Geography

Intent

Maple Grove uses the Geography Primary National Curriculum to underpin a strong, core curriculum. The children are taught about human and natural environments, people, places and resources. They will develop a secure knowledge of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Their growing knowledge about the world will help deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and the formation and use of landscapes and environments.

Our curriculum aims to provide opportunities for learning that will:-

• Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places
• Promote an understanding of the processes that produce key physical and human geographical features of the world
• Develop competence in the geographical skills needed to collect, analyse and communicate data gathered through fieldwork
• Encourage the communication of geographical information through maps, diagrams, aerial photographs and writing at length

We want Maple Grove children to be future, responsible world citizens, and Geography gives us a way to do this. Children will learn the Global Goals and, through the key ideals, understand how they can act to make a difference in their future.

In each unit, we will explore the idea of ‘legacy’ and how they can use their knowledge to have an impact, e.g. when learning about rivers, we will think about how we can save water or when learning about the rainforest, they will understand how man’s actions are destroying habitats.

How is it taught? 

In EYFS we aim to provide children with a range of learning opportunities that enhance their personal experiences, increase their knowledge, and help them understand the world around them. Our approach includes Continuous Provision, Enhanced Provision, and Directed Activities.
Through our learning approach, children learn to observe and appreciate the natural and built environment around them. They begin by exploring their own homes and nearby surroundings, before progressing to noticing things on journeys outside of their familiar environment. We offer opportunities for children to visit local places and learn about other areas and countries through books, images, and maps. This aspect also focuses on developing their understanding of cause and effect through conversations with adults and other children about what they observe.

Geography at Maple Grove is taught in blocks throughout the year so that children can achieve depth in their learning. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each blocked topic, and these are mapped across the school, ensuring that knowledge builds progressively and children develop skills systematically. Tasks are selected and designed to provide appropriate challenges to all learners, in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.
Geography at Maple Grove is taught through key questions and a project learning approach. Children are presented with an overarching key question for a unit of work. This will be launched through a ‘stunning start’ to immerse children in the topic content and get them thirsty to learn more.
Each subsequent lesson starts with a sub-question through which children will develop their knowledge and skills. The finale will be a ‘show stopping’ ending where the children create a piece that brings together their knowledge of the unit in a ‘real-life’ purposeful way.
Cross-curricular outcomes in geography are specifically planned for, which are indicated on the whole school Geography Knowledge and Skills Progression Map. The Geography provision is also well-resourced, and specific resources are mapped to specific year groups and topics to support effective teaching and learning. The local area is fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice.
Every year group has a skills unit, which will involve them looking at maps and naming continents and countries, as well as learning mapping skills.