Geography 

Our geography curriculum is designed to generate a passion for the subject that leads to continued enquiry, future personal interest and possibly careers relating to this area of study.

Intent

At Norton in Hales CE Primary School, the intent of our geography curriculum is to: 

• Foster in children an interest, understanding and enjoyment of geography
• Enable children to gain knowledge of their locality and the processes which have changed their world
• Encourage children to make comparisons between the environment and communities at a local, national and global level
• Nurture an enquiring mind, the ability to investigate, analyse, evaluate and communicate findings and opinions
• Develop specific geographical skills through the use of maps, atlases and measuring equipment (weather)
• Improve factual knowledge of geographical features throughout the world (oceans, continents)
• Enhance children’s sense of responsibility for the care of the Earth and its people
• Deliver exciting first hand geographical experiences throughout outdoor learning

Implementation

Our delivery of the curriculum enables children to apply geographical skills and to confidently communicate their findings and geographical understanding to a range of audiences and build upon these skills as they progress through the school. Content is selected carefully to allow richer and deeper learning experiences. Lessons are learned for a specific purpose and real life applications are emphasised to make learning relevant.

As part of the planning and teaching process, teachers implement the following:

• A coconstructed knowledge organiser including vocabulary which outlines all knowledge children must master and apply in lessons.
• Teaching designed to help learners to remember the content they have been taught and to integrate new knowledge into larger concepts.
• Lessons which carefully plan for progression and depth - concentrating on the geographical skills suited to the age group.
• Trips to locations away from school and visiting experts who will enhance learning experiences.
• The checking of learners’ understanding systematically, identifying misconceptions accurately and providing clear, direct feedback - responding and adapting teaching as necessary. Pre-empting such misconceptions can be used as ‘hook’ questions at the start of units of study.
• Appropriate cross-curriculum themed home learning tasks to exhibit at the end of each unit of study.
• Topics are launched with a Stunning Start, Marvellous Middle and Fantastic Finish.
• Teachers present subject matter clearly, promoting and encouraging appropriate discussion about the subject matter, capitalising on the unique viewpoints provoked by the subject.
• Learner accessible and interactive topic displays in classrooms.

Impact

Our Geography Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress.

In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes.
• A celebration of learning across the school through high quality displays in communal areas.
• Enjoyment of the subject’s delivery with ‘Pupil Voice’ sessions facilitated to discuss children's learning.
• Learners are prepared for their next stage of education.

Helpful Resources used at Norton