GEOGRAPHY
Curriculum Intent
What is Geography at Mosborough?
Geography aims to engage and inspire pupils to learn about the world around them.
We aim to foster a positive cultural attitude within pupils and develop their awareness
of global issues. Through answering ‘big questions’ in our geography learning we
encourage pupils to dive deeper into their geographical knowledge of the world. We
encourage pupils to build on previous skills in order to think critically when making
sense of their surroundings and the wider world.
Geography Aims
· As geographers, we are interested in and appreciate the world around us.
· As geographers, we seek to gain new knowledge about our world.
· As geographers, we are inquisitive and strive to answer our own questions.
· As geographers, we can respectfully understand different cultures.
· As geographers, we are mindful of our impact on the planet.
· As geographers, we can gather, read and analyse geographical data.
· As geographers, we develop the skills needed to conduct our own fieldwork.
Implementation
How do we plan and deliver the units?
The curriculum at Mosborough Primary School is organised into three sections;
Discover (History), Explore (Geography) and Create (Arts). Statutory programmes of
study are delivered within this curriculum and where quality links can be made, knowledge and skills are embedded within topics.
At the beginning of the geography term each year group is presented with a puzzling
key question which engages children in geographical enquiry through which the
learning will grow over a sequence of lessons. The children will investigate a series of
enquiry questions which will be generated to build up to answering this key question.
Each topic also begins with an element of ‘awe and wonder’ to ‘hook’ the children into
their new topic. This may include a trip, visitor in, use of immersive experiences or
other.
The questions are as follows:
FS- What makes a home?
Y1- Where do we belong?
Y2- Do we always appreciate what we’ve got?
Y3- How might we live in the future?
Y4- How can small actions eventually change the world?
Y5-What’s the difference between living and surviving?
Y6- How does our world challenge us to change?
Each unit plans to meet the criteria of the National Curriculum and has been carefully
planned out to ensure that geographical knowledge and skills that children are taught
get progressively more complex to build upon their prior knowledge. As children move
through year groups, prior learning is reinforced to strengthen ‘hereafter knowledge’.
In the Foundation Stage, all 7 areas of learning are important and interconnected,
therefore geographical experiences will occur across many different opportunities
offered throughout the Early Years curriculum. Direct adult-teaching of skills is offered
as part of the curriculum alongside an enabling environment that provides a wide
range of learning experiences. Geographical links are made through the area of
learning ‘Understanding the World’, where children are provided with opportunities to
explore and experience geographical concepts and knowledge. Often these skills are
taught alongside a focus story and are interlinked with developing the child's literacy
skills.
At the end of each unit, children of all ages are required to reflect and communicate
their findings to the question so their learning gains coherence.
Impact
The impact and measure of this is to ensure that children are equipped with
geographical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum
at Key Stage 3 and for life as a responsible, conscientious citizen in the wider world.
We want the children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about geography, therefore
encouraging them to undertake new life experiences now and in the future with a
passion and respect for our world.
The outcome of a rich, rigorous and connected experience of learning in geography
will be a knowledge rich geographer who can:
● Ask pertinent geographical questions;
● Assess and critically evaluate potential answers to those questions;
● Make reasoned judgements on the evidence;
● Understand and empathise with the views of others;
● Consider possible actions/reactions and their consequences;
● Adopt a solution-focused approach to geographical challenges.
In order to achieve this and to complement our geography teaching each class also
has a focus on quality geographical books that support and enhance learning and
cross curricular links are made when relevant to fully immerse children in their
learning.
