Our Geography Curriculum
Intent
Children attending Kaizen Primary School often have very few experiences of life outside of their local area. At Kaizen, we believe that the teaching of geography should inspire pupils to have a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. As a result, geography is held in high regard at Kaizen School. Topics are informed by the National Curriculum and are sensitive to children’s interests, as well as the context of the local area.
Our teaching, in line with the National Curriculum 2014, equips pupils with knowledge about places and people; resources in the environment; physical and human processes; formation and use of landscapes. We also want children to develop geographical skills: collecting and analysing data; using maps, globes, aerial photographs and digital mapping to name and identify countries, continents and oceans; and communicating information in a variety of ways. We want children to enjoy and love learning about geography by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits.
Early Years explore geographical themes and content through the ‘Understanding of the World’ strand of the EYFS curriculum. This involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
Implementation
Geography is taught in blocks throughout the year, so that children achieve depth in their learning. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school. Teachers plan lessons using the Rising Stars Geography scheme. They also use the progression of knowledge and skills document. The scheme ensures the curriculum is covered and the skills/knowledge taught is progressive from year group to year group.
Geography teaching focuses on enabling children to think as geographers. A variety of teaching approaches are used based on the teacher’s judgement. At Kaizen Primary School we provide a variety of opportunities for geography learning inside and outside the classroom.
Educational visits are another opportunity for the teachers to plan for additional geography learning outside the classroom. At Kaizen Primary School, the children have many opportunities to experience geography on educational visits. The children explore the local area, from local area walks to visiting the nearby River Thames. Local museums also provide an opportunity to further geography learning, as well as trips to central London, the seaside and using map reading skills during residential trips to Maldon Essex and France.
Cross curricular outcomes in geography are specifically planned for, with strong links between the geography curriculum and English lessons enabling further contextual learning.
Consideration is given to how greater depth will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion. Outcomes of work are regularly monitored to ensure that they reflect a sound understanding of the key identified knowledge.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) follows the ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ guidance which aims for all children in reception to have an ‘Understanding of the World; people and communities, the world and technology’ by the end of the academic year.
Impact
Outcomes in topic and English books evidence a broad and balanced geography curriculum and demonstrate the children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge. Children add learned knowledge to knowledge organisers at the end of each lesson. Teachers regularly use low stakes quizzes to ensure that the knowledge has been retained.
As children progress throughout the school, they develop a deep knowledge, understanding an appreciation of their local area and its place within the wider geographical context. Geographical understanding, as well as children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is further supported during residential visits in the UK and France.