Geography
“A high-quality Geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.”
Primary National Curriculum for Geography 2014
GEOGRAPHY CURRICULUM STATEMENT
At Alfriston Primary School, our Geography curriculum is underpinned by a broad range of stimulating topics designed to bring learning to life with the use of key texts, studies of our locality, mapping, school trips, studies of natural phenomena and different regions of the world. Building on the national curriculum, we foster an enquiry-based approach to children’s learning about understanding the physical and human aspects of our world.
OUR CURRICULUM INTENT FOR GEOGRAPHY
Geography is a foundation subject within the national curriculum. The programmes of study for Geography are separated into KS1 and KS2. Our intent is for children in each key stage to foster their locational knowledge, build a greater understanding of place, learn about human and physical Geography and develop geographical and fieldwork skills.
Curriculum aims
- To help children acquire and develop the skills and confidence to advance their geographical understanding.
- To develop an understanding and use of geographical language to communicate their understanding of the world around them.
- To stimulate the children’s interest in and curiosity about their surroundings.
- To nurture a sense of wonder about the world.
- To 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.
- To develop the children’s knowledge, to encourage a sense of responsibility for the environments and people of the world we live in, so they will think about how it can be improved and sustained.
- To develop a sense of place and identity by learning about the United Kingdom and its relationship with other countries.
EYFS (Pearl Class - Reception) Early Years explore geographical themes and content through the ‘Understanding of the World’ strand of the EYFS curriculum. This involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places and the environment
Key Stage 1 (Ruby Class - Year 1 & 2) At Alfriston Primary School, we follow the programmes of study for Key Stage 1 of the national curriculum.
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. They carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom. In doing this, they ask geographical questions about people, places and environments, and use geographical skills and resources, such as maps and photographs.
Key Stage 2 (Sapphire & Emerald Class - Year 3 to 6) At Alfriston Primary School, we follow the programmes of study for Key Stage 2 of the national curriculum.
During Key Stage 2, pupils investigate a variety of people, places and environments in the United Kingdom and abroad, and 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. In doing this, they ask geographical questions, and use geographical skills and resources, such as maps, atlases, aerial photographs and ICT. Children will develop geographical enquiry skills, including asking geographical questions, collecting and recording information and identifying different views. They will acquire the appropriate practical skills associated with Geography, including using suitable vocabulary, fieldwork techniques and maps, plans and atlases. Pupils will use secondary sources of information with accuracy, including aerial photographs, satellite images, etc. As well as making its own distinctive contribution to the school curriculum, Geography contributes to the wider aims of primary education. Teachers will ensure that links between subjects are maximised.