Geography

Subject intent (The ‘why’) 

 “The study of geography is about understanding the complexity of our world and appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents. In the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together." (Barack Obama) 

 Why teach it?  

Geography should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Our teaching of geography should equip pupils with the ability to: 

• understand diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments;  
• gain a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes; 
• develop knowledge of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.  

 Our teaching of geography will allow children to apply this understanding, knowledge and skills across the curriculum, understanding how the world changes over time.  

 National Curriculum aims 

The national curriculum for geography aims to ensure that all pupils: 

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 

Additional Hazeldown aims 

In addition to the aforementioned National Curriculum aims, we strive to ensure that our pupils have access to a range of educational trips, visits and meaningful experiences / opportunities that support them in fully understanding what life is like beyond Teignmouth.  

 Planned content – Key Stage One 

Pupils should develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They should understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness. 

Pupils should be taught to: 

Locational knowledge 

• name and locate the world’s 7 continents and 5 oceans 
• name, locate and identify characteristics of the 4 countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas 

Place knowledge 

• understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of a small area of the United Kingdom, and of a small area in a contrasting non-European country 

Human and physical geography 

• identify seasonal and daily weather patterns in the United Kingdom and the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles 
• use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to: 
• key physical features, including: beach, cliff, coast, forest, hill, mountain, sea, ocean, river, soil, valley, vegetation, season and weather 
• key human features, including: city, town, village, factory, farm, house, office, port, harbour and shop 

Geographical skills and fieldwork 

• use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the United Kingdom and its countries, as well as the countries, continents and oceans studied at this key stage 
• use simple compass directions (north, south, east and west) and locational and directional language [for example, near and far, left and right], to describe the location of features and routes on a map 
• use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features; devise a simple map; and use and construct basic symbols in a key 

• use simple fieldwork and observational skills to study the geography of their school and its grounds and the key human and physical features of its surrounding environment where possible under COVID-19 guidelines 

Planned content – Key Stage Two 

 Pupils should extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom and Europe, North and South America. This will include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. They should develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge. 

Pupils should be taught to: 

Locational knowledge 

• locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on Europe (including the location of Russia) and North and South America, concentrating on their environmental regions, key physical and human characteristics, countries, and major cities 
• name and locate counties and cities of the United Kingdom, geographical regions and their identifying human and physical characteristics, key topographical features (including hills, mountains, coasts and rivers), and land-use patterns; and understand how some of these aspects have changed over time 
• identify the position and significance of latitude, longitude, Equator, Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the Prime/Greenwich Meridian and time zones (including day and night) 

Place knowledge 

• understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of a region of the United Kingdom, a region in a European country, and a region in North or South America 

Human and physical geography 

• describe and understand key aspects of: 
• physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle 

• human geography, including: types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water 

 Geographical skills and fieldwork 

• use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied 
• use the 8 points of a compass, 4- and 6-figure grid references, symbols and key (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world 
• use fieldwork to observe, measure record and present the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods, including sketch maps, plans and graphs, and digital technologies where possible under COVID-19 guidelines 

For further information on the Geography curriculum, please contact our subject leader, Kat Whitford, on [email protected].

Files to Download