Geography
Why is Geography Important?
At St Joseph’s, we strive to provide the geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to inspire all pupil’s curiosity about the world and its people. Teaching Geography equips pupils to answer questions about the natural and human environments as well as providing knowledge of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. It develops pupil’s awareness of diverse places throughout the world, understanding issues about the environment and provides appreciation of different people and cultures. At St Joseph’s, we use a range of maps, fieldwork and school trips/visitors to enhance the pupils fascination with the world and develop a range of investigative skills inside and outside of the classroom. Geography is fundamental for providing skills and preparing children for life beyond St Joseph’s.
St Joseph’s Aim for Geography - Curriculum of Hope
Kapow Primary’s Geography scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to become curious and explorative thinkers with a diverse knowledge of the world; in other words, to think like a geographer. We want pupils to develop the confidence to question and observe places, measure and record necessary data in various ways, and analyse and present their findings. Through our scheme of work, we aim to build an awareness of how Geography shapes our lives at multiple scales and over time. We hope to encourage pupils to become resourceful, active citizens who will have the skills to contribute to and improve the world around them.
Our scheme encourages:
• A strong focus on developing both geographical skills and knowledge.
• Critical thinking, with the ability to ask perceptive questions and explain and analyse evidence.
• The development of fieldwork skills across each year group.
• A deep interest and knowledge of pupils’ locality and how it differs from other areas of the world.
• A growing understanding of geographical terms and vocabulary.
Kapow Primary’s Geography scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end of key stage attainment targets in the National curriculum. The aims also align with those in the National curriculum.
Subject Content
Across Key Stage 1 and 2 St Joseph’s pupils will be taught about:
o Locational knowledge.
- In Key Stage 1 pupils at St Joseph’s will develop knowledge about the world, the UK and their locality
- In Key Stage 2 pupils at St Joseph’s will extend their knowledge beyond the local area to include Europe, North and South America.
o Place knowledge.
- In Key Stage 1 pupils at St Joseph’s understand differences and similarities through the study of human and physical characteristics of the UK and non-European country.
- In Key Stage 2 pupils at St Joseph’s understand differences and similarities through the study of human and physical characteristics of the UK, region in a European country and region in North and South America.
o Human and physical features.
- In Key Stage 1 pupils at St Joseph’s can identify Seasonal and daily weather patterns, know the location of hot and cold countries and use basic geographical vocabulary.
- In Key Stage 2 pupils at St Joseph’s can describe and understand a range of physical geography such as, rivers, mountains, earthquakes and volcanoes. As well as aspects of human geography such as, distribution of natural resources and types of settlement and land use.
o Geography skills and fieldwork.
- In Key Stage 1 pupils at St Joseph’s can use maps, atlases and globes to identify UK and other countries, use simple compass directions and use aerial photographs to recognise landmarks and human/physical features.