Our Geography Intent
‘Geography underpins a lifelong “conversation” about the earth as the home of humankind.’ Geography Association
At Holly Park we believe that geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. 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. We want 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.
We want children to be competent in
- Collecting, analysing and communicating with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork
- Interpreting a range of sources of geographical information including maps, diagrams, globes and aerial photographs
- Communicating geographical information in a variety of ways including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length
We want children to enjoy and love learning about geography by gaining the knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits.
As they progress through the school, children develop their geographical skills in:
- Geographical enquiry
- Direction
- Place Knowledge
- Drawing Maps
- Representation
- Using Maps
- Scale and Distance
- Map knowledge
- Style of Map
- Human and Physical Geography
There is a clear progression of skills in every strand of geography.
Practical Fieldwork
Fieldwork is very important.
In each year group the children do some fieldwork.
Here is the overview of fieldwork projects undertaken in each year group:Overview of Fieldwork
Here is the overview of map work skills: Overview of Mapwork Skills
Here is our Geography curriculum: Holly Park Geography Curriculum Map
Developing Geographical vocabulary is also very important. Here is a progression of vocabulary development: Overview of Core Vocabulary
Here are some examples of our Learning Organisers for Geography:
- Nursery: Where is my special place
- Reception What is around me?
- Year 1 What is the weather
- Year 2 Is Red Riding Hood Set in the UK
- Year 3 Why was London chosen to be the capital city of the UK?
- Year 4 How did the Tudors change the way we see the world?
- Year 5 Do we live in a biome?
- Year 6 What should happen to Antarctica in 2041?
Here are some useful Geography websites:
Children can check the weather daily using the BBC website. Children will begin familiarising themselves with weather symbols and they can compare weather in different areas of our country.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/uk
Good news site for older children. It is important that children know what is going on in the world around them.
http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone/index.html
Key stage 2 introduction on how maps work and how to interpret them
Children can look up their local area and learn standard map symbols. It is good for children to look at different types of maps as each can show different information.
Google Earth can be used by all year groups. Children love looking at areas that they know but also it allows them to visit anywhere in the world!