Scroll down to find the Curriculum Maps for Geography

Intent (Why we learn…)

St Saviour’s Catholic Primary and Nursery School understands that geography is essentially about understanding the world we live in. It helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. Children at St Saviour’s, are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place in it.

 

• To be enthusiastic, inquisitive, lifelong learners:  we ensure that children are able to investigate and make enquiries within geography to develop an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills. We aim to inspire children to be curious and have a fascination about the diverse world and people within it.
• To be strong communicators: we encourage children to confidently communicate their understanding about geographical resources; natural and human environments and to have a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes and the ability to talk about where places are and what they are like using geographical vocabulary.
• To be well-rounded, independent and resilient learners with aspirations: we believe that having secure geographical knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes help to build independent and resilient learners with aspirations for the future.
• To develop and use their God given talents by being creative: we provide opportunities for children to use their God given talents within geography to think creatively, ask questions, and use skills transferable to other curriculum areas used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.  
• To be responsible citizens who are eager to make a positive contribution to their community and wider society: we aim to create children who are eager to ask and answer geographical questions about the world in which they live, to understand that their actions impact our world. We want our children to develop an awareness of our duty to care for the world that God has created for us.

Children are provided with geographical texts within classroom reading corners, to promote a love of reading, offer a variety of genres and to deepen their understanding of this subject. Classes will also explore high quality and engaging texts with geographical concepts within guided reading and writing sessions.

Implementation (How we teach...)

At St Saviour’s, we use the National Curriculum to ensure every teacher teaches the knowledge and understanding appropriate to the relevant key stage within geography. We believe in high expectations for all children through ‘Quality First’ teaching.

Teachers plan the curriculum for their year group using objectives that come from the National Curriculum. In Y1-Y6, we explore a topic each term. At the teacher’s discretion, they select one half of the term to deliver consecutive geography lessons on a weekly basis.

In EYFS, ‘Understand the World’ provides the foundations for geography as the children learn to explore features of our school. They also investigate places as they begin to compare and contrast different environments.

In key stage 1 and key stage 2 we use ‘PlanBee’ to assist with resourcing and lesson ideas. Our curriculum is well mapped out to ensure it is not only engaging and relevant, but also cohesive so knowledge is built upon year by year. Children discover more about places around the world, physical processes and explicit geographical skills. Lessons allow the practical development of skills such as collecting and analysing data, reading maps, atlases, globes, aerial pictures and digital maps. Our use of knowledge organisers for each topic help to ensure concepts are embedding into children’s long-term memory’s.

It is important that children develop the skills of a geographer by being fully immersed in all areas of this subject. The use of ongoing assessment for learning and feedback within lessons enables teachers to address misconceptions and ensure progression within lessons and across a unit of work. This then informs planning for future lessons and identifies where further individual or group support is needed. We use the ‘Sonar’ software package to track pupil progress and attainment in geography alongside a summative topic test at the end of each learning sequence.

The geography curriculum at St Saviour’s provides children with lifelong knowledge about the world in which they live and opportunities from which they can learn and develop a range of skills.

Impact (As a result…)

The impact of our geography curriculum can be seen in the pupil’s books; as well as in pupil data and through pupil voice. Outcomes for all groups of pupils within the school are improving. Everything we do has the child at the centre, and strong relationships are built between pupils and staff which creates a positive atmosphere for learning.

Pupils’ progress in geography is measured through assessments each term and learning tasks are planned to address misconceptions and gaps in learning.

By the time pupils leave St Saviour’s they will have an excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like; human and physical features of places; be able to use geographical vocabulary to confidently communicate and be able to demonstrate skills in fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques.

They leave being pupils who have a passion for and commitment to the subject and a real sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people within it. They will be able to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in good knowledge and understanding of issues in society and the environment.