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Geography

Intent

At Norwood Primary School, our intent in Geography is for children to be secure in their knowledge of both substantive content and disciplinary content.

Substantive content is the substance that pupils learn in each subject – the vocabulary and factual content, which is learnt through stories, descriptions, representations, reports, statistics and other sources.

Disciplinary content is all that pupils learn about how knowledge is constantly renewed in the subject’s ongoing development. This constant quest for better and better understandings of our world inspires both awe and humility in pupils.  In Geography, pupils will:

  • Think about geographical questions using concepts of place, scale, space, distance, interaction and relationships.
  • 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.
  • Communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

Implementation – How is the curriculum being delivered?

Pupils will learn how to interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and information systems. Lessons will be focused around one or more of the following concepts: place, pattern, position and processes.

Pupils in Key Stage One will learn about the continents and oceans of the world as well as countries and capitals of the United Kingdom through the use of maps, atlases and globes. Pupils will study and compare the physical and human geography of countries in the United Kingdom with non-European countries.

Pupils in Key Stage Two will build on knowledge acquired in Key Stage One by locating and studying the world’s countries. The physical geography that pupils learn about, includes climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle. The human geography that pupils learn about, includes types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water.

Our KS2 curriculum uses planning and resources from Opening Worlds. To find out more about what Opening Worlds is and the rationale behind its curriculum, visit https://openingworlds.uk. You will also be able to view resource examples here.

All learning in Geography will link to pupil’s previous and future learning in Geography, as well as learning in other subjects. Pupil’s will also explore the links between their locality and the Geography subject that they are learning about through trips, experience, local research and local fieldwork. All areas of learning in Geography are closely linked to History and other subjects.  

Impact - What difference is the curriculum making?

Pupils will build a wide and secure acquisition of vocabulary, with the range of vocabulary that pupils recognise growing all the time and being visited again and again, both consolidating that vocabulary and freeing up memory space for pupils to make sense of new content. Pupils will be inspired to be curious about the world that they live in, develop their own sense of identity and think critically about how to change the world for the common good.

Useful Geography websites for children:

BBC KS1 Geography resources and videos https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ks1-geography/zkdxbdm

BBC KS2 Geography resources and videos https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ks2-geography/zj7p47h

KS1 Geography lesson videos https://classroom.thenational.academy/subjects-by-key-stage/key-stage-1/subjects/geography

KS2 Geography lesson videos https://classroom.thenational.academy/subjects-by-key-stage/key-stage-2/subjects/geography

National Geographic for kids https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/