Geography
Geography
Intent
Guston CEP School’s Primary Geography scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to become curious and explorative thinkers with a diverse knowledge of the world, including our local environment. We want pupils to develop the confidence to question and observe places, measure and record necessary data in various ways, and analyse and present their findings. Through our scheme of work, we aim to build an awareness of how Geography shapes our lives at multiple scales and over time. We hope to encourage pupils to become resourceful, active citizens who will have the skills to contribute to and improve the world around them.
Our scheme encourages:
- A strong focus on developing both geographical skills and knowledge.
- Critical thinking, with the ability to ask perceptive questions and explain and analyse evidence.
- The development of fieldwork skills across each year group.
- A deep interest and knowledge of pupils’ locality and how it differs from other areas of the world.
- A growing understanding of geographical concepts, terms and vocabulary.
The scheme enables pupils to meet the end of key stage attainment targets in the National curriculum. The aims also align with those in the National curriculum. For EYFS, the activities allow pupils to work towards the ‘Understanding the world’ Development matters statements and Early learning goals, while also covering foundational knowledge that will support them in their further geography learning in Key stage 1
Implementation
Our scheme aligns with the National Curriculum, structured around four key strands:
- Locational Knowledge
- Place Knowledge
- Human and Physical Geography
- Geographical Skills and Fieldwork
Key Features:
- Progression and Coverage: Skills and knowledge build progressively across year groups, ensuring all attainment targets are met by the end of each key stage.
- Spiral Curriculum: Concepts are revisited with increasing complexity to reinforce learning, especially locational knowledge.
- EYFS Foundation: Early Years units support Development Matters and Early Learning Goals through flexible, theme-based activities.
- Cross-Curricular Links: Geography is connected to other subjects, enhancing relevance and engagement.
- Enquiry-Based Learning: Open-ended questions drive learning, encouraging data collection, analysis, and informed decision-making.
- Fieldwork Emphasis: Regular, accessible fieldwork—from school grounds to larger visits—develops practical geographical skills.
- Inclusive Teaching: Lessons use varied strategies to cater to different learning styles and include support for differentiation.
- Teacher Support: Each unit includes videos and resources to build teacher confidence and subject knowledge.
- Knowledge Organisers: These help pupils retain key facts and vocabulary.
Impact
The expected impact of following the scheme of work is that children will:
- Compare and contrast human and physical features to describe and understand similarities and differences between various places in the UK, Europe and the Americas.
- Name, locate and understand where and why the physical elements of our world are located and how they interact, including processes over time relating to climate, biomes, natural disasters and the water cycle.
- Understand how humans use the land for economic and trading purposes, including how the distribution of natural resources has shaped this.
- Develop an appreciation for how humans are impacted by and have evolved around the physical geography surrounding them and how humans have had an impact on the environment, both positive and negative.
- Develop a sense of location and place around the UK and some areas of the wider world using the eight-points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and keys on maps, globes, atlases, aerial photographs and digital mapping.
- Identify and understand how various elements of our globe create positioning, including latitude, longitude, the hemispheres, the tropics and how time zones work, including night and day.
- Present and answer their own geographical enquiries using planned and specifically chosen methodologies, collected data and digital technologies.
- Meet the ‘Understanding the World’ Early Learning Goals at the end of EYFS, and the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Geography by the end of Year 2 and Year 6.
Assessment in Geography plays an integral part to the teaching process, allowing teachers to identify pupils’ strengths and areas for development. Formative assessment will be used to inform future planning and ensure pupils are building on their understanding as they progress through the curriculum.