Geography Intent
At Courtney Primary, we offer a high-quality geography curriculum that helps pupils gain a coherent understanding of the world we live in. Geography lessons help to provoke thoughts and provide answers to questions about natural and human aspects of the world. At Courtney, children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, increasingly using their prior knowledge to make links and solve problems.
The Geography curriculum enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferrable to other curriculum areas. At Courtney our intent, when teaching geography, is to inspire the children to have a curiosity and fascination about the world and people within it; to promote the children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Discussion is a key part of lessons and Oracy skills are embedded within lessons to support the children in sharing their opinions.
Within Geography, opportunities exist for children of all ages to experience learning beyond the classroom. This allows them to enrich their knowledge by visiting places they may not normally consider or places of geographical interest within the local area. Not only do these visits contribute towards enriching the curriculum, but they also support our children in developing their own cultural capital.
Geography Implementation
At Courtney, Geography is taught through 3 enquiries in each year group. We cover the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on each year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.
All learning will start by revisiting prior knowledge through a flashback. This is used to support children’s ability to recall previous learning and make connections. Each lesson the children will engage with a flashback, which aims to recap 4 subject areas, through self-marking and then engaging with one section in detail. Teachers will model explicitly the subject-specific vocabulary, alongside explicit recognition of the skills they will use in that session in order to allow them to integrate new knowledge into larger concepts. To begin every new theme, the children will complete an entry card. The larger question will be broken down into small areas so the children are able to explicitly pinpoint the knowledge they have. Following the end of the topic, the children will complete the same sheet but as an exit card which displays the breadth of knowledge they have acquire over the course of learning.
In geography lessons teachers use a variety of teaching methods and recognise different learning styles. This may be using physical maps and atlases, using online mapping tools or looking at photos and pictures to stimulate learning and discussion. The curriculum is planned and taught by taking into consideration the needs of all pupils based on their relative starting point. It is important that children develop the skills of a geographer by fully immersing them in all areas of the subject.
The local area is well utilised to achieve desired outcomes, with opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice. School trips and fieldwork are provided to give first hand experiences, which enhance children’s understanding of the world.
As a school we evaluate the impact of our wider curriculum through:
- Lesson observations
- Pupil voice
- Book scrutiny
At Courtney Primary School, our curriculum enables children to gain a broad and balanced understanding of the key geographical skills and knowledge of their local, regional and global environments. The curriculum supports children in developing their understanding of both the physical and human geography around the world.
Geography assessment is ongoing throughout the relevant themes to inform teachers with their planning lesson activities, differentiation and flashbacks. Summative assessment is completed at the end of each topic where geography objectives have been covered; an objective tracker is used to inform leaders of school improvements or skills that need to be further enhanced. Our geographers will be given a variety of experiences both in and out of the classroom where appropriate to create memorable learning opportunities and to further support and develop their understanding.
Early Years Foundation Stage
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, pupils explore the world around them through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. EYFS pupils will have experience of:
- culture and communities
- the natural world
Within these areas of their learning they will observe their environments, begin to make comparisons, explore the world around them and understand the important of geographical features in their local areas.
