Intent:

At Birchfield, our geography curriculum aims for all pupils to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place in it and to articulate their understanding using geographical vocabulary learnt throughout their topics each year. We seek to create a life-long love for geography by designing our curriculum to be representative and connected. Through the study of natural and human environments, as well as physical and human processes, we aim to provide children with a sense of awe and wonder about the world they live in, to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and people within it and to promote the children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people and resources and natural and human environments. Clear and coherent progression has been enabled through our carefully designed curriculum, making learning opportunities relatable from EYFS to Year 6.

Implementation:

The National Curriculum is used to plan and deliver geography content in a systematic and progressive way. Our Geography curriculum has been designed around key concepts to ensure that content is taught in a spiral manner and is progressive. Geography begins with pupils learning about their local environment and their community. A world map is displayed in classrooms with the continent the year group are focusing on identified as well as key vocabulary that links to the topic. We enable children to make connections, revise and recap previous Geography units taught using retrieval practice strategies and KWL grids.

Using maps, globes, pictures, photographs, film clips, data, key vocabulary and geographical information, pupils are encouraged to explore, discuss, interpret and evaluate geographical phenomena and issues, and communicate and present their ideas, justifying their ideas, conclusions and opinions across a broad range of contexts. This helps to embed and consolidate pupils’ understanding of geographical concepts and the impact on society and the world. In the wider curriculum, pupils are exposed to a range of texts and learning sequences which support and challenge children’s ideas about geographical concepts, with the intention of deepening their knowledge of geography further. Pupils at Birchfield learn within the framework of an enquiry question. The lessons are carefully mapped out in a sequential manner to enable children to have an informed discussion about the enquiry question, both within a unit and also at the end. Lessons develop the following skills and characteristics to help them become confident learners:

• Develop a curiosity and understanding of places and people, both locally, nationally and globally.
• Develop a knowledge and understanding of the physical and human processes which shape places.
• Foster a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of the world around them.
• Develop a commitment to a sustainable development.
• Use fieldwork to observe, measure and record the human and physical features of different areas.
• Develop geographical skills, including how to use, draw and interpret maps of different scales, and the vocabulary necessary to carry out effective geographical enquiry.
• Formulate appropriate questions, develop research skills and evaluate material to inform opinions.

Impact:

Children develop the geographical knowledge and skills to help them explore, navigate and understand the world around them and their place in it. Our children will have a secure understanding of the subject and the importance and valuable contributions that they could make as informed global citizens and which can impact and shape their future.

The impact of the curriculum is measured through:

• High-quality learning.
• Learning walks, book looks and pupil voice.
• Pupil progress data.