Geography

‘The study of Geography is about more than just memorising places on a map.  It's about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating diversity of cultures that exists across continents.  And in the end, it's about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.’  - Barak Obama

Intent

We believe the study of Geography inspires pupils to become curious and explorative thinkers with a diverse knowledge of the world; in other words, to think like a geographer. We want pupils to develop the confidence to question and observe places, measure and record necessary data in various ways, and analyse and present their findings. We aim to build an awareness of how Geography shapes our lives at multiple scales and over time. We hope to encourage pupils to become resourceful, active citizens who will have the skills to contribute to and improve the world around them.

At Buckingham Primary School we use the Kapow Primary scheme which encourages:

• A strong focus on developing both geographical skills and knowledge. • Critical thinking, with the ability to ask perceptive questions and explain and analyse evidence. • The development of fieldwork skills across each year group. • A deep interest and knowledge of pupils’ locality and how it differs from other areas of the world. • A growing understanding of geographical concepts, terms and vocabulary.

Implementation

The National curriculum organises the Geography attainment targets under four subheadings or strands: • Locational knowledge • Place knowledge • Human and physical geography • Geographical skills and fieldwork.

Kapow Primary’s Geography scheme has a clear progression of skills and knowledge within these four strands across each year group. The Kapow Primary scheme is a spiral curriculum, with essential knowledge and skills revisited with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revise and build on their previous learning.

Geography is taught every other half term (each year group covers 3 different topics in a school year). These topics build on knowledge term to term and also year to year and also develops the knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum.  

Impact

An enquiry-based approach to learning will allow teachers to assess children against the National curriculum expectations for Geography. The impact of Kapow Primary’s scheme can be constantly monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives. Furthermore, each unit has a unit quiz and knowledge catcher, which can be used at the start or end of the unit to assess children’s understanding. Opportunities for children to present their findings using their geographical skills will also form part of the assessment process in each unit.

The impact and measure of our Geography curriculum is to ensure that our children should leave Buckingham Primary school equipped with a range of skills and knowledge to enable them to study Geography with confidence at Key stage 3. We hope to shape our children into curious and inspired geographers with respect and appreciation for the world around them alongside an understanding of the interconnection between the human and the physical.