Intent

Introduction—Vision and Aims

At Ridgeway Primary School we are committed to providing all children with learning opportunities to engage in Geography . Geography is an essential part of the curriculum, it provides a means of exploring, appreciating and understanding the world in which we live and how it has evolved. Geography explores the relationship between the Earth and its people through the study of place, space and environment.

At Ridgeway, it is our aim for all pupils to:

• Stimulate pupils’ enthusiasm for, and curiosity about their surroundings and the wider world.
• Develop pupils’ competence in specific geographical skills (such as use of maps, secondary sources, ICT, aerial photographs, data logging equipment and considering evidence from a range of sources).
• Foster a sense of responsibility and respect for our school grounds, earth, its people and its resources.
• Encouraging pupils to ask questions and propose solutions.
• To develop respect for the diverse ways in which people live, and an appreciation of our multi-cultural society.
• To be aware of problems in their immediate environment and know how they have to play a part in sustaining it.
• Increase their knowledge and understanding of the changing world.
• To have an appreciation of other people’s views and values.

Curriculum Drivers in Geography

We give children opportunities to be imaginative, to use experiences and observations to make connections in their learning and appreciate that learning can be accomplished in different forms. To do this, we have established some key ‘curriculum drivers’ which outline our aspirations for our children by the time they leave us (Expressive Communicators, Healthy Champions, Life Long learners, World Citizens and Open to possibilities). Our ‘curriculum drivers’ are designed to enable our pupils to ‘Reach for the Stars’ through their learning. We aim for our children to grow both academically and socially and our curriculum has been created to achieve these aspirations for all.

ExpresSive Communicators

Our Geography curriculum encourages pupils to talk in all areas of learning; communicating their ideas in a range of different and imaginative ways, so they are able to communicate effectively with confidence and enthusiasm.  This could be in the form of a presentation either individually or as part of a group, through newspaper articles or even using computing software to present ideas.

Life-Long LeArners

Geography lessons at Ridgeway aim to foster enthusiasm and maintain pupils’ curiosity in the world around them. The learning of Geography is done in a variety of ways: outdoor learning, exploratory and practical activities, investigations, fieldwork, trips and visitors. The varied and practical experiences we provide our pupils with promote a love of learning and inspire inquisitive minds.

Year 1 creating physical features for the journey to the South Pole.

WoRld Citizens

Our curriculum enables our children to develop an understanding about their local community where they live and how we can impact on

our local area, including recycling, pollution and land use. We can also

teach children about our wider world and learn about our differences

Open to PoSsibilities

Children cannot aspire to things that they have never encountered. Our Geography curriculum aims to provide first hand opportunities such as visits to the beach and rivers to bring their learning to life. We also work with Highly Sprung to use drama to enhance our learning. All children  also take part in field work within our local area. This allows them to practise skills such as map work whilst thinking about things that we like about our local area.

Year 5 working in teams to make a volcano.

Implementation

Curriculum Progression

Activities to ensure National Curriculum coverage and a progression of skills have been planned by the coordinator and teachers representing each year group. Each year, two topics are taught where all of the National Curriculum objectives are covered, with the exception of Year 6. A skills progression document has recently been developed which outlines the key objectives that each year group needs to cover. Foundation subject plans are produced for all year groups, except for the early years. During both Key Stages, Geography is taught in a lively, practical way that has relevance to the children’s experiences. Topics have been decided based on the objectives suggested in the 2014 National Curriculum. Lessons use a range of imaginative activities such as story, drama, art and ICT.

Programmes of Study

Geography is a National Curriculum foundation subject with designated programmes of study.

The programmes of study for both Key Stage 1 and 2 are based on-

• Locational knowledge
• Place knowledge
• Human and physical geography
• Geographical skills and fieldwork

Teaching should ensure that geographical enquiry skills are used when developing knowledge and understanding of places, patterns and processes, and environmental change and sustainable development.

Please click here to read the Geography progression document

Curriculum Progression

EYFS

Geography is taught in EYFS as an integral part of the topic work covered during the year. We relate the geographical aspects of the children’s work to the objectives set out in the Early Years curriculum, which underpin the planning for children aged three to five. Geography makes a significant contribution to the ELG objectives of developing a child’s understanding of the world through activities such as finding out about different places and habitats and investigating our locality. Children being to use vocabulary to describe similarities and differences and features of their local environment.

Key Stage one:

During Key Stage 1, pupils investigate their local area and a contrasting area in the United Kingdom or abroad, finding out about the environment in both areas and the people who live there. They also begin to learn about the wider world and study the seven continents and capital cities of the UK. They carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom for their local area. In doing this, they ask geographical questions about people, places and environments, and use geographical skills and resources, such as maps and photographs. Geography specific vocabulary is introduced such as human and physical features, continents, oceans and compass points.

Key Stage two:

During Key Stage 2, pupils investigate a variety of people, places and environments in the United Kingdom and abroad, which builds on their knowledge from Key Stage One. They continue to look at the UK and its capitals as well as the world’s continents, oceans and seas. They also start to make links between different places in the world. They find out how people affect the environment and how they are affected by it.

Pupils carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom, improving on their enquiry skills from KS1. They continue to ask geographical questions, and use geographical skills and resources, such as maps, atlases but also use more detailed aerial photographs and ICT to present information. They will continue to acquire the appropriate practical skills associated with Geography, including using suitable vocabulary, fieldwork techniques and maps, plans and atlases. This builds on their KS1 knowledge as they broaden their field of study by visiting rivers and the local seaside.

Children will also build on their geography specific vocabulary, looking deeper into trade links, land use but to also experience terms such as evaluate, justify and reason, to explain their thinking.  As well as making its own distinctive contribution to the school curriculum, geography contributes to the wider aims of primary education, including Fair Trade, Eco weeks, recycling and waste management.

Year 5 labelling a picture of a volcano.

Year 1 comparing pictures of Burntwood to a village in Kenya.

Reception had a great time visiting Bosworth Water Park.

Enrichment

At Ridgeway we value the importance of providing a wide range of enrichment activities to  foster a  love of Geography and enhance the high-quality learning that happens day to day in our classrooms.  During a child’s time at Ridgeway they will develop their knowledge of Geography through investigation, research and enquiry. We ensure that  where possible children receive first hand experiences through trips and fieldwork t enable them to learn more about the world around them.

Our enrichment opportunities include:

• Planning Educational trips to places such as the seaside and rivers. This  provides opportunities for children to have real experiences with physical features that they may have never experienced before. It also brings their learning to life making it more memorable and meaningful.
• All children will take part in local area fieldwork during their time at Ridgeway. This enables children to develop  practical skills such as map work and also allows them to engage in enquiry about their local area.
• Working with the physical theatre group Highly Sprung for pupils to  engage in bespoke workshops .
• Children take part enrichment weeks such as Fairtrade Week every other year, where they learn that fair pay and conditions for work are essential for wellbeing. Parents are invited to see our work completed during this week.

Year 3 playing in the sand.

Year 3 had a wonderful day at Llandudno.