Geography
Intent
At Campton Academy we aim provide a purposeful platform for exploring, appreciating and understanding the world in which we live and how it has evolved. We want to ensure that through Geography, pupils are able to explore the relationship between the Earth and its people through the study of location and place knowledge, human and physical geography and geographical skills and fieldwork. We are committed to providing children with opportunities to investigate and make enquiries about their local area of Campton and surrounding areas, so that they can develop of real sense of who they are, their heritage and what makes our local area unique and special. We also aim to develop the children’s ability to apply geographical skills to enable them to confidently communicate their findings and geographical understanding to a range of audiences.
Implementation
- At Campton, Geography is taught in every year group, once a week in six week blocks.
- Our Geography curriculum is designed so that children start with ‘themselves’ and their local area before working out to the UK and the rest of the world.
- Location knowledge and map work are woven throughout all Geography topics.
- We have developed a progression of skills with each year group, which enables pupils to build on and develop their knowledge and skills each year.
- In order to support children in their ability to know more and remember more, there are regular opportunities to review the learning that has taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.
- At the start of each topic children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.
- To support their teaching staff can access a range of resources.
- Effective use of educational visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the Geography curriculum.
- Teachers use highly effective Assessment for Learning at different points in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed.
- Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it.
- Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil, including those with SEND or other barriers to learning, can access the Geography curriculum.
- Children are given clear success criteria in order to achieve the Learning Intention with different elements of independence.
- Pupils are regularly given the opportunity for Self or Peer Assessment, which will then be used to inform planning, preparation, differentiation and address misconceptions within that lesson, or for the next lesson.
- Cross-curricular links are planned for, with other subjects such as Maths, Writing and Computing.
- Displays that answer key questions help to create a rich learning environment for some Geography focus.
EYFS
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum supports children’s understanding of geography through the areas of learning: people and communities, mathematics, the natural world and understanding the world. Children learn about features of their own environment such as school, home and community through first-hand experiences and learn how environments may differ through the sharing of books, stories, poems, small world play, role play and visits. Children are given time to discuss, comment and ask questions about what they observe about the world around them and are encouraged to be active learners and explore their interests further.
Impact
At Campton Academy children develop a real sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people who live there, through their learning of Geography. Children understand how Geography has shaped their lives and the world today. Continuing to build on their knowledge, we hope that the children will continue to be interested in the developments of our planet throughout their life. Children gain a good understanding of locational knowledge and have an understanding of where places are and what they are like. As children progress through the school, they develop knowledge of the world around them and can also think about their local area and its place within the wider world. Additionally, our children will have the ability to form opinions, take responsibility and share an understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment.
The impact of this curriculum design will lead to outstanding progress over time across key stages relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. Children will therefore be expected to leave Campton Academy reaching at least age-related expectations for Geography. Our Geography curriculum will also lead pupils to be enthusiastic Geography learners, evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice and their work.