Geography
Intent
The intent of the geography curriculum is to inspire children’s curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. Through Geography, children will develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place in it. Our geography curriculum enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. We seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Starting from developing a deep understanding of their own local environment to the diverse surroundings of the wider world, people, resources, natural and human environments, we aim to enable children to fully appreciate the earth’s key physical and human processes.
We are committed to providing children with opportunities to investigate and make enquiries about their own local area of Lockwood and Huddersfield so that they develop a real sense of who they are, their heritage and what makes our local area unique and special. Children will also develop their ability to apply geographical skills to enable them to confidently communicate their findings and geographical understanding to a range of audiences.
We will deliver a curriculum that:
- provides children with an excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like, both in Britain and the wider world
- enables a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which places are interdependent and interconnected
- provides fluency in complex, geographical enquiry and the ability to apply questioning skills, as well as effective presentation techniques, through extensive geographical knowledge and vocabulary
- encourages exploration of their own environment and challenges pupils to make connections between their local surroundings and that of contrasting settlements
- provides children with an ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current issues in society and the environment
- a genuine interest in the subject and a real sense of curiosity about the world and the people who live here
Implementation
In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in geography, we have implemented a curriculum that is cumulative and progressive throughout the whole school. Geography is taught as part of a half-termly unit of work, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum and supplemented by the CUSP curriculum. Lessons build on prior learning, and this is revisited at the start of each lesson to ensure children have a firm grasp of previous learning before proceeding onto the next stage; this is further supported through the use of quizzes. Knowledge organisers and knowledge notes are used to aid learning and break learning down into smaller manageable chunks. Key vocabulary for each unit is identified on planning and taught explicitly.
At the end of each unit, children’s learning is assessed against the objectives and skills identified on the planning. A bronze, silver or gold sticker is added which demonstrates their attainment for that unit.
Throughout the year, children have many first-hand experiences to develop their geography understanding and skills further. The following activities are examples of these:
- Nursery and Reception children discuss daily weather.
- Reception go on a short train journey and draw a map. They also follow treasure maps.
- Year 1 observe seasonal change in the school grounds.
- Year 2 investigate human and physical features in Lockwood.
- Year 3 visit Castle Hill, a local landmark, to investigate human and physical features of the surrounding area
- Year 4 visit Langsett Reservoir to study the water cycle and investigate streams rivers and reservoirs.
- Year 5 visit local parks to use the orienteering courses which enables them to apply their map and compass reading skills.
Impact
By the time children leave Mount Pleasant Primary School they will be ready for the next stage of their education through:
- an excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like.
- a strong understanding of the ways in which places are interdependent and interconnected and how much human and physical environments are interrelated.
- an extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary.
- being fluent in complex, geographical enquiry and the ability to apply questioning skills and use effective analytical and presentational techniques.
- highly developed and frequently utilised fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques.
- 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.
- the ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment.
Pupil Voice
Children at Mount Pleasant enjoy learning about Geography:
“I liked learning about the seaside.” Reception.
“I learnt where animals live.” Year 1.
“I like Geography because it teaches me about the world and the place I live.” Year 2
“It is interesting to see other landscapes and learn about other cultures.” Year 6