Geography

Welcome to Humanities!

Here is the team: Mrs K Gilbert, Mrs S Williams and Miss H McCallum. All are willing and able to support.

Intent

At Norwood, we believe that Geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. Children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place in it. The geography curriculum at Norwood enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas and which can and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Geography is, by nature, an investigative subject, which develops and understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills. We seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives; to promote the children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. The curriculum is designed to develop knowledge and skills that are progressive, as well as transferable, throughout the children’s full-time education. At Norwood we are incredibly passionate about the use of fieldwork to enhance our learning. These trips help give children real first-hand experiences, such as seeing a river and the landscape of the Lake District. Through our learning, we are always enhancing our enquiry skills to ensure that the children are obtaining the right level of independence in their learning.

Implementation

Geography at Norwood is taught through a two-week timetable throughout the year, so that children can access regular teaching. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each ‘topic’ and consideration has been given to ensure progression. At the beginning of each topic, children are able to convey what they know already as well as what they would like to find out. This informs the programme of study and also ensures that lessons are relevant and take account of children’s different starting points. Consideration is given to how greater depth will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.

Cross curricular outcomes in Geography are specifically planned for, with strong links between geography and morning English lessons identified, planned for and utilised. The local area is fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice.

Impact

Outcomes are generally seen in the Knowledge and Understanding books, demonstrating evidence of a broad and balanced geography curriculum. Children review their successes in achieving the lesson objectives at the end of every session and this skills and knowledge ‘REWIND’ at the start of every new lesson. As children progress throughout the school, they develop a deep knowledge, understanding an appreciation of their local area and its place within the wider geographical context. Geographical understanding, as well as children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is further supported by the school’s links with international partner schools. Children are able to learn about careers related to geography from members of the local and wider community with specialist skills and knowledge, ensuring that they are well prepared for the next steps of their education.

By the end of a pupil’s time in Norwood, we want our children in Geography to:

• Use maps, atlases, globes and digital / computer mapping to locate places efficiently (must include places detailed in the Knowledge section).
• Describe features of the UK (referring to physical and human geography in the Knowledge section).
• Describe counties in the UK (referring to physical and human geography in the Knowledge section).
• Compare and contrast a region of the UK and a region within North or South America, showing understanding of the similarities and differences (and referring to physical and human geography in the Knowledge section).
• Identify the position and significance of latitude, longitude, the Prime / Greenwich Meridian and time zones (including day and night). 
• Use the eight points of a compass, six figure grid references and can identify a wider range of map symbols (including through the use of Ordnance Survey maps).
• Use fieldwork to observe, measure, record and present the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods (including sketching maps, creating plans and graphs and using digital technologies).
• To know some European countries and their capital cities (at least six, not including those in the UK).
• Know some world-wide countries and some of their major cities.
• Know some of the main rivers, mountains and regions (e.g. the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District, the Highlands of Scotland) in the UK (at least three of each).
• Know some of the main rivers and mountains in Europe and the rest of the world.
• Know some key vocabulary relating to physical geography (all of the Year 1/2 and Year 3/4 vocabulary plus climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts).
• Know some key vocabulary relating to human geography (all of the Year 1/2 and Year 3/4 vocabulary plus economic activity, trade links and the distribution of natural resources such as energy, food, minerals and water).
• Know how some physical and human features of the UK have changed over time (e.g. expansion of cities, travel networks, coastal erosion).

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