Geography
Intent:
At London Meed, our curriculum allows pupils to develop their understanding of globally significant places. They are taught how key physical and human geographical features are formed, along with how they change over time. We intend to foster a curiosity about places and people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
Our children will:
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Become knowledgeable about diverse places, people, the natural landscape and the human environment.
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Be inspired by the earth’s features, how they are interconnected and how they change over time through both human and physical processes.
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Have opportunities to study the local area and contrasting areas in the United Kingdom or wider world.
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Learn specific geographical knowledge and vocabulary to communicate their ideas effectively.
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Learn to draw and read maps using both paper and digital mapping software.
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Collect a range of data through fieldwork and other sources such as diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and the internet.
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Analyse data and communicate their findings using subject-specific vocabulary.
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Develop a respect and concern for the diversity of our planet and communities.
In Geography we incorporate our core values (Bravery, Community, Curiosity, Resilience and Respect) to ensure that our children develop as life-long learners and responsible citizens. Through Quality First Teaching and having high expectations, we ensure all children (including disadvantaged and SEND) are accessing the curriculum by constantly reviewing and adapting teaching.
Implementation:
We have a coherent and sequenced curriculum building progression of knowledge and skills every year. In EYFS, children learn about their immediate environment and some of the key features, weather patterns and changing seasons, beginning to look at maps. In Year 1 & 2, children learn to recognise physical and human features to do with the local area and use maps to explore the continents and oceans of the world. They will then start to compare where they live to places outside of Europe and ask and answer geographical questions. In Years 3 to 6, map skills are developed further using digital maps, more keys and symbols, and children begin to use more fieldwork skills. Through revisiting and consolidating their knowledge in a spiralled curriculum, our curriculum helps children build on prior understanding alongside introducing new skills and challenge. All children expand on their skills in local knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, geographical skills and fieldwork. Across all year groups we aim for children to have a range of opportunities to experience geography through practical engaging tasks beyond the classroom.
Impact:
Our children will use geographical vocabulary accurately and understand the different strands of Geography, with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Children will begin to make relevant links from Geography to other curriculum subjects, such as History and Science. They will improve their enquiry skills and inquisitiveness about the world around them, and consider their own impact on the planet. All children will realise that they have choices to make, developing a positive commitment to the environment and future generations. Children will become competent in collecting, analysing and communicating a range of data gathered. They will be able to interpret a range of sources of geographical information and they will communicate geographical information in a variety of ways. All children in the school will be able to speak positively about their Geography learning, skills and knowledge.