Geography 

INTENT  

At Leesland CofE Federation we encourage children to explore the world that we live in and its people. We aim to inspire children’s curiosity and create confident and enquiring individuals with a love of learning. Children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place in it. Our broad geography curriculum enables children to develop knowledge and skills such as collecting and analysing data; using maps, globes, aerial photographs and digital mapping to name and identify countries, continents and oceans; and communicating information in a variety of ways through studying places, people and natural and human environments. These skills are transferable to other curriculum areas and can also be used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

We also encourage our children to make links to our key Christian values in geography units by encouraging them to respect their environment and by learning about the impact we have as humans on the world around us (such as the impact of tourism and global warming) but to also understand and respect the local community we live in. Through our teaching, we intend to provoke thought, questions and to encourage children to discover answers to their own questions through exploration and research to enable them to gain a greater understanding and knowledge of the world and their place in it and to inspire curiosity and fascination about the world they live in which will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

IMPLEMENTATION

Geography at Leesland CE Junior School is taught in half-termly blocks throughout the year.   We use this approach so children can achieve depth in their learning. Using the National Curriculum and Hampshire HIAS Geography Planning we identify the key knowledge and skills of each blocked topic and ensure progression across topics throughout each year group. In some units an enquiry based approach is being developed.

Cross curricular outcomes in Geography are specifically planned for, with strong links between Geography and English lessons identified, planned for and utilised. We make links between other subject areas such as History where units of work in Year 6 on the Maya Civilisation link to previous learning in Geography about countries and the landscape of North America and Design Technology work in Year 5 making gloves links to their Geography unit of work on polar regions. 

Within the teaching of geography, there is an emphasis on the teaching and modelling of appropriate geographical vocabulary. High-level questioning and the use of visual aids (both paper-based and digital) will be prevalent as will a certain level of flexibility in the lesson as the links are discovered and investigated.

Teachers  consider opportunities available to use the school grounds and the local area for fieldwork to enable children to base learning on first hand experiences to enhance teaching and learning in Geography.

IMPACT

Children have developed the geographical knowledge and skills to help them explore, navigate and understand the world around them and their place in it. This will be evident through outcomes in History and Geography books and English books, which evidence a broad and balanced geography curriculum and demonstrates children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge. Children’s knowledge and skills is develop progressively as they move through the school, not only to enable them to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum but to develop a deep knowledge, understand an appreciation of their local area and its place within the wider geographical context and to prepare them to become competent geographers in secondary education. School trips will provide further relevant and contextual learning.

Geography is celebrated at Leesland C of E school with high quality displays showing children’s finished makes. Displays are seen throughout the school and provide inspiration for future year groups. Home learning opportunities linked to Geography topics are provided for children and outcomes are displayed and celebrated.

What our pupils say about Geography