Geography

At Ramsden Infants we believe that Geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world.

Children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place in it. The geography curriculum at Ramsden enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas and which can and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Geography is, by nature, an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills.

We seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives. We aim to promote the children’s interest and understanding of wider places, people, resources and natural and human environments.

The curriculum is designed develop knowledge and skills that are progressive from Early Years to the end of Key Stage one.

Our Aims

We aim for the children to:

have an understanding of the local area and its place in the world
have a knowledge and understanding of places in the world
learn geographical skills, including how to use, draw and interpret maps
develop a variety of other skills, including those of enquiry, investigation and problem solving
have an understanding of the different communities and cultures within Barrow and other areas of the world

Implementation

Our Geography Curriculum follows the National Curriculum and provides the knowledge and skills needed for EYFS and Key Stage 1. Geography is taught through a topic approach and whole school planning shows the progression of the key knowledge and skills throughout school.

Early Years

Geography is taught in Nursery and Reception as part of the topic work through child-initiated and adult led activities. The children develop their understanding of the world through activities such as finding out about their immediate environment, school and their homes. They will learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others and among families, communities and traditions

Through our Early Years curriculum children will explore similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things. They will have opportunities talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how environments might vary from one another.

Key Stage 1

During Key Stage 1, pupils investigate their local area and also a contrasting area in the United Kingdom or abroad, finding out about the environment in both areas and the people who live there. They carry out geographical enquiry using geographical questions, fieldwork skills and resources, such as maps and photographs.

Children have the opportunity to learn through a variety of different ways. Planning includes opportunities to increase children’s cultural capital and provide them with experiences to enhance their learning in Geography.

Children will develop their knowledge of:

Human and physical geography through learning about the North and South Pole and oceans of the world and begin to use geographical vocabulary to describe places
Location by naming and locating the world’s continents and ocean
Place Knowledge by studying their local area and beyond and comparing it to a contrasting non-European country
Geographical fieldwork skills by using maps and atlases to locate places, devising and using simple maps, using simple fieldwork skills to observe their local area

We provide the children with:

Access to equipment, such as weather stations and compasses
Access to resources such as atlases and globes
Opportunities to access resources from the internet and videos
Discussions in groups and as a whole class to share ideas and opinions
Trips that relate to their Geography topic
Outside learning wherever possible

At Ramsden we provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all pupils. We are committed to responding to pupils’ diverse learning needs. Teachers set suitable learning tasks and respond to each child’s different needs, where appropriate, personalising teaching and learning for pupils with SEND to ensure they make the best possible progress.

Impact

Each class teacher will assess and monitor the children’s progress and plan accordingly. Summative assessment will be carried out at the end of each term or topic and shared with the Geography Lead for monitoring. The Geography Lead will also monitor and track teaching and learning across school through pupil discussions, learning walks and scrutinizing planning.

We measure the impact of our curriculum using the flowing methods:

Summative and assessments of pupils’ discussions about learning

Formative assessment lesson by lesson

The children’s books and photographs of their learning

Learning conversations

Moderation meetings

Marking and feedback