Geography
Geography is thriving at St. Paul’s. We inspire the children by studying places and themes from not just around the world but of Britain and our local area. We value and positively encourage our learners to bring the world into our classrooms; through discussion and observations, using reference books and computers and by bringing our own life experiences; we help to build a stronger sense of where we are in the world and of how people and places relate in the wider world.
We take every opportunity to develop and use geographical skills when doing field trips with Thames Explorers and Isle of Wight, when working on maps and using photographs. We stimulate interest and encourage a strong sense of responsibility and respect for the Earth and its people with a guard against stereotyping.
In geography, we seek and encourage opportunities to link our knowledge and learning to other areas of the curriculum, for example, with history, science, PSHE and English. Furthermore, we find opportunities to extend our geography curriculum through themed days and year group phases.
Curriculum intent for geography
Geography Overview.docx.pdfTo use high quality literature (fiction and non-fiction) in all subjects
To apply English and maths skills throughout the curriculum
For pupils to be resilient, able to persevere and learn from their mistakes
To communicate effectively and confidently
To foster a deep respect for beliefs, cultures, different world views and all that makes us unique
For pupils to be able to problem solve and use critical thinking skills
Pupils who serve, volunteer, perform and compete
For pupils to have a rich culture capital
To foster children who are appreciative
By the end of KS1
To use high quality literature (fiction and non-fiction), books from and about different cultures and countries ie, ‘Lila and the secret of rain’. It is important that pupils also have access to atlases and various maps, travel journals and a variety of geographical non- fiction texts related/unrelated to topics being learnt.
Pupils will be expected to apply English skills throughout their work, producing pieces of writing such as leaflets. Pupil’s vocabulary will be extended using geographical terms and understanding the locational and directional language.
Pupils will be able to apply mathematical skills, using such things as grids and coordinates, compasses and maps to read and interpret information.
Resilience and perseverance will be nurtured when learning new geographical skills such as map reading.
Children will be expected to communicate their ideas and thoughts through discussion and to work collaboratively in groups.
A deep respect of other cultures and world views will be fostered through their study of other countries. Appreciating and celebrating similarities and differences.
Children should have opportunities to visit museums, participate in expert led workshops as well as other field work opportunities to help foster a rich cultural capital.
When learning about different countries and cultures children should be encouraged to reflect on differences and similarities to help them be more appreciative of their own life.
To have an interest in the world around them.
To confidently know the geography of the UK. For example, know the countries of the UK and their capitals.
To recognise some geographical symbols and what they represent. For example weather or map symbols.
By the end of KS2
To use high quality literature (fiction and non-fiction) such as ‘Shackleton’s Journey’ as well as books from and about different cultures and countries. It is important that pupils also have access to atlases, maps, travel journals and a variety of geographical non- fiction texts related/unrelated to topics being learnt.
Consistently high standards of English are expected to be applied to writing and presentation in Geography, taking into consideration spelling, punctuation and grammar. They will also be encouraged to develop their orating skills, through taking part in discussions and debates on such topics as fair trade or environmental issues.
Pupils will be able to continue to apply their mathematical skills, using and interpreting graphs, as well as continuing to demonstrate their understanding of localisation and directional language.
Pupils will be encouraged to develop resilience and perseverance when learning new geographical skills such as using a compass.
Pupils should also be given opportunities to problem solve and use critical thinking skills through events such as orienteering and other outdoor adventures.
Children will be expected to communicate their ideas and thoughts through discussion, and to work collaboratively in groups.
A deep respect of other cultures and world views will be fostered through their study of other countries. Appreciating and celebrating similarities and differences.
For pupils to be able to use tools such as compasses and maps to read and interpret information.
Pupils should be encouraged and given opportunities to volunteer their services taking part in organised groups such as Plogging or fund raising for charities abroad.
Children should have opportunities to visit museums, participate in expert led workshops as well as other fieldwork opportunities (Hook court, The Isle of Wight) to help foster a rich cultural capital.
When learning about different countries and cultures children should be encouraged to reflect on differences and similarities to help them be more appreciative of their own life.
To explain the similarities and differences between where we live and other places in the UK and around the world.
To use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.
To have a growing curiosity about the world and have the geographical enquiry skills to find out more about things that interest them.
To understand the impact of humans and of nature in shaping the world in which they live.
Reception
In Reception, the children met Paddington Bear, who had teamed up with UNICEF to travel to a number of different countries to see how UNICEF is helping the children in those countries. Paddington has shared his adventures with the children by sending postcards and pictures to look at and by telling them who he is meeting and what he is seeing.
Children have also enjoyed a trip to Richmond Park to find signs of Summer and to collect things from Nature to make a Summer Nature crown!
Year 1
In Year 1, children have been learning about their local area through use of aerial photos and maps. They have learnt to recognise symbols on a map and then drawn their own maps of the classroom with labelled keys. They have also taken a trip to Richmond Park to practise their orienteering skills by using a map and compass.
Year 2
Building on skills learnt previously, Year 2 children have been finding out more about different types of maps. They have taken a trip to Richmond Park where they had to draw a sketch and aerial view map of the park.
Year 3
Year 3 learn about rainforests in the summer term. They had great fun learning about the layers of the rainforest and took part in a quiz where they had to act out the layers based on facts read out.
They also created their own dioramas to show these layers and what wildlife live within them.
In this unit of work, the children have learnt a huge amount from where rainforests are located, what animals and people live there and how the rainforests are sadly being destroyed. Year 3 hope to become courageous advocates, informing others of what is happening and how we can all play our part to protect our rainforests.
Year 4
In Year 4, children are learning about mountains all over the world. They have used a range of sources to collect information including maps, non-fiction books and the internet. The children have been creating fact files on animals in the Himalayas and recording how these animals are adapted to their environment. They have also been using ordinance survey maps of Snowdonia to answer questions about this area and improve their understanding of grid references, keys and direction.
Year 5
In Year 5, children have been studying Rivers. This has included creating fact files about world rivers, learning about features of rivers and an exciting trip to the Thames Venturer River Boat Project where they conducted experiments to investigate water quality and properties of rocks and soils linked to the water cycle and also learnt more about the course of the River Thames.
Year 6
In Year 6, children have been studying the continents of North and South America. In this unit they are looking at how latitude has an effect on the geography and climate of a region while also building on their previous research and atlas skills. In this particular lesson, they were conducting research on their local area so that they could compare this to places in North America and were using the internet, atlases, Google Maps and information texts to gather information.