Geography at Grove Church of England Primary
Revised 2022
LONG TERM PLAN OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
“The study of geography is about more than just memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world and appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.”
Barack Obama
Intent
At Grove, the study of Geography stimulates an interest in and a sense of wonder about places. It helps pupils make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. It explains where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected. It builds on pupils' own experiences to investigate places at all scales, from the personal to the global.
Geographical enquiry encourages questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people's lives, now and in the future. Fieldwork is an essential element of this. Pupils learn to think spatially and use maps, visual images and new technologies, including geographical information systems (GIS), to obtain, present and analyse information. Geography inspires pupils to become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and their responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.
Implementation
At Grove, we teach a topic-based Geography curriculum which is linked to other areas of the curriculum where possible. We use Curriculum Companions to support the planning and teaching of Geography, focussing on the 8 areas: location, physical features human features, diversity, physical processes, human processes, techniques, and vocabulary. Curriculum Companions aligns with the programs of study at Key Stage 1 and 2 to cover the 4 areas of the geography curriculum: Locational Knowledge, Place Knowledge, Human and Physical Geography, Geography Skills and fieldwork. Fieldwork is done through educational visits and excursions into the local area
The topics are part of a sequence that meets the requirements of the national curriculum and to build upon prior learning. Topics are sequenced to ensure children will study places across the seven continents and five oceans of the world.
At the beginning of each topic, children convey what they know already as well as what they would like to find out. This informs the programme of study and ensures that lessons are relevant and take account of children’s different starting points. Consideration is given to how greater depth will be taught, learnt, and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion. Cross curricular outcomes in Geography are specifically planned for, with strong links between Geography and English lessons identified, planned for, and utilised. The local area is fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice.
Enhancements
Each year group has a focus on the geography of the local area at the beginning of the year, using Digimaps to support children’s mapping skills. Where appropriate, children experience the geography of the locality and complete fieldwork. To support children’s geographical understanding, each classroom has a world map displayed. This is supported in the school hall, where a world map links to the school’s Maths challenge.
Links are made to Geography through extra-curricular projects, such as Olympic Games and sporting World Cups, where children can learn about other countries and cultures.
Impact
By the time children leave Grove CE Primary school, children will: