Coteford Infant School

Intent

The 2014 National Curriculum for Geography aims to ensure that all children:

• 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

At Coteford we believe that lessons need to be skill- based. Geography helps to provoke curiosity about natural and human aspects of the world. Our Geography curriculum will allow children to ask questions as well as provide answers about knowledge and understanding of the world. Through the Geography curriculum children will develop skills and knowledge that can be transferred to other areas of the curriculum. These skills will also be used to promote children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The curriculum is designed to inspire children’s understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments as well as understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human features. The skills that children are taught are progressive throughout their time at Coteford and also to their future education.

Implementation

Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of Geography involves the following:

• Geography will be planned for and taught in 3 blocks throughout the year, so that children can achieve depth in their learning.
• Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and are provided with opportunities to use their geographical skills to research the answers.
• Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each blocked topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school.
• At the beginning of each topic, children are able to convey what they know already as well as what they would like to find out. This is to ensure that lessons reflect children’s different starting points, as well as children’s own interests.
• Greater depth is being considered in each lesson as well as supporting children with specific learning needs which is in line with our school’s inclusion policy.
• Cross curricular links are planned to ensure that objectives taught in English lessons are being reflected in geography lessons (e.g. capital letters, full stops etc).
• Trips to the local area are organised and used to help achieve the learning objectives by providing opportunities to learn outside the classroom.
• Teachers use precise questioning in class to assess their knowledge and skills, assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all children achieve in Geography.
• We build upon previous learning and experiences that have taken place over previous years.