At Ropery Walk Primary School, we are guided by the National Curriculum for Geography.
“A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.” DfE
Aims
In Early Years Foundation Stage, geography is included as part of ‘Understanding the World’. Pupils should use observational skills to explore their immediate environment and the natural world around them.
In Key Stage One, 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.
In Key Stage Two, 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.
Curriculum
At Ropery Walk Primary School, geography is a valued part of the curriculum, providing a purposeful means for exploring, appreciating and understanding the world in which we live and how it has evolved. Geography explores the relationship between the Earth and its people through the study of place, space and environment. Geography is concerned with pupils learning about their own locality, whilst becoming aware of and developing knowledge and understanding of the world beyond their own environment.
We teach geography lessons each week through a planned sequence of enquiry-based topics. Children begin by exploring their immediate environment and their local area before building on their knowledge and skills to explore the United Kingdom, Europe and the rest of the world.
You can view or download our Geography Long Term Plan by clicking the link below:
Geography Long Term Plan 2023-2024
Progression of Knowledge and Skills
Within the curriculum, there are regular, planned opportunities for children to retrieve and build upon prior knowledge to ensure progression in the four key strands of geography:
- Locational knowledge
- Place knowledge
- Human and physical geography
- Geographical skills and fieldwork
You can view or download our Progression of Knowledge and Skills Overview by clicking the link below:
Geography Progression of Knowledge and Skills Overview
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is integral to geography teaching and we include as many opportunities as we can to involve children in practical geographical research and enquiry. Safeguarding procedures and teaching children about safety are paramount when conducting fieldwork enquiry in the local and wider area. We aim to guide children in making informed and independent decisions which will keep them safe. Risk assessments are written in conjunction with the children and shared with all parties as per school policy.
Eco Warriors
In Years 1 to 6 in our school, there are two Eco Warriors in each class. Eco Warriors are passionate about caring for the environment and want to make a positive change. Their role involves promoting:
- Recycling: paper, card, textiles, plastic and food
- Saving energy: switching off lights, switching off IT equipment and closing doors to keep heat in
- Conserving energy: switching off taps, taking care of equipment to avoid replacing it and avoiding wasting resources
- Caring for the environment: encouraging walking or cycling to school, using litter bins, taking care of habitats and taking care of plants
Useful Websites
