Geography Curriculum
Geography Curriculum Intent
At Rowley Lane, our intent is to inspire pupils to become curious and explorative thinkers with a diverse knowledge of the world. We want them to think like a geographer. Our aim is that pupils develop the confidence to question and observe places, measure and record necessary data in various ways, and analyse and present their findings. We want our children 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.
Implementation
At Rowley Lane, we split the Humanities yearly timetable and teach 3 Geography units and 3 History units per year. Geography theme days allow for cross curricular links with other subjects such as Art.
Our Geography curriculum follows the Kapow Geography Scheme and is adapted to our children, our school and our area. The scheme is a spiral curriculum, with essential knowledge and skills revisited with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revise and build on their previous learning. The scheme ensures progression from Reception to Year 6 and enables pupils to meet end of Key Stage attainment targets in the National Curriculum for all areas (Locational knowledge, Place knowledge, Human and physical geography, Geographical skills and fieldwork). Locational knowledge, in particular, is reviewed in each unit in order to consolidate children’s understanding of key concepts, such as scale and place, in Geography.
For EYFS, the activities allow pupils to work towards the ‘Understanding the world’ Development matters statements and Early learning goals, while also covering foundational knowledge that will support them in their further geography learning in Key stage 1. The Kapow scheme units provide a solid foundation of geographical skills, knowledge and enquiry for children to transition successfully onto Key stage 1 Geography learning, whilst also working towards the Development matters statements and Early Learning Goals.
Each unit in the Kapow scheme allows for the opportunity for outdoor learning to take place. The Kapow scheme 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.
- A growing understanding of geographical concepts, terms and vocabulary.
Pupil Voice
"My favourite work was the compass work." Year 1
"My favourite work was the sketch map of a shop, woods, the school and the church. I liked drawing and going to different places. We were drawing symbols of them." Year 2
"I’ve enjoyed learning where all the mountains and volcanoes are and how they are formed. We looked at the atlases and found the mountains and volcanoes." Year 3
"It is exciting because you can learn about things that you would never know and places you have never been and in the future you might go there." Year 4
"It is really fascinating! My favourite lesson was where we learnt about food and where it comes from. We looked on maps and atlases to find out where it was coming from. Geography is really fun." Year 4
"We have been learning about the Alps. I liked learning about the Alps because I like finding out what is in different countries without going there myself." Year 5
"I like learning about the climate change and how it affecting the world." Year 6
