Geography
Our Geography Lead is Miss Gilmore.
Intent
At Sunny Bank, our approach to teaching Geography inspires children to develop curiosity and fascination about the world and people around them. We believe that children who feel confident in their geographical knowledge and skills are enthusiastic and motivated by their geography studies to investigate more and learn more. Children with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources, and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes, will develop a greater sense of themselves as part of the world we live in and make connections within different contexts to further reinforce their knowledge.
Implementation
The National Curriculum for Geography aims to ensure that all pupils:
- develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes.
- understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time.
- are competent in the geographical skills needed to:
- collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes.
- interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
- communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.
Geography at Sunny Bank is underpinned by the National Curriculum and is a key driver in our curriculum. Our curriculum design aims to ensure there are planned opportunities to immerse children in memorable events and moments which connect the learning and knowledge together. This is through the development of the three key concepts: communicating geographically; investigating places and investigating Patterns. This allows children to make connections in their learning and apply skills across the curriculum.
By using quality literature, pupils are equipped with a deeper understanding of the world we live in through valuable reading and writing opportunities. Children will delve into a variety of topics that will inspire their curiosity and fascination about the world through studying locations, places and environments. Our curriculum equips pupils with knowledge and understanding of their spatial awareness and variation by developing their sense of place in the world and their heritage and what makes our local area unique and special. Our oracy focus underpins our vocabulary-rich Geography curriculum. Teachers use a range of questioning and provide development of vocabulary which is explicitly taught and modelled by teachers during Geography sessions.
Within the Early Years Foundation Stage, Geography is taught through a variety of focused teaching and hands on exploration of the natural world and key processes. Staff use and model effective and high-quality language to encourage children to talk about what they notice and to ask questions. Children will listen to a broad selection of stories, non-fiction, rhymes, and poems that will foster their understanding of our culturally, socially, technologically, and ecologically diverse world. Geography is taught within the following areas of learning;
- Understanding the world
- Mathematics
- Communication and Language
Impact
As a result of this, children at Sunny Bank will have an extensive base of geographical skills, knowledge and vocabulary - through our broad and balanced curriculum - that will allow them to succeed year on year and for life in the modern world. As children progress, they build on knowledge incrementally, resulting in them knowing more and remembering more within a real-life context. Children will be able to demonstrate transferrable skills including fieldwork to a variety of contexts. They will be inspired to actively engage in learning about the world, we live in and enhance their understanding of the world beyond their locality.