Geography 

Curriculum Leader: Mrs Cowling

Our Aim: To develop Geographers!   

Here at St. Mary's, our principal aim is that children leave us  with a wide range of happy and rich memories in Geography formed through interesting and exciting experiences supported by curriculum vehicles that enhance a child’s awareness of their own abilities and strengths as a learner; thus ensuring that children see learning in Geography as an on-going process not a one-off event. They leave us with a secure Geography knowledge and wanting to find out even more in their high school.

How we plan to achieve our aim:

Locational knowledge

We ensure that children have a secure understanding of where they are in the World and it is essential that children know where they are locally and how their locality links to significant places nearby and nationally. Children understand where places and events take place in the news as well as understanding the features of our planet. This is key to understanding our world.

Place Knowledge

It is vital that children understand what the place they are studying is like, describing the climate and what the land looks like. Fundamentally, children should be able to describe what it would be like to live there.

Human and Physical Geography

Using a range of maps, atlases and globes, children use different sources to discover urban and rural places, the industries in which it thrives, and its transport links. It covers how the land was formed, and how it has changed over the years. Children investigate how rivers, mountains and volcanoes as well as how they are formed. They discover how these physical features shape the world and how we can work towards a more sustainable future. 

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

All of the above is taught using practical fieldwork, where children enjoy the outdoors collecting live data to use within the classroom, as well as using a range of maps, scales, atlases and sources of information. Across the school, Children use different styles of maps including digital maps.

Locational knowledge

We ensure that children have a secure understanding of where they are in the World and it is essential that children know where they are locally and how their locality links to significant places nearby and nationally. Children understand where places and events take place in the news as well as understanding the features of our planet. This is key to understanding our world.

Place Knowledge

It is vital that children understand what the place they are studying is like, describing the climate and what the land looks like. Fundamentally, children should be able to describe what it would be like to live there.

Human and Physical Geography

Using a range of maps, atlases and globes, children use different sources to discover urban and rural places, the industries in which it thrives, and its transport links. It covers how the land was formed, and how it has changed over the years. Children investigate how rivers, mountains and volcanoes as well as how they are formed. They discover how these physical features shape the world and how we can work towards a more sustainable future. 

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

All of the above is taught using practical fieldwork, where children enjoy the outdoors collecting live data to use within the classroom, as well as using a range of maps, scales, atlases and sources of information. Across the school, Children use different styles of maps including digital maps.

Books that my help your child’s geographical learning:

At St. Mary's, we pride ourselves on nurturing as passion for subjects through reading.  Below is a short list of books which could help to develop a love for geography:

EYFS geography reads:

• We’re Going on a Bear Hunt- Michael Rosen
• Who’s Driving by Leo Timers
• My Big World (OKIDO)
• This Is How We Do It- Matt Lamothe
• Mama, Do You Love Me- Barbara M. Joosse

KS1 geography reads:

• Here We Are (Notes for Living on Planet Earth) - Oliver Jeffers.
• A School Like Mine (DK)
• Adventures Around the Globe (Lonely Planet)
• Little Kids First Big Book of the World (National Geographic Kids)
• This Is How We Do It- Matt Lamothe
• What Did The Tree See? – Charlotte Guillain
• Be Green! Mindful Kids Global Citizen- Mandy Archer

LKS2 geography reads:

• Look Inside Our World (Usbourne)
•  The Train to Impossible Places by PG Bell
• Geography a Children’s Encyclopaedia (DK)
• Adventures Around the Globe (Lonely Planet)
• What’s Where in the World (DK)
• Follow that Map! – Scot Ritchie
• If the World Were a Village- David J. Smith, Shelagh Armstrong

UKS2 geography reads:

• Illegal by Eoin Colfer
• SeaBEAN by Sarah Holding
• Geography a Children’s Encyclopaedia (DK)
• Utterly Amazing Earth (DK)
• Journey to the River Sea- Eva Ibbotson
• The Breadwinner- Deborah Ellise

  Cultural Capital
Children will learn about areas of significant geographical interest such as the links between climate, biodiversity and human settlement, the development of cartography and its impact, the work of important geographers both in the past and today, such as Sir David Attenborough.

They will also experience the following during Key Stage 2:

• Meeting and talking to geography specialists including secondary teachers and University professors
• Fieldwork to places of local interest
• Visits to at least one county and city in the UK
• Use computer software to identify places in the world and understand their key physical and human characteristics
• Use GPS systems, OS maps and aerial photographs
• Gain an understanding from business leaders regarding the importance of learning about geography e.g. during zoom meetings, listening to visiting speakers and trips e.g. to Veolia and from economists regarding the key areas in human geography.
  
  Impact – What is the impact of our curriculum on the students?• Children are happy learners within Geography. They experience a wide range of learning challenges within the subject and know appropriate responses to them, such as informed choices regarding current environmental issues e.g. limiting the use of plastics.

• • Through Geography, children deepen their appreciation of their faith and fulfil their God-given talents. As followers of Christ, they understand that they are called to look after and protect the world God has given us.

  • Visits within Geography have enriched the lives of the children and they are able to discuss how the experience impacted their knowledge and understanding.

  • Children of all abilities and backgrounds achieve well in Geography reflected in outstanding progress that reveals a clear learning journey. Children talk enthusiastically about their learning in Geography and are eager to further their learning in the next stages of their education.  The objectives of each Year group can be found at:

  https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/st-marys-catholic-stafford/UploadedDocument/afb89fe3a8fd4b7e940dccd99cf1299a/progression-of-skills-in-geography.pdf AND https://www.stmaryscatholicprimarybrewood.org.uk/years-1-6/

   

  • There is a proven track record of test success that reflects the impact of deep learning.

  • Clear outcomes focus and guide all Geography development plans and drive improvement.

  • Fundamental British Values are evident in Geography and children understand how it can celebrate difference.

  • Through wider reading in Geography, children will: develop a deep and consolidated knowledge and understanding of the curriculum with current real-life examples, an understanding of real-world examples of floods; earthquakes etc. within their lifetime, read materials including horrible geographies; BBC bitesize; National Geographic; BBC news along with a range of library books tailored to children’s reading ages and through this exposure, children will produce work that is influenced by the best of the best.

   

  The high-quality geography education at St Mary’s should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.