Geography
"Geography is a subject which holds the key to our future."
Michael Palin
Intent
At St.Sebastian’s Catholic Primary School, we aim to enable our pupils to be healthy, ecologically aware, global citizens of the future. We want our children to love Geography. Our aim is that, through the teaching of Geography at St. Sebastian’s, we provide a purposeful platform for exploring, appreciating and understanding the world we live in. In Geography, pupils in our school will learn the skills of understanding locational knowledge. We also intend for children to become knowledgeable about our local community and beyond. We will encourage all pupils to be curious, excited and ask questions about the world they live in.
Implementation
- At St. Sebastian’s, our half termly topics either have a Geography or History focus.
- Topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills.
- A Geography focus is at the core of what we teach and when possible, other areas of the curriculum are linked to the Geography topic.
- Location knowledge and map work are woven through our Geography topics.
- We have developed a progression of skills with each year group, which enables pupils to build on and develop their knowledge and skills each year.
- In order to support children in their ability to know more and remember more, there are opportunities to review the learning that has taken part in previous topics as well as previous lessons.
- Each phase ensures good quality texts linked to the topic are chosen. These will engage and inspire the children to produce good quality writing.
- When possible, guided reading texts are chosen to link to topics.
- Children are given a Knowledge Organiser at the start of each topic which details key information and vocabulary. These are to support children with their acquisition of knowledge and are used as a reference document.
- Lessons are adapted by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the Geography curriculum.
- Class displays linked to the Geography topic, show the vocabulary we expect the children to be using, support the children in their learning, and create a rich learning environment.
- Effective use of educational visits/visitors are planned, to engage, enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the Geography curriculum.
- At the beginning of each topic, children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.
- New and updated Geography resources are shared regularly with staff.
- To support teaching, staff access a range of resources and planning including Oddizzi, Purple Mash and Google Earth
Geography and SMSC
Spiritual development
Through teaching geography, we can also develop children’s spiritual development. Essentially, Geography is about studying people; where they live and our relationship with the environment. This involves providing children with the opportunities to reflect on their own values and beliefs and those of others. Children may explore what it would be like to live in a their own locality compared to New York etc. Children have the opportunity to explore their own feelings about the people, culture, place and environments that they are learning about.
Moral development
Most geographical issues provide opportunities for distinguishing a moral dimension; for example, should deforestation be allowed in a rainforest? Such issues are explored through fun decision-making activities, where children understand the views held by society, and by various groups within society, and will develop their own attitudes and values in relation to these.
Social development
Fieldwork and classroom opportunities that the geography curriculum provides, enhances social development as pupils develop a greater degree of self-discipline and rely on collaborative skills to ensure the learning is successful.
Geography also teaches an understanding of citizenship, where debates and discussions teach pupils about the planning process in a town or city; they learn about national and international trade links how this has an impact on people and places; and understand of the concept of sustainable development.
Cultural development
An essential component of Geography is place knowledge. By understanding the features and characteristics their local area, children understand why it is like that, and can contrast where they live with more distant localities, in this country and abroad. This understanding ensures children are aware of the cultural traditions associated with the place they are studying, as well as our own multicultural society
Impact
Our Geography curriculum will lead pupils to be enthusiastic Geography learners, evidenced in a range of ways, including children's books, our displays and the children's own opinions of their learning (pupil voice).
By the time pupils leave St. Sebastian's Primary School, they will...
- Have an extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary.
- Have an excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like.
- Have a passion for and commitment to the subject, and a real sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people who live there.
- Have the ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment
