Geography Curriculum
What is Geography like at St Mary's?
Intent
At St Mary's Primary School, we are very lucky to have a dedicated Outdoor Woodland and Learning space. Our intention is to inspire children's curiosity and interest to explore the world that we live in and its people. We intend to equip children with geographical skills to develop their knowledge through studying places, people and natural and human environments. Geography, by nature, is an investigative subject. Through our teaching, we intend to provoke thought and to encourage children to discover answers to their own questions through exploration and research, enabling them to gain a greater understanding and knowledge of the world and their place in it. Educational visits are another opportunity for teachers to plan for additional Geography outside the classroom. Our children experience a wide range of school trips, including residential visits to Standon Bowers and Arthog.
Implementation
Our school has acquired an award winning program which offers valuable resources to support the teaching and learning of Geography across the school. It is an e-learning resource and community that immerses children in the real world. Moreover, it enables children - wherever they are - to 'break out' of their own world and join a global community of like-minded children. Children can view the world through the eyes of people who are passionate about the places they are sharing. We want to inspire children with a deep and lifelong love of the subject.
In EYFS, children begin to develop their knowledge by exploring features of our school. Maps and atlases are used to investigate places as we begin to compare and contrast different environments. Children have rich opportunities to make use of the school grounds to enhance and apply their skills as geographers. As they move through school, they build on these strong foundations, developing their locational awareness, geographical skills and knowledge of physical and human geography. As well as learning about local geography, children also have the opportunity to learn about different countries and places around the world including Antarctica, North America and rainforests.
Three Geography-led topics are completed each year. Skills and knowledge acquired in the Autumn and Spring terms feed into the place-based study in the Summer. This helps to assure curriculum breadth, coverage, content and a structure that enables clear progression in knowledge and skills. We also use Chris Quigley Milestones to ensure that we are providing full coverage of National Curriculum requirements.
The teaching activities used help assure lively, effective and appropriate learning based on structured pathways. We provide children with an array of enriching opportunities with a strong focus on outdoor learning. Our dedicated Outdoor and Woodland Learning space enables all pupils to experience the physical make-up of the local area. Assessment frameworks demonstrate that teaching has resulted in clear and appropriate outcomes.
Impact
By the end of KS2 our children will know more, understand more and remember more about Geography and the world. They will be motivated and inspired to continue their learning as they progress to KS3. Children will develop a range of life skills, which they can use to develop beyond school life. They will display confidence and enjoyment in Geography. Children will use and apply skills across the curriculum, making meaningful connections in purposeful contexts. Through various fieldwork activities, enquiry questions and themed units of work, children will have the understanding that Geography impacts upon our daily lives.
Geography at St Mary's
We support the work of WWF to protect and conserve endangered species, and address global threats to the planet such as climate change.
Children locate tropical rainforests on a world map. They also learn the names of the different continents and use a map to identify continents and countries which have rainforests in them.
Identifying human and physical features in the environment and mapping our school grounds.
We have a dedicated Outdoor and Woodland space enabling all children to experience outdoor learning.
Children produced art work following their study of Africa.
Children learn through active participation, enquiry and first-hand observation at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre.
Residential visit to Standon Bowers
Geography Websites