Geography
The study of geography concerns the interaction of people and their environments.
As a result of our geography curriculum, learners will gain knowledge through feeding their curiosity about places and the people who live there and by asking increasingly complex geographical questions. Geographical skills development is achieved through learners’ engagement with geographical data represented in a variety of ways, including both digital and analogue maps, graphs and models.
Learners will gain an understanding of the relationship between where we live on earth and the impact on lifestyle, considering climate, economics, society and the environment. Learners will also develop an understanding of their own responsibility to contribute to the resolution of geographical and environmental issues.
Teaching and learning in geography is enriched by our focus on international learning. We draw on a broad range of geographical sources, stimuli and resources to promote engagement with home and host countries’ traditions and cultures.
Our geography curriculum is enriched by a range of trips, visits and outdoor learning experiences. School trips and visits allow pupils to encounter experiences that are unavailable in the classroom. They can help pupils to develop environmental awareness and interpersonal skills within a growing awareness and knowledge of their local area and national community. Use of the outdoors makes a major contribution to environmental education.
Our aspiration is that children are inspired to be curious about different places and develop their knowledge of the world both in and out of school.
To be successful, learners must:
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Develop their knowledge of a range of different places and countries
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Identify a range of physical and human geographical features
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Develop skills of mapping and fieldwork
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Communicate their understanding of the world using appropriate vocabulary and subject-specific terminology
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Understand environmental change and engage with current affairs on a local and global level
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Connect learning within different aspects of geography and between geography and other subjects (e.g. international learning and history)
Implementation
EYFS Understanding the World
Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community. The frequency and range of children’s personal experiences increases their knowledge and sense of the world around them – from visiting parks, libraries and museums to meeting important members of society such as police officers, nurses and firefighters. In addition, listening to a broad selection of stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems will foster their understanding of our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world. As well as building important knowledge, this extends their familiarity with words that support understanding across domains. Enriching and widening children’s vocabulary will support later reading comprehension
Toddlers and young children will be learning to:
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Explore natural materials, indoors and outside
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Explore and respond to different natural phenomena in their setting and on trips.
3 and 4-year-olds will be learning to:
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Use all their senses in hands-on exploration of natural materials.
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Explore collections of materials with similar and/or different properties.
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Talk about what they see, using a wide vocabulary.
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Know that there are different countries in the world and talk about the differences they have experienced or seen in photos
Children in reception will be learning to:
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Draw information from a simple map.
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Recognise some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries
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Explore the natural world around them.
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Describe what they see, hear and feel whilst outside
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Recognise some environments that are different from the one in which they live
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Understand the effect of changing seasons on the natural world around them
International Learning
International learning is a specific area of learning within our curriculum that enables learners to become internationally minded and demonstrate global awareness and understanding.
Our International curriculum support learners in developing a curiosity and interest in the world through exploring and developing an understanding of multiple aspects of a range of different and diverse countries. They will develop a knowledge of their current home country (England) and a range of host countries with a focus on understanding local, national and international communities.
Each IPC unit has embedded within it, across the different subjects, learning-focused activities that help children start developing a global awareness and gain an increasing sense of themselves, their community and the world around them, as well as inspiring positive action and engagement with global issues.
As a result of our international curriculum, learners will gain knowledge and develop an understanding of global issues and challenges and develop empathy for individuals affected by a range of situations across the world.
Our aspiration is that children are inspired to be curious about different places, communities, countries and cultures and develop a sense of international mindedness, being ready to make a positive contribution to their local, national and global society.
To be successful, learners must:
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Understand how they can get along with others and how they can disagree with others in a way that is helpful
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Understand that they can achieve more by coming together than staying apart
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be proud of their own national heritage and culture and, at the same time, deeply respectful of the heritage and culture of others
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develop and use the appropriate vocabulary and subject-specific terminology to describe places, communities, countries and cultures as well as a range of global issues.
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Understand the effects of global issues on people’s lives and the wider world
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Connect learning within different aspects of international learning and between international learning and other subjects (e.g. geography)
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Engage with current affairs on a local and global level, including ethical, social, political and sustainability issues
International Learning – being internationally minded
What does international mindedness mean?
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Building an awareness of global issues, global co-operation
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Developing an understanding and awareness of cultural values
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Promoting international values
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Identifying, realising and understanding the connections you have in your everyday life with the rest of the world
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Learning about the world – experiences, home life, culture, music, literature, art, education and values
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To build on one’s own sense of identity to understand and work with that national identities felt by others
This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. An understanding and awareness of diversity is fostered through the international strands of our IPC curriculum.
An internationally minded person:
- Has a good sense of identity
- Is open-minded and adaptable
- Is respectful of other cultures and beliefs
- Is aware of and celebrates similarities and diversity
- Is a good communicator
- Has respect for the ideas and opinions of others
- Takes an interest in global issues
Geography Policy