Geography at Belton All Saints
Year 6 have been learning about North America and extreme weather. They have explored the physical and human geography of North America and extreme weather such as how earthquakes and hurricanes are formed. They drew comparisons between the state of California and where we live here in North Lincolnshire.
National Curriulum
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 framework and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.
National curriculum in England: geography programmes of study - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Year 1 map skills
Aims
The national curriculum for geography aims to ensure that all pupils:
- develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes
- understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time
- are competent in the geographical skills needed to:
- collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes
- interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length
How Geography is taught at our school
At Belton All Saints Church of England Primary School we follow the National Curriculum, this begins with EYFS early learning goals and progresses through Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. In order to implement our curriculum intent we use a clear and comprehensive scheme of work that focusses on progressive skills and knowledge, including locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography and geographical skills and fieldwork which securely meets the requirements of the National Curriculum.
Elm Class, Year 4, have been learning about Brazil. In Geography, we have learned about land use. We have compared the land use in Scunthorpe to Rio de Janeiro, we explored using Google Earth and then plotted the land use on maps to compare the difference. In English, we have been writing non-chronological reports about Brazil. We really enjoyed finding out interesting facts and then used our knowledge of the features of non-fiction texts to create our reports.
Our Geography Intent Statement can be found at the bottom of this page.
Lower Ks2 have been learning about Europe and the key mountain ranges there. They have used maps and atlases to identify areas of Europe where mountain ranges can be found. They learnt about the different parts of mountains, for example the summit and the snow line and how mountains are formed.
Geography is taught through half-termly topics, some with geography working as the driver, others providing planned opportunities to learn about geography and apply geographical skills within a wider context alongside other curriculum subjects. Staff plan geography using the long-term plan topic documents to create medium-term plans for each half-term, these include the learning objectives, vocabulary, ‘sticky knowledge’ and linked activities that build knowledge and skills for the planned geography theme. Wherever possible trips and fieldwork opportunities are interwoven and the local area is fully utilized to achieve desired outcomes, with learning outside of the classroom embedded in practice.
Our whole school topic overview can be found here
Our Geography Progression map can be found here
Our Geography vocabulary map can be found here
Geoography in Action
Year 6 have been learning about Natural Resources. Pupils explored how natural resources can be used to produce clean and renewable energy as well as where and how a variety of resources such as wood, glass and steel are made
In Year 4 the classroom turned into a Rainforest as children design and make their Rainforest dioramas.
In Year 2 pupils have been doing a comparative study between England and Kenya. They have been finding out about how the climate, houses and way of life are different to where they live and comparing and contrasting the way of life in urban and rural Kenya to that of their own.
Exploring and fieldwork in our local area.
A trip to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park to compliment pupil’s learning about Rainforests.
Pupils exploring the floodplain at Potteric Carr. Nature Reserve
Visitors in school from Drax Power Station.
Curriculum Intent
Curriculum Intent
Here at Belton and Wroot Primary School Federation our curriculum is based on what we know is best for our pupils. All pupils are afforded the opportunity to grow and succeed, through our enriched curriculum. This is underpinned by our core Christian values. Commitment to our pupils is fulfilled through our high aspiration, passion and drive and is founded upon 4 key principles:
1.To unlock children’s true potential
We aim to develop confident, resilient, inquisitive, independent & knowledgeable children through the delivery of a coherent & structured enquiry based curriculum which builds on prior learning. Individuals are challenged to reach their true potential and be ready for the next stage in their education.
In Geography we will do this through:
- Implementing a clear and comprehensive scheme of work; building on prior knowledge and following the requirements of the National Curriculum (including human and physical geography and geographical and fieldwork skills).
- Using age appropriate, relevant and specific vocabulary.
- Providing opportunities to use a range of sources for geographical information including maps, diagrams, globes and digital and aerial photographs.
- Ensuring that staff are equipped with the necessary professional development to deliver the Curriculum.
- Having a subject leader who monitors teaching and learning to improve standards and outcomes.
- Embedding a Curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils.
2. For children to flourish as unique and well-rounded individuals
We aim to foster happy and healthy children within a safe environment, that are given the help they need to learn, grow and achieve as much as they possibly can in an atmosphere which nourishes a healthy mind and body.
In Geography we do this through:
- Encouraging an enjoyment of Geography through promoting inquisitiveness – allowing children to investigate, ask questions and find answers about the world around them.
- Giving pupil’s a voice about Geography in school, gathering their opinions on lessons and enrichments.
- Providing a purposeful environment, including specific Geography displays throughout school.
- Access to the Geography section within the school library.
- Children’s work within the subject being celebrated in weekly newsletters.
3. For children to develop their skills as life-long learners
We aim to provide a broad, balanced curriculum with a wide variety of experiences which nurture the talents of our children to become creative, enquiring learners and effective communicators who aspire.
In Geography we will do this through:
- Providing our pupils with opportunities to build competency in geographical skills for life – information collection, analysis, communication and interpretation.
- Teaching Geography in an enjoyable and thematic way alongside other areas of the curriculum.
- Opportunities to consolidate and extend geographical knowledge and skills through home learning tasks.
- Planned whole school and class enrichment.
- Ensuring pupils develop the understanding of subject specific vocabulary and are able to apply it.
- Fieldwork opportunities, including Forest School and environmental education.
- Equipping pupils with the geographical knowledge and skills that may help influence decisions they make in their lives.
- Inviting specialist Geography visitors where possible.
4. For children to widen their horizons and develop as responsible local and Global citizens
‘We aim to help our children appreciate their role as part of our community. To ask questions, make informed choices and to take responsibility for the decisions they make. As a result fostering an awareness of the difference they can make as local & global citizens.
In Geography we will do this through:
- Promoting a love and appreciation of the environment around us.
- Learning about a sense of place within our wider world.
- Planned opportunities for learning and applying geographical skills within wider contexts, including other curriculum subjects.
- Developing understanding of the wider world and the impact we as citizens have on this – building knowledge on how we can act as responsible citizens within our local and global communities.
- Establishing links with local places for the use of fieldwork.
- Teaching of multi-cultural locations and the use of quality multi-cultural geographical texts.
- Hosting events that help promote Geography.
Useful Websites
BBC Bitesize KS1: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zcdqxnb
BBC Bitesize KS2: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zbkw2hv
CBBC Newsround Environmental news stories: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51376710
CBBC Newsround Environment & Climate Change Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-2SkY8uS2lJGp5vE4MEbc1X4puGZbJYw
National Geographic Kids: https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
If you would like to know more about Geography at our school or if you have any questions please contact the Geography subject leader (Miss Beetham) at the school.