Geography

Curriculum Overview EYFS to Year 6 - click here

Intent

At Billesdon we strive to teach Geography in a way in which children are encouraged to harness their curiosity to explore the world around them both locally and globally.

A passion for the subject will encompass the following;

Study the diversity of people, places and both our natural and human-made environments.

Significant levels of originality and imagination when questioning and interpreting geographical data.
Gain knowledge of where places are and what they are like. They will learn about the ways in which human and physical environments are formed and are interconnected.
Develop complex geographical enquiry and investigation.
Explore geographical data using analytical, interpretational and presentational skills.
Use investigative fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques.
Express opinions based on current issues and the link to their environment.

Implementation

A passion for the subject will encompass the following;

Study the diversity of people, places and both our natural and human-made environments.

Significant levels of originality and imagination when questioning and interpreting geographical data.
Gain knowledge of where places are and what they are like. They will learn about the ways in which human and physical environments are formed and are interconnected.
Develop complex geographical enquiry and investigation.
Explore geographical data using analytical, interpretational and presentational skills.
Use investigative fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques.
Express opinions based on current issues and the link to their environment.

Geography – Implementation of Knowledge & Skills - Progression Document click here

At Billesdon, the development of knowledge and skills from EYFS to Year 6 has been mapped to rigorously meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and the National Curriculum for Geography. Our Early Years curriculum uses the Understanding the World framework to ensure that children can make sense of their physical world and their community They are encouraged through their curriculum to foster their understanding of our culturally, socially technologically and ecologically diverse world. The units of work for EYFS are set on a single cycle pattern to support the development of knowledge and skills through specifically taught sessions alongside continuous provision to prepare children for the building of the foundation skills as they move onto the National Curriculum.

For KS1 and KS2, Geography is taught in units of work on a 2 year cycle - Cycle A and Cycle B - in engaging units of work which continually revise learnt knowledge, develop new knowledge and prepare children onwards for future knowledge development. The Knowledge & Skills Progression Document details when knowledge and skills are taught and how knowledge is developed across the Geography curriculum to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum area.

Impact

The impact of our Geography curriculum can be seen from Early years through to year 6 by talking to the children about their interest in this subject and seeing evidence in their books, on learning walls in classrooms and on displays around the school.

Teachers also use age-appropriate formative assessment methods to identify children’s understanding such as:

Short and fun quizzes
Teacher-led, peer-led and group discussion.

Planned, individual writing opportunities provide an opportunity for the children to communicate what they have learnt at the end of the topic.

Curriculum links with Science and History allow further assessment and subject mastery. Some examples; When studying weather and climates in geography, it will be linked to understanding of the water cycle and seasons in Science OR utilising Geography skills such as reading maps and locating places for a History unit of study; Great explorers, Identifying where in the world they were born and where and how they travelled.

Geography is monitored by the subject leader each term and the outcomes inform short, long and medium term planning and the SDP(School Development Plan).

Link to National Curriculum for Geography - click here