Geography
Intent
Whingate Primary School’s geography curriculum is designed to teach learners geographical knowledge and skills through the context of the school’s personalised aims: communication, live healthily, accept and respect, understand the wider world, dream big and explore. Geography at Whingate follows the National Curriculum giving our children opportunities to explore their surroundings, communities and wider geographical issues through engaging lessons coupled with exciting opportunities, both theoretical and practical. We recognise the importance of raising children as responsible, curious thinkers who are able to process new information, reflect on it, think critically, and apply knowledge and skills to overcome challenges in our ever-changing world. Understanding both human and physical geography will enable our children to have a better understanding of themselves and the wider society they live in as they grow up to be caring, responsible adults who can influence the future of our planet.
Implementation
Geography is taught, along with the other foundation subjects, through a ‘Learning Journey’, which allows the children to learn about a specific area in some depth. We teach geography in a planned, coherent way which is sequenced logically, ensuring that children learn and remember a rich body of geographical knowledge and acquire progressive geographical skills. Geographical skills are covered in depth as part of the learning journey, and when appropriate, in blocks to fully embed the knowledge and skills. In Key Stage 1, the children learn about local and national geography, acquiring basic map reading skills, learning about different types of places (such as cities, coastal areas, rural areas), monitoring weather patterns and exploring their local environment. They will also begin to make comparisons between a region of the UK and country closer to the equator (Australia). In Key Stage 2, we will extend our understanding of the UK, expand further into international geography (including the study of climate zones), and delve deeper into human and physical geography. Children will learn about geographical processes such as how mountains are formed, the position and impact of earthquakes and volcanoes, the journey of a river and the water cycle. They will also develop their ability to compare contrasting locations/regions and will also begin to develop their understanding of climate change. In geography, as in other subjects, pupils have wider opportunities to apply and practise their reading and writing skills.
Impact
By the end of their primary education at Whingate, our learners will have gained a rich body of geographical knowledge and a wide range of transferable skills, which they can apply to other subjects and contexts. Assessment is ongoing and lessons are adapted based on the children’s needs and gaps in knowledge. This builds a rounded picture of each child as a geographer, using practical opportunities, quizzes, discussions and presentations. This enables teachers to challenge children in their thinking and learning. We aspire for children to leave Whingate being able to debate and discuss geographical issues and to be able to reflect and form their own opinions on matters such as climate change and natural disasters. We measure our impact based on pupils’ confidence to ask and explore questions to further their own geographical knowledge and understanding. They will be inquisitive young learners and citizens who choose to understand global environmental issues and seek to make a personal difference in protecting and shaping the world we share. In this way, we prepare our learners fully for transition to secondary school when they leave Whingate Primary.
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