GEOGRAPHY

Geography is taught as an individual subject once every term, with our curriculum created by our subject leader. Through Geography lessons, we provide our pupils with a curriculum that is implemented on a two-year cycle in Key Stage 1, with other year groups teaching as individual years to build on prior knowledge. Geography lessons focus on the objectives set out in the National Curriculum and we ensure that pupils understand the purpose of the learning and the skills they will be using to be geographers during each lesson.

As part of our Geography planning process, teachers work collaboratively to plan the following:

• Knowledge organisers which outline knowledge (including vocabulary) all pupils will need to know during that theme – they are provided to pupils at the beginning of each theme to revise and build upon prior knowledge;
• A sequence of lessons, which carefully plans for progression and depth focusing on the geographical skills suited to the age group;
• Low stakes quizzes using Microsoft Forms which is used to support learners’ ability to retrieve information from the long term memory back into the short term memory to embed knowledge;
• Challenge questions for pupils to apply their learning;
• Trips and visiting experiences that will enhance their learning;
• Appropriate curriculum themed home learning tasks which pupils complete at home.

Vocabulary plays a large role within our geography lessons as we share new words and definitions with our pupils that are continually revisited throughout their journey at school. We use a wide range of resources to ignite independence, excitement and exploration during Geography lessons such as: globes, atlases, Google Earth and different types of maps just to name a few. We have planned our overview to ensure that chosen knowledge is built upon for example, within Years 1 and 2 the pupils will learn about our immediate locality of Chadsmoor and the geography of the local area including how to map the locality. Then in Year 3 they build on this by studying the area of Cannock and how it fits within the United Kingdom. Finally, in Year 5 they compare life in Cannock with countries further afield and how to map using digital resources.   

Pupils learn about their local area and study geographical changes over time. The local area is fully utilised to achieve desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice. Pupils express their opinions on the human and physical features local to us and compare these to features found both nationally and internationally. Cross curricular outcomes in geography are specifically planned for and these are indicated on the whole school Geography Knowledge and Skills Progression planning.