Geography
Geography at Queen’s Park
Our curriculum for Geography will help to provide a sense of belonging by enabling pupils to understand better the locality they live in, the community they are part of and UK’s place in the world. Pupils will gain a greater understanding of countries near and far and this opportunity to explore the world which help them to appreciate the differences and similarities between people, places, environments and cultures.
Geography provides great opportunities for cross-curricular learning as there are close links to maths in terms of number, measure and space, to science in terms of the natural world and to P.S.H.E/global citizenship in terms of ethical responsibility. There are rich opportunities to explore physical geography features through art/DT such as volcanic eruption drawing and the construction of model rainforest treehouses/shelters that demonstrate human ingenuity and skill in creating adaptive housing in response to the physical world in which they live.
Geographical enquiry will provide pupils with the opportunity to follow their natural curiosity of the world around them and fieldwork/ trips will enable them to gain an understanding of places first-hand. Along with hands-on experiences, exposure to relevant rich texts (fiction as well as contemporary new stories), and real-life examples of geographical phenomena studied, pupils will find the Geography curriculum irresistible.
Our geography offering will also develop a sense of personal and ethical responsibility and duty for the world that pupils live in. They will feel empowered to have aspirations for the future in terms of living in a way that has less impact on the natural world and campaigning for action that minimises human/animal suffering.
Geography Learning in Reception
Our foundation-stage Geography curriculum is informed by the governmental guidance document entitled ‘Development Matters’. Within this framework, there are 4 specific areas of learning which can serve to “ignite children’s curiosity and enthusiasm” and Geography learning is recognisable within the area of learning entitled ‘Understanding the world’ which involves “guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community”. Building in a range of trips and experiences within our early years curriculum will increase our pupils’ knowledge and sense of the world around them – from visiting parks and libraries to meeting important members of society such as police officers, nurses and firefighters.
The important knowledge about the world learnt in the early years foundation stage can be broken down into the following elements as seen in the curriculum breakdown:
People, culture and communities
The Natural World - pupils engage in the world around them through asking questions, investigating and observing change.
Geography Learning in Years 1 - 6
Our KS1 and KS2 curriculum is designed to develop pupils’ knowledge in 4 areas:
Locational knowledge – on which to build children’s understanding of space in the world.
Place knowledge – the study of a range of places near and far to provide a rich context for geography and build an understanding of the concept of diversity within the world and interconnection at a local and global scale. Also understanding that the geographical context can also shape a place.
Physical, human and environmental geography – knowledge of physical processes and cycles, human systems and the interaction between physical and human processes (environmental geography). At upper key stage 2 pupils will consider the changing human interpretation / narratives of contentious issues such as climate change.
Geographical skills: mapping and fieldwork – pupils interpret and devise maps through understanding map conventions, map scales and aerial/plan perspectives. Also, developing skills relating to fieldwork such as asking questions about the world around us, planning of trips (with consideration for potential hazards), collecting data, presenting data, analysing data and drawing conclusions.
In years 1 - 6 pupils study 3 Geography units per year. These are kickstarted with a big question that fosters curiosity about the world and creates a purpose for the learning.
Geography - Kids Corner
