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Geography

INTENT:

At Rushy Meadow Primary we areâ€¯developing young geographers!â€¯ Our aim is that, through the teaching of geography, we ignite a spark of curiosity and fascination about the world and its people in all our children and continue throughout their lives. Through our teaching of an ambitious and exciting curriculum, children will learn about a variety of places, people, resources natural and human environments, and will develop a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. We aim to promote an inclusive curriculum focusing on significant individuals of various ethnic backgrounds and genders and how these individuals have impacted the life we live today. At Rushy we have a coherently planned curriculum, sequenced carefully in a chronological manner with the children’s interests and needs at heart.

IMPLEMENTATION:

Teachers introduce the geography theme at the beginning of the learning and children are asked what their understanding of the new theme is and what they would like to find out about the theme. Classroom are decorated with this theme in mind. Posters, photographs, maps and books are displayed around the classroom which creates curiosity about the new theme.

In order to be a young geographer, they need to be able to interpret a range of geographical information sources, such as maps, aerial photographs, atlases, globes, and also to communicate their geographical knowledge in a variety of ways, such as drawing maps, graphs, tables and writing.

We strive for our geography lesson to have a range of teaching materials to support learning such as wide variety of maps and images. Children use this to be fully immersed in the theme and create an understanding of the world around them. At Rushy we use road maps to plan learning and a progression of skills document to help teachers plan lessons which meet the needs of their class. Using these skills children are empowers to carry out geographical enquiries. Throughout the lesson children are encouraged to use key vocabulary which is displayed on the working walls. We always pose a geography challenge which help learners to dive deeper in their learning. Children use critical thinking and reasoning skills to answer the challenge questions. At the end of our geography lessons, teacher review the learning against the success criteria. We discuss the task as a class and children make the necessary improvements to their learning.

We strive towards empowering learners with the skills to carry out independent lines of enquiry.

At the end of the theme planner, teachers and children reflect on what they have learnt in the geography theme. Teachers also analyse how effective learning is through student voice. Teachers assess gaps in learning that will need to be revisited in future theme planners. Subject leaders conduct learning walks to ensure that teaching meet the needs of all individuals in the class. Book looks ensure that the correct coverage of geography is in place and learning is meeting the standards of the national curriculum. Slide scans ensure that the lesson provides enough challenge and contain great geography learning.

As part of the geography curriculum, we create relevant opportunities for visitors, trips and workshops which enhance the teaching and learning. This can expose them to opportunities for future learning and possible future career choices in the geographical field.

IMPACT:

Through the study of Geography, children have opportunity to develop a range of problem-solving and investigative skills, which are transferrable to other curriculum areas such as Science, Mathematics and English. We hope that the delivery, and study, of an exciting Geography curriculum, will help spark in our children, a love of learning, and of our world, that will last a lifetime. Teachers use a start of theme and end of theme assessment to review learning showing how much knowledge children have gained from the theme. The children are also able to see this and helps with their self-esteem. Rushy Meadow is a no mark school, which means children mark their work independently, evaluating their own work. Feedback and assistance are provided within the lesson and this help with understanding.

Our well-planned Geography curriculum ensures that children are competent in the geographical skills needed to collect, analyse and communicate data, and to interpret a range of geographical sources, including maps, globes and aerial photographs. Children are able to communicate information in a variety of ways including maps, numerical and quantitative skills and a range of literacy skills. Through the breadth and depth that our Geography curriculum offers, our children are provided with a broad knowledge of the world they live in, and understand, as responsible citizens, how they need to care and preserve the planet for future generations.

We follow the Primary National Curriculum (2014) programmes of study for Geography (see below).

Click on the documents below to see the learning journey our pupils take in their geography curriculum.