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Geography

Intent

At Meadlands, we deliver a high-quality geography education that inspires pupils to develop fascination and curiosity about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Pupils' geographical learning starts with the familiar, and slowly builds outwards, from London, to the UK, to Europe, to the Americas and Asia and then the 7 continents of the world. Their understanding of how their local area fits into the wider world is therefore gradually accrued. Our teaching equips 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.

"The study of geography is about more than just memorizing places on a map. It's about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents. And in the end, it's about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.”

Barack Obama.

Implementation

Teaching

Geography is taught in blocks with this model promoting the achievement of a greater depth of understanding by its end. Our curriculum is mapped to ensure alignment with the national curriculum content and programme of study. It is arranged progressively across year groups so that the units are taught starting with the familiar and local geography then branching outwards. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each unit and these are mapped across the school ensuring that knowledge builds progressively and that children develop skills systematically. This progression is shown on our geography subject Knowledge Organisers, which detail geographical knowledge, skills and enquiry and acquisition of key subject specific vocabulary. As each unit of geography progresses, children fill in a Learning Journey to recall and summarise what they have learned.

A working wall is used to support and celebrate learning, throughout each unit of work. It is also used to support the acquisition of key knowledge and subject specific geographical vocabulary.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is an integral to good geography teaching and as stated by Ofsted ‘enhances the learning of geography’, by allowing children to experience geography first-hand – it engages and motivates. As such we utilise our extensive grounds and locality including Richmond Park and the River Thames for geographical fieldwork studies. Each class has at least one unit where fieldwork will deepen and enhance their learning.

EYFS

Young children are naturally curious about the world around them and this is a vital time to begin to embed important aspects of geographical learning such as asking and answering questions, understanding simple geography vocabulary and using role play. Geography in early years is embedded into the area “Understanding the World” and is split into 2 strands ‘People and Communities’ and ‘The World’. By the time children leave reception, they should:

Yearly Overviews

Knowledge Organisers

Progression of Skills in Geography

Geography Heroes

For each unit of geography taught, we celebrate the lives of individuals who have made a difference. Here are just a few of our Geography Heroes:

Heroes Gallery

Examples of Work

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

IMPACT

Children will gain a love of geography and a respect for and be an advocate for protecting our world.
Children will have a deep knowledge and appreciation of their local areas and its place within the wider geographical context.
Children will know more, remember more and understand more about locational, physical and human geography.
Children will understand and be able to build upon the key skills of geographical enquiry, map and fieldwork.
Thorough our geographical heroes, children will gain an insight into geography related careers from members of the local and wider community

Celebration of work