01793523041
admin@evenswindon.co.uk
Geography
Intent
At Even Swindon Primary School, we are geographers.
We believe that a well-rounded Geography curriculum will inspire our pupils to enquire about the world around them, develop a strong understanding of their impact on sustaining the natural environment and appreciate the world and the people who live in it.
We would like our Geography curriculum to provide our children with the knowledge and skills they need to become independent explorers. We want our pupils to achieve a sense of belonging, starting with the exploration in their home, school, local environments and further reaching their wider locality in the world.
We strive to inspire our pupils to be resilient, independent and confident geographers, who can draw upon their broader geographical knowledge and skills to help them achieve in other subjects across the curriculum.
Implementation
- At Even Swindon, Geography is taught every other term in KS1 and KS2, which builds on learning from previous year groups. Elements of the Geography curriculum are revisited and included in other areas of the curriculum, such as, Maths, Guided Reading, History and P.E. In EYFS, Geography is taught within the Understanding of the World area of the EYFS Framework. It is taught every term and it links with other aspects of the Framework, such as, Literacy, Maths, P.E. and Communication and Language.
- We have chosen to follow the scheme Kapow to support our teaching of Geography, as this aligns with our intent and supports teachers in delivering lessons which build geographical vocabulary, locational and place knowledge and identify and understand human and physical features of geography. Kapow units ensure that teaching is sequential and builds on prior learning, and they also ensure that geographical fieldwork is built into every unit, further deepening these skills.
- Teachers use highly effective assessment for learning at different points in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed. Pupils are regularly given the opportunity for self or peer assessment, which will then be used to inform planning, preparation, differentiation and address misconceptions within that lesson, or for the next lesson. Teachers also use a variety of diagnostic assessment tools, such as concept maps and questions to support planning and teaching. At the end of each unit, teachers make an overall summative assessment.
- SEN learners are supported by a range of tools, resources and strategies. Our experience -rich, hands on curriculum also supports them in accessing the learning.
- All pupils are given opportunities to further embed their learning through deeper questioning and being used as coaches to model and support their fellow learners.
- We have a wide range of Geography resources, including atlases, globes, compasses, books, enquiry boxes and digital tools. Our school promotes children’s learning and their work is part of the immersive environment.
- Knowledge organisers are introduced at the start of every new enquiry. They present an overview of the key skills and knowledge for the enquiry. These are visual and stimulating resources, which the children refer to during their learning to help them to retain and recall key information.
- The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum supports children’s understanding of Geography, people and communities through the planning and teaching of ‘Understanding the World’. Geography is effectively taught through their wider curriculum lessons and through their enhanced learning provision and environment. Children learn about features of their own environment such as school, home, community and their city through first-hand experiences and learn how environments may differ through the sharing of books, stories, poems, small world play, role play and visits. Children enjoy the valuable experiences gained from our regular trips to places within their local community such as the park and local shops. Children are given time to discuss, comment and ask questions about what they observe about the world around them and are encouraged to be active learners and explore their interests further.
- As passionate Geographers, we strive to include experience-rich opportunities for our children throughout their learning journey. These include regular local walks, focus days (International Day), trips to National Trust locations and other trips as well as visitors sharing their first-hand experiences with us.
- Staff have opportunities for effective CPD to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained throughout the year. The Kapow scheme offers video support for staff and children to broaden their knowledge, as well as the Geography team, who provide planning support, team teaching and develop knowledge in staff meetings.
Impact
We believe high quality learning in Geography has been achieved when pupils can appreciate the beauty of the world around them, express themselves and share their observations about their immediate environment, recognise change over time in the local area and how it has impacted our school, community, local area, town, county, region, country and world.
This will be evident through engagement of pupils in learning Geography, displays of the work that children were involved in, pupil voice, talking enthusiastically, and independent and confident application of skills.
The impact of our Geography curriculum will be overseen by the subject leaders through learning walks, team teaching, book looks and pupil voice, planning feedback and ongoing data analysis.
