Geography | Arlecdon Primary School

Geography

Curriculum Intent- Geography

At Thornhill and Arlecdon Primary School we believe that children should learn about themselves and their environment. It is part of Learning about Our World, a key element of our Curriculum.

Our Early Years Curriculum enables children to explore and develop in knowledge and skill through themes. Many of these themes ensure the chance to develop a basic understanding of geography, a sense of place and to wonder at the natural world.

We aim for children to have the following skills and knowledge by the end of the EYFS:

To have knowledge of the key world environments including local spaces.
To understand that the key to survival for animals and plants is their environment.
To recognise beauty and wonder in the natural world as part of ‘Taking Notice’ for mental wellbeing

We aim for all children to have the following skills and knowledge by the end of Key Stage One:

Understand the key areas of the world which are hot, cold, wet and dry.
Name some of the continents and oceans of the world.
Use an 4 -point compass.
Compare maps and photographs, using a key.
Know the difference between human and physical features.
Describe the key features of urban and rural environments.
Describe the local geography and have visited several places of interest locally.
To recognise beauty and wonder in the natural world as part of ‘Taking Notice’ for mental wellbeing

We aim for all children to have the following skills and knowledge by the end of Key stage Two:

To know and use keys on a map, including ordnance survey maps and to understand how a compass work .
To understand the local environment and effect this has on people, animals and the weather, including tourism.
To have a good working knowledge of their locality, including the Lake District National Park. To have visited several sites of geographical interest in the locality and talk about the landscape.
To be able to compare several places in and out of the UK by their human and physical geography.
To recognise beauty and wonder in the natural world as part of ‘Taking Notice’ for mental wellbeing

Early Years

Key Stage One coverage

Key Stage Two coverage

The following Early Years themes have a Geography link-

Homes

traditional tales

Jungle

Weather

Woods and forests

Polar landscape

Ponds

Gruffalo

Our Village

Growing things

Seasonal changes

Seaside/ under the sea

Mini beasts

Water

India

castles

farms

The world around us- continents, oceans and the UK

Our locality- human and physical features of the village/ West Cumbria / Lake District

Another locality -human and physical features of a village/ town in Africa (or) South America

Weather and Climate in the UK and the world- severe weather in the UK and around the world

Compass directions- 4 points and directional language

Maps – human and physical features, create own simple map with symbols. Study of school grounds and village.

The UK- human and physical features, using an atlas. Our locality in context

Our region- The Lake District ( human and physical features) compare to a city ( York/ Edinburgh/ London)

The journey of water- the water cycle ( local rivers – Ennerdale Water)

The world- longitude/ latitude, Equator and Time zones, climates and biomes

volcanoes, tsunami and earthquakes- why do they occur and what impact do they have?

8 -point compasses- why are they useful?

Europe- countries, cities and climates- key places/ characteristics

Europe focus – Greece ( linked to History)

South America focus ( linked to Mayan’s)

Human geography- settlements and land use locally and in UK- sketches, maps and carrying out field work

use of grid references on maps, ordnance survey maps