Geography

"The study of geography is about more than just memorising the places on a map.  It's about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents.  And in the end, it's about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together."

Barack Obama

Geography at St Giles

At St Giles, the teaching of Geography motivates children to find out about the world around them and enables them to recognise the importance of sustainable development. Through their work in Geography, children learn about their local area and compare this with other regions of the United Kingdom and the rest of the world.

There is a focus on location and place knowledge as well as geographical skills such as using maps, atlases and globes. Through their growing knowledge and understanding of human geography, children gain an appreciation of life in other cultures. In addition, children will study a variety of physical features using subject specific vocabulary.

Children will collect and analyse data from a range of sources and communicate this in a variety of ways, including maps, numbers and writing. Where possible, the study of this subject is cross-curricular and children are provided with an understanding of what it means to be a global citizen. This will encourage a respect for other cultures and the environment.

Our curriculum

Geography is delivered through discrete units taught termly throughout the school. Units are taught in rotation with other humanities subjects. Where appropriate, cross curricular links are made with other subjects. For example, children read and interpret graphs in Maths. Grid references, map skills and orienteering also use mathematical knowledge and link to P.E. Links are made with History in a yearly local study that looks at the history and geographical changes of Killamarsh and by year 6, widens to Sheffield.

Opportunities to apply geography learning to extended writing tasks are utilised well. Children are provided with the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge during field work activities and make use of working as ‘geographers’ at Rother Valley and the surrounding area.

As the children move through the school, they follow the age-related expectations set out in the National Curriculum document. Displays stimulate and support learning and introduce children to key geographical vocabulary. Assessment tasks are used to demonstrate children’s understanding of concepts and allow teachers to assess children’s learning. Classrooms are well resourced with globes, atlases and maps and teachers utilise the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) website for additional, quality resources.

In Geography lessons throughout the school, children are taught in mixed ability classes by their skilled class teachers. By allowing children to work with peers of different abilities and with different skill-sets, all children have equal access to the curriculum. In addition to this, work is adapted to ensure challenge and support at all levels.

Impact 

Children will revisit key concepts and skills on a two-yearly cycle which consolidates learning and demonstrates progression throughout the key stages. At the end of each unit in each year group, children are assessed against age-related expectations through both formative and summative methods. Subject and school leaders monitor the impact of our curriculum provision through completing regular monitoring, that includes listening to the voice of our children.

For Knowledge Organisers, please see Key Stage pages under the 'Pupils' banner.

Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement

Geography Sequence and Progression Grid

Some useful websites!

www.ngkids.co.uk www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/geography/index.html www.dkfindout.com/uk/ www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/site/geography.shtml www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-geography-programmes-of-study