Geography

Intent

‘The study of geography is more than just memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world.’

- Barack Obama

At Queen Eleanor’s C of E Junior school, pupils are encouraged to see themselves as explorers of planet Earth. Through skills based lessons and projects, we aim to develop children’s curiosity by investigating our immediate habitat and comparing it to environments around the world.

Our mission is to instil a fascination for diversity and connections. The questioning and research of physical geography takes our pupils on a journey to discovering the history of our world and its effect on our species, cultures and behaviours.

Using observation, mapping, ICT, history, fieldwork and trips, we provide opportunities for children to understand the past, appreciate the present and prepare for the future.

Implementation

Using a termly topic based approach, in which geography knowledge, vocabulary and skills are linked to the topic, we implement national curriculum objectives and skills, provide opportunities for research and investigation, plan field trips and outdoor learning to provide all pupils with a foundation as geographers.

The study of geography includes:

Locational knowledge 

• Mapping environmental regions

• Recognising human and physical characteristics of countries and cities

• Locating key topographical features e.g. rivers and mountains.

• Understand how regions have changed over time.

• Identify positions of longitude and latitude, the equator, hemispheres and tropics.

Place knowledge

Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of comparable regions in the UK and the wider world.

Human and physical geography

Describe and understand physical geography including climate zones, biomes, vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes and the water cycles.

Describe and understand human geography including types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links and the distribution of natural resources, such as energy, food, minerals and water.

Geography skills and fieldwork

Use maps, atlases, globes and digital computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.

Use the eight compass points, four and six figure grid references, symbols and keys (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps to build knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world.)

Use field work to observe, measure, record and present the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods, including sketch maps, plans and graphs, and digital technologies.

Geography Curriculum Overview

Impact

Geography is essential to our understanding of ourselves and our environment. It is vital that we have an ability to investigate our surroundings, compare and contrast regions, consider change and evolution over time, make predictions about the future and recognise essential relationships in the natural world.

A high quality geography education provides a curiosity and a responsibility towards the local environment and the wider world that will last a lifetime, ensuring a sense of global citizenship and a feeling of belonging and community.

During the children’s time at Queen Eleanor’s, their geographical skills, vocabulary and knowledge are built upon and linked across year groups using whole school assessment charts and knowledge organisers.

Attached below is the skills of progression in Geography.
Geography skills of progression