Geography

Curriculum Intent

We want to develop pupils’ love and fascination for the people, places and processes that make up our diverse community and environment. Our aim is for pupils to gain a rich knowledge and understanding of the global world, using a range of practical skills to help them explore the human and physical features around them.

Curriculum Intent

Early Years Foundation Stage

In EYFS, pupils learn about their immediate environment and local area and talk about the similarities and differences which they can see in the world around them.  Pupils are encouraged to explore the wider world through discussing their own experiences of holidays and visits and through the books they read both inside and outside school.

Key Stage 1

In KS1, pupils use simple fieldwork and observation skills to learn about key human and physical geographical features of Our School and the Local Area. Through map skills, pupils develop their use of directional language and knowledge of points of the compass. Pupils widen their geographical knowledge by learning about countries in the United Kingdom and the Seas and Coasts which surround them. Pupils explore the contrasts between rural and urban settings by becoming Global Explorers, investigating the wider global world and its continents and features. 

Key Stage 2

In KS2, pupils go on a journey around the world, learning about the countries, climate, major cities and significant human and geographical features of Europe, North America and South America. Pupils study both the human and physical geography of these continents and compare and contrast different regions of the globe. Aspects of physical geography are further explored in units on Volcanoes and Earthquakes, Rivers, Mountains, Biomes and Climate and trade and economic links are investigated in a study of the Journey of Food . 

Building on the skills they have acquired in KS1, pupils use atlases, globes and digital technologies to enhance their understanding of the world around them. Local visits and the Year 6 residential trip provide opportunities for pupils to develop fieldwork skills of observation, recording and measuring the world around them.

Progression in Geography

[Geography Curriculum Overview]

Early Years Foundation Stage

People, Culture and Communities

• Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps
• Know some similarities and differences between different religious and cultural communities in this country, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class
• Explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries, drawing on knowledge from stories, non-fiction texts and – when appropriate – maps

The Natural World

• Explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants
• Know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class
• Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter.

Year 1

Locational Knowledge

• Name, locate and identify the four countries of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas
• Name the four capital cities of the United Kingdom
• Name and locate the world's continents and oceans

Place Knowledge

• Recall facts about the four countries of the United Kingdom e.g. patron saint, national flower, official language

Human and Physical Processes

• Understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom 

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

• Use simple fieldwork and map skills to study the geography of the school and our immediate local area
• Use simple compass directions and locational and directional language to describe the location of features and routes on a map
• Use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks

Year 2

Locational Knowledge

• Locate hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and Poles
• Identify the northern and southern hemispheres
• Locate the country of Brazil as being in the continent of South America; locate London in the United Kingdom as being in the continent of Europe

Place Knowledge

• Begin to have an understanding of the world beyond their own immediate environment, including hot and cold locations
• Understand geographical similarities and differences between London and Rio de Janeiro

Human and Physical Processes

• Identify seasonal and daily weather patterns in the UK 
• Identify typical climates for places around the world un relation to the Equator and Poles
• Identify types of human and physical features typically found along British coasts

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

• Use simple fieldwork and map skills to study the geography of the school and our immediate local area and West Wittering
• Use world map, globes, atlases and technology to locate the places studied

Year 3

Locational Knowledge

• Recap the names of the four countries of the United Kingdom and their capital cities; identify some other large cities in the United Kingdom
• Recap the names and locations of the world's continents and oceans and countries studied in Key Stage 1

Place Knowledge

• Begin to understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of places around the world
• Understand why certain foods are grown in particular countries linked to their geographical location and climate

Human and Physical Processes

• Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including rivers and the water cycle
• Understand why food is traded and distributed around the world

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

• Use simple fieldwork and observational skills to study a local river
• Use world map, globes, atlases and technology to locate significant rivers and mountain ranges around the world, and the origins of certain foods
• Use symbols and keys

Year 4

Locational Knowledge

• Name and locate the main countries and cities of Europe

Place Knowledge

• Recall facts about the main countries  of Europe, including identifying flags, key landmarks and capital cities
• Identify geographical similarities and differences between the places studied

Human and Physical Processes

• Name and locate key European rivers and mountain ranges
• Describe and understand how volcanoes are formed and why earthquakes occur
• Describe how coastlines are formed through erosion and deposition

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

• Use world map, globes, atlases and technology to locate the places studied
• Use symbols and keys

Year 5

Locational Knowledge

• Name and locate countries in North and South America

Place Knowledge

• Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of the UK and another country (the Americas)
• Identify types of settlement in Britain throughout history and today

Human and Physical Processes

• Compare and contrast regions with temperate, polar, rainforest and desert climates – land use, settlements, populations

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

• Use world map, globes, atlases and technology to locate the places studied
• Use fieldwork skills to study an aspect of the local area
• Use the eight points of a compass, four- and six-figure grid references, symbols and keys (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world

Year 6

Locational Knowledge

• Name and locate countries across the world using known locations
• Identify the position and significance of latitude, longitude, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, the Prime/Greenwich Meridian and time zones 

Place Knowledge

• Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of a region within South America (the Amazon Rainforest)

Human and Physical Processes

• Describe and understand biomes and their locations
• Understand the causes and consequences of human activity on the environment (local and global)
• Understand how climate impacts where people live

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

• Use world map, globes, atlases and technology to locate the places studied
• Use a variety of fieldwork resources (including digital tech)
• Use the eight points of a compass, four- and six-figure grid references, symbols and keys (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world