Geography
Subject Leader: Mrs Palmer
Our place in the world
We encourage children to have a positive impact on our world. We study a diverse range of societies, cultures and environments. Children learn about their place in our world both as a local and global citizen. Each year, we celebrate our school's rich cultural diversity through One World Week.
Language and oracy
We have many opportunities for new Geography vocabulary which we introduce, model and repeat, building our children's ability to communicate their knowledge, ideas and questions. We encourage debate and discussion in class where children can practise taking turns when listening and speaking to their peers.
Learning skills
The skills developed within our Geography curriculum support children to become active, lifelong learners. We aim to build children's confidence and independence as well as encourage their critical thinking and enquiry skills, perseverance, problem solving and team work.
Healthy body, healthy mind
Our Geography curriculum supports our children to have healthy bodies and minds as they explore the world around them. Through developing an appreciation and understanding of our natural world and environment, our children can think about their current and future role in it.
Intent
"An understanding of the natural world and what's in it is a source of not only great curiosity but great fulfilment." ~ David Attenborough
At St Mary Magdalen's we provide a high-quality Geography education, encouraging our children's natural curiosity and fascination in the world around them. Children study their local area and contrasting localities, both within the UK and in other parts of the world. They use maps and globes to locate cities, countries, mountain ranges, rivers, seas and oceans.
Through the teaching of Geography we encourage our pupils to:
- develop critical thinking and the ability to interpret the world around us
- gain an understanding of the ways of life and cultures of people in different localities
- be aware of the impact that individuals and societies have on the environment and the natural world
- use the skills developed in other curriculum areas to record and report their findings
Our Geography curriculum is designed around three geographical concepts or 'Big Ideas':
- Location: I am a geographer because I can locate different places in relation to one another using globes and maps
- Impact: I am a geographer because I can investigate how humans and physical geography change and impact on one another
- Diversity: I am a geographer because I explore and know about different places, people, resources and environments.
Implementation
To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in Geography, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Geography is taught as part of termly topics, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum.
Our curriculum is sequenced in line with the EYFS Statutory Framework (2020), Development Matters (2020) and the National Curriculum for Geography (2013).
These documents set out how:
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.
When teaching Geography, teachers should be mindful of the children’s interests and experiences to ensure their learning is engaging, broad and balanced. The children start each new school year with a short unit designed around an aspect of our local area. Our curriculum progresses to build on previous knowledge of local and then global location and place. Each year we celebrate One World Week, offering every class the enrichment opportunity to learn about a specific country in depth, based on their interests and experiences. This allows children to immerse themselves in the cultural geography of a particular part of the world through art, music, cookery, language and traditional stories.
Impact
Our Geography curriculum should ensure that children leave St Mary Magdalen’s with:
- An understanding of the world around them and their place in it
- The ability to express their Geography knowledge and ideas, using increasingly precise subject specific vocabulary
- A clear understanding of location, place and human & physical geography, underpinned by skills and fieldwork in the local area and beyond
- An understanding of global diversity, differences and similarities
- An appreciation of how their actions impact the local environment and the sustainability of the Earth's resources
- The ability to review, modify and improve their work
How to support your child at home.
- Get out and enjoy the great outdoors on our doorstep! Spot the human and physical features along our coastline, explore the different areas of our city, go for a ramble in the South Downs
- Encourage your child to look at lots of different kinds of maps: atlases, globes, bus routes, street maps etc
- Let them try making their own maps: plan routes and take notice of local landmarks, add their own signs and symbols
- Explore the world using Google Earth. Can you find your home, our school, places around the world where you have visited or have family?
- Google Earth
- Watch CBBC's daily Newsround programme together for a child friendly insight into global and national news and developments.
- BBC Newsround
Explore these websites together:
- BBC Bitesize (select relevant year group and subject)
- National Geographic Kids
- CBEEBIES (for EYFS - learn some Go Jetters songs on cbeebies radio)
- CBEEBIES Ranger Hamzas Eco Quest (for EYFS and KS1)
- If you are not already members, join the library; membership is free and you can borrow fiction and non-fiction books from any of the libraries across our city. You can also use the computers in the library and download free ebooks and audio books using Brighton and Hove's free app, BorrowBox.
- Brighton and Hove Libraries Leisure and Arts