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At St Anne's Catholic Primary School, we seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people, which will remain with them for the rest of their lives. We teach geography to enable children to gain knowledge and understanding of the Earth, key human and physical processes, and believe that Geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. Children at Saint Anne’s are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, their place in it as well as increasing their knowledge of other cultures and societies. In doing so, they learn respect and gain an understanding of what it means to be a global citizen in an inclusive multi-cultural country and world. The geography curriculum at Saint Anne's enables children to develop their knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas and which can and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Through the teaching of geography we aim to:
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Go outside. Behold the beauty of the created order, and thank God for it. We cannot love that which we do not see, and we cannot see what we are not connected to.
Canticle of Creation
O Most High, all-powerful, good Lord God,
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Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Fire, Be praised, my Lord,
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Long Term Plan Please see the long term plan for Geography here. |
Equality of Provision and Inclusion All pupils are entitled to access the geography curriculum at a level appropriate to their needs. To ensure inclusion, teachers use a range of strategies. All geography lessons/activities are designed and planned to include all children through a range of different approaches. Lessons are planned to facilitate the best possible outcome for all children within the class. The school makes full use of additional adults who are deployed effectively to ensure that identified children are able to make progress in each curriculum area, according to their full potential. Enrichment opportunities including international days, special events and trips are also utilised to ensure a fully inclusive and engaging geography curriculum. This is supported through several links with places of geographical interest in the immediate and wider locality which engage the children further through contextual and practical learning activities which parental involvement and support is encouraged. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development; Spiritual development: Through teaching geography, we can also develop children’s spiritual development. Essentially, Geography is about studying people; where they live and our relationship with the environment. This involves providing children with the opportunities to reflect on their own values and beliefs and those of others. Children may explore what it would be like to live as a refugee, or as a victim of an earthquake or other natural disaster, to living in a different country or on tropical islands. Children have the opportunity to explore their own feelings about the people, culture, place and environments that they are learning about. Moral development: Through helping pupils to reflect on how the environment is affected by decisions made by people, so that the children can make informed choices in the future. Through discussion, the children learn to appreciate the moral dilemmas posed by introducing changes to the environment (for example, a clean air zone, should deforestation be allowed in a rainforest?) and the effects this can have on the surrounding area. Social development: Through helping pupils to understand the need to consider the views of others when discussing localities, settlements and the environment. Work on a locality in a less economically developed country provides an opportunity to discuss social issues. Fieldwork encourages collaborative projects, making the most of different strengths and interests within a team. Cultural development: An essential component of Geography is place knowledge. By understanding the features and characteristics of their local area, children understand why it is like that, and can contrast where they live with more distant localities, in this country and abroad. This understanding ensures children are aware of the cultural traditions associated with the place they are studying, as well as our own multicultural society. Links with UN convention on the rights of the child Article 2 – all children have these rights no matter who they are and where they live. Article 29 – your education should help you develop your talents and abilities. It should also help you learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people. Reading in Geography
Through reading students will develop their language and vocabulary, understanding of geographical concepts, develop their geographical thinking and communicate geographical ideas. |
It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living. (Sir David Attenborough)
How Can I Support My Child With Geography?
You are already an accomplished geographer! Your daily life constantly provides you with rich geographical experiences, information and understanding. You think and act geographically, often without realising it. It comes naturally … as you navigate your way around your home and neighbourhood; as you make sense of local and world news; as you respond to the weather forecast, as you decide on a holiday location and how to get there.
When out and about in your local area, you can help your child geographically by chatting about local physical features, attractions and activities. You might even like to develop this idea by asking them to provide a tourist guide for their local area for visiting relatives.
On a journey, you can share the road map or map phone app with your child so they can follow the route while you talk about where you are going. Alternatively, ask them to draw a map of their journey to school or the local shop, including any natural or man-made features along the way.
Holidays are an ideal opportunity to compare the location with their home area — you might ask your child to talk through similarities and differences, for example. Holidays also provide an opportunity for a museum visit or a trip to a tourist attraction.
Closer to home, use anything at your disposal! Magazines, TV, films and even some computer games can provide your child with a view of distant places. They enable your child to be transported instantly to another place. Prompt their thinking with questions, such as: What might the weather be like in this place? Why might the road have been built where it is? The list of questions is endless and will lead to all sorts of discussions which will really help to develop curiosity about, and understanding of, the world.
Geography Websites
BBC Teach
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcvEcrsF_9zKxYSbFe_DMWK_VO2phjBjL
Topmarks KS1
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?Subject=12&AgeGroup=2
KS1 Geography BBC Bitesize
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zcdqxnb
BBC-Geography
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/site/geography.shtml
National Geographic
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/teacher-category/geography/
KS2 Geography BBC Bitesize
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zbkw2hv
The Biomes of the World
Our World In Data
Ordnance Survey - Improve your map skills: scale, compass, directions, grid-references etc
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone
Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. – St. Francis of Assisi |