Geography
“Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever”
Psalm 104:5
Geography Curriculum Intent & Guiding Principles
At Our Lady of Walsingham, our vision is that through our inspiring and investigative Geography lessons our children will have a clear understanding of how the world works. Geography can produce those awe and wonder moments and it has the potential to capture the minds of children like no other subject. At Our Lady of Walsingham, our children will explore their own locality, the United Kingdom and its capital cities, identify seasonal weather patterns and look at hot and cold areas of the globe all before they end Key Stage 1. As they move on, children will extend their knowledge to a wider area of the globe and look at human and physical features of our planet. They will look at the impact of time zones; understand the significance of latitude and longitude as well as being able to locate different countries and their borders. Children will study physical changes in and on the Earth as well as economic activity (including the distribution of food, energy and water.) In order to provide a range of opportunities for our children to develop as independent, successful learners with high aspirations, our Geography curriculum is also intrinsically linked to our build curriculum.
Developing Spatial Awareness: We understand that spatial awareness is fundamental to geography. Teaching helps pupils understand where places are located, the significance of their locations, and how to navigate and interpret maps and globes. This includes recognizing local, national, and global scales.
Encouraging Curiosity and Exploration: Geography education should inspire curiosity about the world. We encourage pupils to ask questions about different places, environments, and cultures, and fostering a sense of wonder and interest in exploring the world around them.
Understanding Human-Environment Interaction: This is a core principle is teaching pupils how humans interact with their environments. This includes understanding how natural landscapes influence human activities and how human actions impact the environment. Concepts such as sustainability and conservation are important in this context.
Promoting Cultural Awareness and Diversity: We aim for Geography lessons to highlight the diversity of cultures, traditions, and ways of life around the world. This helps pupils to appreciate and respect cultural differences and understand the interconnectedness of global communities.
Integrating Cross-Disciplinary Skills: We recognise that Geography is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing on skills from science, history, and more. We know that teaching should integrate literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. For example, reading maps involves mathematical skills, while understanding historical migrations involves historical knowledge.
Fostering Environmental Stewardship: Instilling a sense of responsibility towards the environment is crucial. We know that Geography education should teach pupils about environmental issues, such as climate change, pollution, and resource management, and encourage them to think about sustainable solutions.
Using Local Contexts: Starting with the local area helps make geography relevant to pupils’' lives. Understanding their own community's geography can be a foundation for exploring broader geographical concepts. Field trips and local case studies can enhance this learning.
Developing Analytical and Critical Thinking: We teach pupils to learn how to analyse geographical data and form evidence-based conclusions. This includes interpreting various types of maps, graphs, and statistics, and understanding patterns and trends in physical and human geography.
Promoting Active Learning and Engagement: We aim to make Geography teaching should involve active learning strategies, such as hands-on activities, group projects, and interactive technologies. These methods engage pupils and make learning more dynamic and effective.
Encouraging Global Citizenship: Geography education should help students become informed global citizens. This includes understanding global issues, recognizing the impact of their actions on the world, and fostering a sense of global responsibility and cooperation.
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GEOGRAPHY CURRICULUM MAP
GEOGRAPHY IMPLEMENTATION ON A PAGE
HUMANITIES LESSON STRUCTURE