Geography
A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils with a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip them with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth's key physical and human processes.
As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should enable them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and of the formation of environments and landscapes. Geographical knowledge, approach and understanding of skills will provide a framework that explain how the Earth's features are shaped, interconnected and change over time.
Through the teaching of geography, we aim to give pupils the skills to communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including map work, quantitative skills and writing at length.’
National Curriculum 2014
Overview of Geography across the school
Foundation Stage
Show interest in different occupations and ways of life.
Comment and ask questions about places and the natural world.
Talk about things such as plants, animals and natural objects.
Show care for the environment
Year 1
Learn about the UK: identify characteristics of four countries and capital cities
Start to use maps, atlases and globes and simple compass directions and geographical vocabulary
Devise a simple map and use symbols in a key
Place knowledge of local area and school ground
Year 2
Name and locate the seven continents and oceans
The human and physical geography of a small area in the UK and non-European country (currently Kenya)
Weather patterns in the UK and the location of hot and cold areas of the world
Use world maps, atlases and globes and aerial photographs
Year 3
Learn about the UK: identify counties and their major cities
Computer mapping and ordnance survey
Eight point compass and four and six figure grid references for mapping
Local fieldwork about settlements
Year 4
Study of Europe and a region within Europe (currently France)
Learn about European trade links and the European Union
Formation of rivers and the water cycle (link to Science)
Focus study on European Rivers
Use of statistical data (link to Computing)
Year 5
Study of North America and Central America (link to history – The Mayans)
Study of biomes, volcanoes and earthquakes
Learn about latitude, longitude, hemispheres, tropics (link to Science)
Investigate Prime/Greenwich meridian and time zones
Year 6
Study of South America
Focused study of Brazil
Mountains – physical features and locational knowledge
Year 6 researched and wrote about the different countries of South America.
Year 3 have been studying the geography of the United Kingdom and found out some fascinating facts for their classroom display.
In year 4 the children learn how to use a compass and orienteering skills to find their way around the playground, whilst collecting and naming flags from around the world.