Geography

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Intent

• Teaching and learning will strive to enable the children at Saint Anne’s to become lifelong geographers who have the skills and attitudes to continue to appreciate the world around them.

• Thorough the Geography Curriculum children will learn about the Earth’s key physical and human processes whilst deepening their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and how this affects landscapes and environments.

• Whilst teaching the Geography curriculum, strong links will be made to the Environment and the challenges we face protecting it in this modern age.

• Geography learning will not take place just in the classroom. Outdoor, practical geography activities will focus on children gaining a sound understanding of the key human and physical features of their local environment whilst employing their developing fieldwork skills.

• Teaching will foster children’s natural curiosity about the world, and inspire curiosity and fascination about the world’s people, places, resources and environments.

• Through their learning in Geography, children will be aware of their roles and responsibilities as Global Citizens.

• The individual talents and abilities of pupils will be promoted to ensure that each child fulfils his or her full potential.

Implementation: How do we translate our vision into practice?

• From Early Years teaching will focus on children gaining an understanding of where they live on a local, national and global level and to understand that they are British but also Global Citizens.

• Geography will be taught through investigation and enquiry, with children developing an understanding of how Geography impacts our lives today both locally, nationally and internationally

• Geography across the school is taught through a rich range of units which incorporate both Human and Physical Geography, in addition the development of key geographical skills. Links will be made between outdoor fieldwork skills and tasks in class and the different areas of Geography.

• Each year group will undertake field trips in our local community for example within Streetly, Sutton Park, Barbeacon and Cannock Chase so that they can put their geographical skills into practice whilst becoming more familiar with their local environment.

• Each Geography unit taught incorporates many cross curricular links with Maths, Literacy, History, Art, ICT, French, Spanish and Design Technology. ICT will be used as much as possible in order to enhance Geographical skills for example with the use of google Earth, Google 3d and Digimaps.

• To link with our language learning, we have an International Days to celebrate the diverse cultures across the globe and learn more about what it is like in each place.

• Learning will extend beyond school, with children being given challenging homework projects linked to their chosen Unit of work. Visits within Geography will enrich the lives of the children and they are able to discuss how the experience impacted their knowledge and understanding.

• Children will gain a good understanding of geographical terms and be able to use these both orally and in their written work.

• The learning taking place in each class in Geography will be evident through engaging and interactive classroom displays. A focus on maps being displayed throughout the school, will enable children to develop their map reading skills. 

Impact: What is the impact of our curriculum on the students?

• Children are enthused about their Geography learning and are keen to extend this learning beyond the classroom.

• Children experience a wide-ranging number of learning challenges and develop the skills to be independent and critical thinkers.

• By the end of their primary education, children will be equipped with knowledge about diverse places, people and environments and be competent in the geographical skills needed to analyse, interpret and communicate geographical information.

• Children will understand that they are Global Citizens and have a desire to protect the environment in which they live and take action to do so.

• Children of all abilities and backgrounds achieve well in Geography. Children talk enthusiastically about their learning in History and are eager to further their learning in the next stages of their education.

• There is a proven track record of success in Geography that reflects the impact of deep learning. Children’s progress of learning will be evident in their books but also in Class Floor Books, which will record children’s fieldwork throughout the year.

• Fundamental British Values are evident in Geography and children understand how Geography can celebrate difference.