Geography

Intent

Geography is essentially about understanding the world we live in. It helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world.

At Lightwater Village School we want our children to love Geography. Children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, how it has developed as well as their place in it.

Geography is an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills.

Our vision is to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and people within it; to promote the children's interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth's key physical and human processes.

We also intend for children to become passionate and knowledgeable about our local community and beyond, by learning through experiences in practical and fieldwork activities.

Implementation

At Lightwater Village School, Geography is taught for half a term every term for one hour per week.  Our geography curriculum is in line with 2014 Primary National Curriculum requirements. It is supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression to ensure these are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.

Lesson content and tasks are designed to provide appropriate challenge to all learners, in line with our commitment to inclusion. 

It is important that children develop the skills of a geographer by fully immersing them in all areas of the subject. The local area is fully utilised to achieve desired outcomes, with opportunities for learning outside the classroom.

Location knowledge, fieldwork and map work are woven throughout the Geography topics.  Effective use of educational visits and fieldwork are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the Geography curriculum.  Fieldwork opportunities are greatly amplified through our local area units where children go out into the country park to conduct observations, surveys, investigations and field sketches.  The use of maps and compasses enhances this experience.  

At the start of each unit children are given a knowledge organiser which details some key information, questions and vocabulary. This is not used as part of an assessment, but to support children with their acquisition of knowledge and are used as a reference document. 

In geography lessons, children are given clear success criteria in order to achieve the Learning Intention with different elements of independence.  Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it.  Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the Geography curriculum.

Floor books are used in lessons to ensure practical hands-on learning and Geography exercise books show progression across KS1. 

EYFS

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum supports children’s understanding of geography, people and communities through the planning and teaching of ‘Understanding the World’. Geography is effectively taught through their wider curriculum lessons and through their enhanced learning provision and environment.  Children learn about features of their own environment such as school, home, community and their town through first-hand experiences and learn how environments may differ through the sharing of books, stories, poems, small world play, role play and visits. Children enjoy the valuable experiences gained from our regular trips to places within their local community such as the country park and local shops. Children are given time to discuss, comment and ask questions about what they observe about the world around them and are encouraged to be active learners and explore their interests further.

Impact

At Lightwater Village School we believe that by delivering a high-quality geography curriculum we will inspire and equip the next generation of Geographers to have no limits to what their ambitions are. We want them to grow up wanting to be cartographers, town planners, conservationists or weather forecasters.

Lightwater Village School believes that by the time pupils leave school they will:

• have an excellent understanding of how to use maps and atlases to strengthen their understanding of the world.
• describe where some places are using geographical knowledge and vocabulary.
• have an excellent understanding of the ways in which places are similar or different.
• give reasons for different climates in relation to their position in the world.
• have developed their fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques.
• have a passion for and commitment to the subject, and a real sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people who live there.

Pupil voice, subject monitoring and lesson observations will ensure a positive impact of geography as a subject.

"learning all about the world and maps" - Reception Child 

"We learn things about the world. We notice people are different in different countries. We learn the continents." - Year 1 Child 

"I love learning lots of different things, learning about the world, doing different activities, I like that we learn about the different countires." - Year 2 Child

Geography Lead - Miss K Parsons

Geography Progression Document

Knowledge Organisers

Year 1 - ContinentsYear 1 - Ariel ViewYear 1 - Loacational Knowldege Using Maps Year 1 -  Kenya Year 1 - Oceans

Year 2 - Brighton Comparing CoastlinesYear 2 - London Comparing Coast and City Year 2 - Tolaga Comparing CoastlinesYear 2 - ChangesYear 2 - Directional LanguageYear 2 - The UK