as a tourist destination.
Spring Term Topics
Please see below for details of the Geography units being covered in each class during the Spring term.
EYFS - Besides the Sea
Building on my immediate local area, we will explore the wider locality considering the beach and seaside where we live, exploring the features of the environment and how these compare to what we know about other places.
We will explore the use of maps to help us get to places and mark the main features of a beach following a visit.
We will further our understanding of Human and Physical geography by picking our features and comparing these within our own locality to other places around the world.
EYFS OutlineYear 1.2 - Weather
an opportunity for pupils to understand the concept of weather and to form a solid foundation for studying climate in different contexts later in primary study. Pupils are encouraged from the outset to investigate how weather affects them as individuals on a daily and seasonal basis. They will also explore how weather affects people in other locations around the world. From local weather recordings, presentation and interpretation the pupils can expand their investigations of weather to identify and explain the distribution of hot and cold places in the world
Year 1.2 OutlineYear 3.4 - A study of Europe
In this exciting and informative topic, children will understand the amazing physical and human geography of Modern Europe. Travel around, learn key facts and explore the varied countries that make up our European continent. Develop skills in human and physical geography and further your historical and cultural knowledge of these countries. Select countries relevant to your children or your wider context to compare with your local area to develop understanding of geographical similarities and differences between different countries and geographical areas.
Year 3.4 OutlineYear 5.6 - Climate Change
This enquiry gives pupils an insight into how changing patterns of weather at different locations around the world are impacting on the lives of real people with whom they can relate. Through the experiences of these individuals and communities, pupils are able to reflect upon how changes to normal and usual weather conditions can have to serious implications for these people.
From these specific case studies pupils are encouraged to look at global warming, what is contributing to it on a global scale and to generalise about climate change in the longer term.
