Geography

Geography

‘Geography underpins a lifelong “conversation” about the earth as the home of humankind.’
Geography Association

Geography Policy

National Curriculum Programme of Study

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239044/PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_Geography.pdf

Geography Curriculum Overview

Geography Curriculum Overview.pdf

How we teach Geography at The Round House

Our principal aim is to develop the children’s knowledge, skills and understanding in Geography and we use a variety of teaching and learning styles in order to achieve this. Alongside class teaching, the use of ICE Zone learning within KS1 and LKS2 gives children a rich learning environment. This in turn promotes a love of learning and, we believe, helps to consolidate learning. We believe that our school provides children with a broad range of learning opportunities throughout their primary education.

We believe children learn best when:

· They are provided with opportunities to work independently or collaboratively

· They are encouraged to ask as well as answer geographical questions.

· They are able to explore using maps and atlases

· They have access to secondary sources such as books and photographs

· They are shown, or use independently, resources from the internet and videos

· They are able to use non-fiction books for research

We recognise the fact that we have a wide range of abilities within our classes, and so we provide suitable learning opportunities for all children by offering a variety of different activities for pupils.

The role of the teacher should include:

· Providing children with both taught Geography lessons and the opportunity to explore through more independent activities.

· Encouraging pupils to engage in class discussions including asking and answering geographical questions.

· Providing an initial teacher-input at the beginning of an activity, giving pupils the opportunity to work independently to demonstrate their understanding of a geographical topic and to explore it in greater depth.

· Providing suitable, good quality resources to enable children to learn effectively in geography lessons

· Setting clear expectations for the quality of work to be produced within geography sessions and explicitly teaching this to all pupils. This will be achieved also through specific success criteria that link to aspects of required learning. This also enables children to self-assess their work and edit as appropriate.

Teaching within EYFS

Geography, although not taught explicitly within the Early Years classrooms, is evident in many of the different EYFS topics. Through a combination of exploratory play and class discussion, children start to develop their understanding of the world around them (and the geographical features of such world). Teachers and teaching assistants will provide opportunities for exploratory role-play, opportunity for class discussions and will encourage conversations that require children to reflect on the world around them.

Assessment

The assessment of pupil progress within geography is on-going by the class teacher and is part of formative assessment.

Children are given an essay to write at length at the end of each half-term to assess their knowledge and understanding of the relevant foundation subject and provide them with additional opportunity to write for a purpose.

Teachers are required to carry out summative assessments at the end of each term, where they will assess children’s understanding and update this information on Arbor.

Resources