Geography

Here at Sturton By Stow Primary School, our aim is that our Geography curriculum inspires a life-long interest and curiosity with the world and its people. This is done by encouraging our children to ask, discuss and answer questions about the natural and human world as they investigate and grow in knowledge.

Through our Geography curriculum, we want children to be:

able to understand important geographical processes including physical and human geography.
able to locate significant places and identify physical and human characteristics.
confident in using, applying and understanding subject-specific terminology.
able to develop and use a range of geographical skills including collecting and analysing data, as well as using maps and photographs.

Our Geography Curriculum

To support these aims, our Geography curriculum is carefully structured and sequenced so that there is opportunity for repetition and consolidation of key concepts. This planned progression means children are increasingly challenged as they move through the school. We use 'sticky knowledge' throughout the topic as well as during alternate terms to aid children's recall / learning and to demonstrate progress and understanding. At Sturton by Stow, we teach Geography in 3 out of our 6 terms. Where possible, we ensure that Geography is linked to our termly class theme and it often links to our class texts so that children are able to see a real purpose to their learning. Here, they can make connections in their knowledge, as well as transfer skills between subjects such as English, Art and Music.

We use the 2014 National Curriculum for Geography which aims to ensure that all pupils:

develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places - both terrestrial and marine - including defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes.
understand the processes that give rise to the key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time.
are competent in the geographical skills needed to collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes.
interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

Geography in EYFS

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Geography is taught through Understanding the World - thinking about the world around us, asking questions and exploring. Children are encouraged to discuss similarities and differences between themselves and other communities of the world. Their geographical knowledge is built upon through Key Stages 1 and 2.