At St John’s CE Primary School our Geography curriculum supports children to gain a broad and deep understanding of the world and the places and spaces within it. Geography is an investigative subject which inspires children to be curious about the world and their place within it. Our aim is for children to understand how places and spaces are influenced and changed by human activity.
As pupil’s progress through the school their growing knowledge about the world helps them to see how physical landscapes and features are formed. They discover how human environments are created and how physical and human processes interact with each other to create the world we live in. Children are encouraged to notice how human activity can damage the physical environment and consider what actions and limitations are required to support a healthy future for our planet.
Geographical skills are taught progressively to allow pupils to investigate physical and human environments. Mapping skills are developed using paper based and digital maps which help to gain an understanding of the world at different scales. Field work opportunities, both locally and further afield, are utilised to encourage a wide range of skills to be used with purpose. These help children to answer enquiries and draw conclusions from a range of data, information, images and experiences.
In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in geography, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Starting with the early Years Foundation Stage who lay the foundations for all children to have an ‘Understanding of the World; people, culture and communities, the natural world and how the world changes from past to present’.
This is followed by Key Stage One exploring and investigating the local area of Tunbridge Wells, the SE of England and the United Kingdom and contrasting it with a non- European country.
In Key Stage Two we build on from these early skills, learn about wider ranging environments both locally, nationally and from around the world.
By the end of Year Six we have confident and well-rounded geographers who can use the skills they have learnt to read maps, investigate different places, locations and physical processes. Children who can present arguments and conclusions found in human geography, and who are aware and have opinions on in the moment, real life issues e.g. climate change. Year Six children will leave St John’s as responsible citizens with a set of core values, an appreciation of local, international and global issues and a passion to be active in protecting the world in which they live.
Geography Curriculum Map
|
Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
Reception |
Class, School and Local Environment Exploring the woods and seasonal change |
Comparing life in different countries Exploring the woods and seasonal change |
3D Junk Modelling Mapping linked to children’s interests e.g. imaginary worlds |
Year 1 |
Seasonal changes and exploring the woods Looking at maps of T. Wells & Hastings Local Oceans |
Continents and Seas |
Local study Tunbridge Wells Drawing maps |
Year 2 |
Naming continents and oceans School and Local Environment Pollution / Conservation |
Contrasting Tunbridge Wells and India Physical versus human features |
History focus |
Year 3 |
Volcanoes, Earthquakes UK – Contrasting cities and rural areas |
History Focus |
River Nile Equator and the Tropics |
Year 4 |
Map work – location of Roman roads and Hadrian’s Wall. Field work - Lullingstone Roman Villa |
Locate main countries of Europe and capital cities Current affairs link to trade and BREXIT |
Compare human and physical geography of Greece and UK. Water cycle, Four-figure grid references Compass points |
Year 5 |
Locate and name main counties and cities in England Comparing past and present land use in the UK |
Comparing countries of North and South America with UK
Biomes |
Human Geography Looking at trade links and Fair Trade |
Year 6 |
Coasts and Islands |
History Focus |
Isle of Wight Humanities Enrichment |