Geography

“The study of Geography is about more than just memorising places on a map, it’s about understanding the complexity of our world.” Barack Obama

The Geography curriculum is designed to give pupils opportunities to help to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. We follow the National Curriculum as a guideline, however we pride ourselves on our creative learning environment and multi sensory lessons. We want our children to have a genuine interest in the world around them and be educated about places beyond our local area.

Intent

At Loscoe, we strive to deliver high quality Geography teaching to inspire pupil’s curiosity about the world and the diverse variety groups of inhabitants in it. We are aware we live in a small local area; therefore, this is of upmost importance to us when educating our children.

Our teaching will:

Equip pupils with knowledge about variety of places, people, resources and natural and human environments
Learn about, and the difference between human and physical processes
Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine
Encourage the children to show their respect for their local, national and international environment.
Enable children to gain confidence and enjoy practical experiences through local fieldwork studies and in our wider community in which has a wealth of both geographical and historical features. As their skills further develop our intent is that all our pupils gain knowledge, understanding and can explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.
A widespread base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary
Fluency in complex, geographical enquiry and the ability to apply questioning skills
Excellent fieldwork skills as well as other geographical aptitudes and techniques
The ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current issues in society and the environment
A genuine interest in the subject and a real sense of curiosity about the world and the people who live here.

Implementation

Geography is one of the main drivers of the Cornerstones resource. We use our subject knowledge and skills grids to map out progressive learning throughout school. To ensure that children 'know more' and 'remember more', we have identified the 'core knowledge' for our pupils which we teach and reteach to ensure that learning is embed in the long term memory. (see knowledge and skills progression below)

Our planning for the Geography curriculum is extensive, and planned progressively following the school’s sequence and progression grids. This is monitored and checked by the school’s Geography leader.

We will do this by:

Staff following the knowledge and skills progression document to create a curriculum overview for the year.
Staff to ensure that the key knowledge and vocabulary receives the appropriate coverage within each Geography unit.
Educational visits are planned where possible.
Ensuring children visit the local environment to look at geographical features.
The local area is fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice.
The orienteering course in the school grounds will be utilised to teach map skills in a practical way.
Appropriate resources are provided to add depth and understanding for each unit.
Learning is always adapted to make it as accessible as possible for SEND pupils.

Impact

At Loscoe, our Geography Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to establish progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

Pupil discussions about their learning.
By analysing work in children’s books and matching this to the key knowledge that they need to remember at each stage of their learning, based on planning overviews.
Learning revisited and reviewed regularly.
An understanding in pupils of how each unit of work links to another.
Assessed reflection of standards achieved against the planned outcomes.
We understand that the pandemic affected the knowledge of Geography and were unable to access progression skills.
As teachers, we strive to ensure that children are equipped with Geographical knowledge and skills that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world.

Enrichment and Loscoe Promise

As part of our enrichment plan every child will;

Explore a beach
River trip
Explore Sherwood Forest
Camp outside overnight

Careers in Geography:

Careers in Geography continue to grow and many resources that we use to help in work will be developing geographical skills. Our pupils will enter employment that is dominated by geographical change and exploration of the world.

The teaching and learning of Geography supports careers, such as:

Transportation manager
Journalist
Environmental lawyer
Landscape architect
Weather forecaster
Catastrophe modeller or emergency planner
Teacher

Geographers/Explores:

Christopher Columbus
Dr. Arrianna Marie Planey
Charles Darwin
Doreen Massey

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 squatter settlement, or as a victim of an earthquake or other natural disaster, to living on tropical islands. 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? Should open cast mining be allowed in an area of outstanding natural beauty? 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.

British Values

Democracy

Within our KS1 our geography units encourage pupils to think about their place in the world, how they can become the best possible citizens of tomorrow and create change for the better. Our KS2 geography units have a focus on how pupils can be active citizens and implement current and future change. Physical geography encourages children to think what impact their actions on the environment and human geography promote moral discussions about economy, poverty and human impact on the world Pupils look at different perspectives and respect the views of others. They think about local, national and global issues.

Rules of Law

Our pupils think about moral law and the consequences of their actions on future generations. We discuss why rules and laws are put into place and what impact they may have. KS1 areas of discussion may include: - Where does our food come from? (Laws to protect animals, trade, standards), How does the weather affect our lives? (Present and future laws to prevent climate change) KS2 areas of discussion may include: - Megacities (crime) - Sustainability, How is climate change effecting the world? (Present and future laws to prevent climate change) - Beyond the magic kingdom, Jungles and deserts, what is it like to live in a national park? (Laws to protect the environment and animals).

Individual Liberty

Pupils think about how their actions can impact their own community. Moving beyond the classroom, several of our geography units require pupils to think about how they can live responsibly. Through debate and discussion pupils learn how to voice their opinion in a safe and supportive environment and how we as Geographers can help save the planet.

Mutual Respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Pupils compare similarities and differences between their lives and those of others around the world. We aim to disband stereotypes and foster a common respect for different countries and cultures by learning about them. Pupils are able to use different sources and can reflect upon why accounts may differ (eye-witness, newspaper reports etc) and are able to see the value in each account and are encouraged to explore the views of opposing sides Pupils are encouraged to explore the different views through narrative, debate and discussion. They begin to think about why people make life choices (where to live, how to support themselves). The feel empathy for others.

Protected Characteristics of Learning

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Everyone in Britain is protected. This is because the Equality Act protects people against discrimination because of the protected characteristics that we all have.

Within Geography all children will be able to access the learning and trips no matter age, race, religion or disability. They will have respect for their own and other cultures as we study different places and cultures across the world.

Useful links and wider Geography.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/geography-ks1-ks2-your-world/z67bmfr

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/

Local places to visit