Geography
The subject lead for Geography is Mrs Towell
What is Geography?
Geography makes sense of the outside world. The wonder of the world and the forces of nature, the beautiful landscapes and towering townscapes can be explored, explained and expressed through Geography. Geography is a lively subject because it is about seeing, doing, enquiring and experiencing. It is about exploring and investigating and it is about now. Essentially pupils explore places by examining the human, physical and environmental aspect of places.
Geography Intent
At St George’s we believe that Geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. Pupils are encouraged to understand their place in the world, developing a greater understanding and knowledge of the world they live in. This forms a key driver in the planning and teaching of our Geography curriculum. The intent of our Geography curriculum is to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas. Geography is an investigative subject which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills. Our aim is to inspire children’s curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We aim to promote the pupils’ interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. This gives our pupils’ the vital background knowledge required to be informed and thoughtful members of our community.
Geography Implementation
Geography is taught in blocks throughout the year so that children can achieve depth in their learning by accessing a learning challenge approach. Each topic begins with a question and every lesson a learning challenge feeds into the bigger question. Each unit is linked clearly to skills and vocabulary to ensure progress across topics throughout each year and across the school. Our curriculum is designed so that in EYFS children’s geography learning is based on the local area around them. As they move up through Key Stage One children focus on the United Kingdom making comparisons to an area outside of Europe. Moving into Key Stage Two, our curriculum allows children to have a more in-depth study of the wider world and the continents that make up our world. At the beginning of each topic, children can convey what they already know as well as what they would like to find out. The 2014 national curriculum is used to inform planning as well as Oddizzi, an online Geography teaching platform. Teachers take into consideration the questions pupils’ have asked at the start of a unit. The use of Oddizzi Outcomes of work are regularly monitored to ensure that they reflect a secure understanding of the key identified skills and knowledge.
Geography at St George's 2022-23
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Robin |
Who am I? How are celebrations different? |
Can you switch it on? Who is Julia Donaldson |
Why do Ladybirds have spots? Why do you like to be beside the seaside? |
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Swan |
Where do the wheels on the bus go? |
Where would you rather live: England or Africa? |
Why do we love to be beside the seaside? |
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Swift |
What makes the Earth angry? |
Which climate would you choose? |
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Wren |
What would you find if you went to Rome for a holiday? |
Where would you choose to build a city? |
Why is Manchester such a cool place to live? |
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Osprey |
Why should the rainforest be important to us all? |
What’s so special about the Americas? |
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Kestrel |
Will you ever see the water you drink again? |
I’m a Year 6 pupil; can you get me out of here? |
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During Key Stage 1
Pupils will develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They will understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness.
Pupils will develop skills in the following four areas:
- Locational knowledge
- Place knowledge
- Human and physical geography
- Geographical skills and fieldwork
Details of how each area is broken down can be found in the overview and progression of skills of the Geography Curriculum at the bottom of this page.
Within Key Stage One, we currently have a mixed age Year 1/2 class. Therefore the Geography curriculum in this key stage runs on a two-year cycle to ensure all children are given the opportunity to meet the key stage one objectives.
During Key Stage 2
Pupils will extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom and Europe, North and South America. This will include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. They will develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.
Teaching in Key Stage 2 will further develop skills in the same four areas as Key Stage 1:
- Locational knowledge
- Place knowledge
- Human and physical geography
- Geographical skills and fieldwork
Details of how each area is further developed can be found in the overview and progression of skills of the Geography Curriculum at the bottom of this page.
Click here to see the knowledge and skills progression of the Geography Curriculum
Click here to see the Geography curriculum content for 2024 - 25
Click here to read the Geography Programmes of Study: Key Stage 1 and 2 National Curriculum in England