Geography at Fellgate

Subject Lead: Miss E. Kincaid

On this page, you can find information about our geography curriculum at Fellgate Primary School.

Intent:

At Fellgate Primary School we believe that the geography curriculum helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. The geography curriculum is sequenced to enable pupils to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in geography that are progressive, as well as transferable, throughout their time at Fellgate Primary School and into their further education and beyond. Geography is an investigative subject and we seek to inspire children to develop a curiosity and fascination about the world and the people within it. Therefore, the geography curriculum is designed to provide children with a coherent understanding of the world around them by understanding diverse places, people, resources and human and natural environments, together with as a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Children will develop their geographical thinking through exploring the local to the global, the physical and human, people and environments and the economic and social to offer a uniquely powerful way of seeing the world. Children will develop their geographical skills by collecting and analysing data, using maps, globes, atlases and digital mapping.

Implementation:

Geography is taught using the Cornerstones Curriculum, focussing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. At Fellgate Primary School we teach geography through a ‘mini project’ in the Autumn term, that links to the ‘main project’. It is then taught as the ‘main project’ in the Spring term and the Summer term is used to revisit and revise any geographical skills. Cornerstones follows a four-stage pedagogy, known as the Four Cornerstones: Engage, Develop, Innovate and Express.

During the Engage stage we:

• Hook children in with a memorable first-hand experience.
• Set the scene and provide the context for learning.
• Ask questions to find out children’s interests.
• Spark children’s curiosity using interesting starting points.

During the Develop stage we:

• Teach facts and information for deeper understanding and knowledge.
• Demonstrate new skills and allow time for consolidation.
• Provide creative opportunities for making and doing.
• Deliver reading, writing and talking across the curriculum.

During the Innovate stage we:

• Provide imaginative scenarios that encourage creative thinking.
• Enable children to apply previously learned skills.
• Encourage enterprise and independent thinking.
• Provide opportunities for collaborative working and problem solving.

During the Express stage we:

• Provide environments for reflective talk.
• Provide opportunities for shared evaluation.
• Celebrate and share children’s success.
• Identify next steps for learning.

Impact:

Outcomes in topic books evidence a broad and balanced geography curriculum and demonstrate children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge. Children are will equipped with the geographical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world. We want children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about geography throughout their time at Fellgate Primary School.

Inclusion and Equal Opportunities:
We believe that all children should be fully included in all aspects of learning, therefore, we teach geography to all children whatever their ability. Geography forms part of the school’s curriculum in which we provide a broad and balanced education to all children. Where necessary, small tweaks are made to the delivery of lessons to enable all learners to make progress.

Achievements/ Further opportunities:
Climate Change Week is celebrated in school.

We celebrate Christmas Jumper Day.

Earth Day is celebrated in April.

Classes have previously adopted animals from the WWF.

Key topical events such as the World Cup or The Olympics are celebrated in school.

Educational visits linked to geography are provided where possible.

Subject Mantra:

We use subject mantras to develop our children’s understanding of the subjects they are learning. They also help our children make connections and develop their long term memory.

Our Geography Policy will tell you more about the subject and how it is taught, monitored and assessed across the school.

Long Term Plan: