Geography Curriculum Information 

Intent

Our Geography curriculum is aimed at supporting pupils in developing geographical vocabulary, knowledge and skills whilst broadening their view of the world beyond their home and holiday destinations.  Our teaching covers a diverse range of people, places and environments. We encourage pupils to raise questions about their locality and be curious about the world around them.  Collingwood’s lessons are planned to cover National curriculum expectations, with adaptations to consider the school’s context, integrating cross curricular links. In addition to this we acknowledge other significant events and charitable work e.g. Red Nose Day and world wide newsworthy current events etc. 

Implementation

National Curriculum expectations:

KS1:  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 seven continents and five oceans  name, locate and identify characteristics of the four 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 mapuse 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.

KS2: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 within 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 eight points of a compass, four and six-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.

Collingwood’s Curriculum Policy and School Aims, can be found on the policies page of this website.  An overview of what is being taught to each year group can be found on separate Class Pages on this website ("Children" tab drop down menu) and guidance on more personalised learning eg spellings, times tables and reading, can be found in your child's own "Supporting Learning Book" which should be kept in their book bag and go between home and school each day.  If you would like to know more, please ask at the office and our Class teachers or Subject Leads will be happy to contact you.