Geography

Curriculum Overview

Intent

“The study of geography is about more than just memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.” Barak Obama

At Banstead Infant School our Geography curriculum is designed to develop children’s curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. Our children will become motivated to find out about differences and similarities between places, people and environments. Children at BIS are inspired to investigate places, both in Britain and the wider world to help them develop knowledge and understanding of the Earth’s physical and human features. The development of vocabulary is paramount at Banstead and through teaching and learning opportunities, meaning is given to a wide range of geographical vocabulary. We are committed to providing children with opportunities to investigate and make enquiries about their local area of Banstead so they can develop of real sense of who they are, their heritage and what makes our local area unique and special. We also develop the children’s ability to apply geographical skills to enable them to confidently ask questions, communicate their findings and share their geographical understanding with a range of audiences.

The National Curriculum for Geography aims to ensure that all pupils:

Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places. 

Understand the key physical and human geographical features of the world.

Are competent in key geographical skills

Pupils should develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They should 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 should be taught to:

Locational knowledge

• name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans
• name, locate and identify characteristics of the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas

Place knowledge

• understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of a small area of the United Kingdom, and of a small area in a contrasting non-European country

Human and physical geography

• identify seasonal and daily weather patterns in the United Kingdom and the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles
• use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to:

 key physical features, including: beach, cliff, coast, forest, hill, mountain, sea, ocean, river, soil, valley, vegetation, season and weather

 key human features, including: city, town, village, factory, farm, house, office, port, harbour and shop

Geographical skills and fieldwork

• use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the United Kingdom and its countries, as well as the countries, continents and oceans studied at this key stage
• use simple compass directions (North, South, East and West) and locational and directional language [for example, near and far; left and right], to describe the location of features and routes on a map
• use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features; devise a simple map; and use and construct basic symbols in a key
• use simple fieldwork and observational skills to study the geography of their school and its grounds and the key human and physical features of its surrounding environment.

Implementation

Teachers plan collaboratively using the National Curriculum and our geography progression map when creating their medium term plans. Our curriculum is planned using the key skills and knowledge and we deliver these through our exciting cross curricular topics. Geography is taught half-termly, however termly topics lend themselves to either science, history or geography therefore it may be possible to have one term where there is more geography and less history and science and vice versa.

At Banstead Infant School, geography is taught through a range of practical activities and enquiry-led learning, often using the school grounds and local area. This starts in the early years with their daily outside learning opportunities and is further enhanced by our sessions in Forest School. In Reception, the children visit the local recycling sites. In Year 1 the children use the school grounds and in Year 2 they build on this by visiting the Banstead local area and using Google maps.  

In early years, geography is taught through stories and discussion comparing the UK and other countries. They learn about contrasting environments and look at simple maps.

In Key Stage One, geography is taught through topics when appropriate and links are made across subjects such as computing, science and English. In Year 2 the topic of Africa involves the comparison of climate, landscapes, lives, homes and looking at maps. The children revisit skills and knowledge in order to embed understanding, and progression is observed during lessons, over the term and from Year 1 to Year 2.  Globes, atlases and maps are readily available and are used regularly to support learning.

Impact

We will be able to see that the children know more and remember more in geography, through evidence in their topic folders and pupil voice. We will also see that they are able to recall prior learning and apply it. Children will start their next year of learning with the necessary skills and knowledge to build upon.

The impact of our geography curriculum is that children at Banstead Infant School are able to talk confidently with empathy about the world in which they live, making links to Banstead and the wider world using the correct geographical vocabulary to describe the similarities and differences in physical and human features.

The children show curiosity about our world and the people who live in it and are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary for the next step in their learning.

If you were to walk into a geography lesson at Banstead Infant School you would see:

• Geography learning often taking place outside in order to utilise the benefits of fieldwork in this subject.
• Meaningful opportunities for discussion where by children work collaboratively to make sense of the world around them.
• A multi-modal approach to learning. Children will be taking part in practical activities, written activities, technological activities and many more.