Gotherington Primary School

Curriculum Aims

Intent

Our geography curriculum aims to develop a broad and deep understanding of the four disciplinary areas of geography identified in the curriculum: Human and Physical Geography, Locational knowledge, Place knowledge and Geographical Fieldwork skills. It will develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant terrestrial and marine places, including their defining human and physical characteristics and how they bring about variation and change overtime.

We intend to develop the children’s curiosity and fascination of the world, it’s people, places, and the impact of time, that will enable them to contextualise their own lives and the geography that they live within. The disciplinary concepts are weaved throughout the curriculum, allowing children to develop their understanding of Geographical processes and ideas.

We offer an enquiry-based curriculum that allows children to know more and understand more about the diverse geography across the world and how this compares to their locality, way of living and community. Children will have a strong locational knowledge and sense of place.  We provide a curriculum that offers pupils a sequenced, accumulative schema of knowledge, that is cohesive with the broader curriculum.

We intend for children to be competent in the geographical skills of, collecting, analysing and communication of data through a wide range of enquiry-based fieldwork experiences and confident in using varied geographical resources such as maps, globes, digital content. Pupils will communicate geographical information in various ways, including developing maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

Implementation

In KS1, children begin to use and create simple maps. They will recognise different physical and human features in our local and wider area. Children will use globes, digital resources to explore the continents and oceans of the world. Children will begin to compare where they live to places outside of Europe and ask and answer geographical enquiry questions. Children will begin to conduct enquiry led fieldwork within their local area, asking and answering geographical questions.

In KS2, map skills are developed further using digital and ordinance maps. Children will conduct local and off-site fieldwork, developing their geographical skills in answering enquiry led questions. Geographical Knowledge is taught through the themes of learning and concepts and skills are sequenced throughout the curriculum to support help children build on prior knowledge alongside introducing new skills and challenge. All children expand on their skills in local knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, geographical skills and fieldwork. Across both key stages, children have a range of opportunities to experience geography through fieldwork and practical engaging tasks beyond the classroom.

Impact

The geography curriculum is inclusive for all children as it allows children to question, investigate and know more about the human and physical aspects of the world. They will be equipped to question and explore geographical enquiries. It will provide a memorable and practical application of the geographical skills and knowledge allowing children to enter secondary education with a strong understanding of their local environment and the similarities and differences across the globe. They will know and use geographical vocabulary accurately and understand the different strands of geography, with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.

• Gotherington Geography Progression Map
• Geography Learning Journey
• Geography Key Concepts