Our Geography Subject Lead is Mrs Johnston

"We are at a unique stage in our history; never before have we had the awareness of what we are doing to the planet and never before have we had the power to do something about that."

David Attenborough 

Geography at St. Joseph's

Geography is essentially developing a deeper knowledge and understanding of the world we live in.  It helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world.  At St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, children are encourage to develop a greater knowledge and understanding of the world, as well as their place in it.

At St. Joseph’s, we aim to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for Geography by providing our pupils with an inspiring, broad and balanced curriculum. Our teaching equips pupils with knowledge about places and people; resources in the environment; physical and human processes; formation and use of landscapes. Pupils will also develop geographical skills; collecting and analysing data; using maps, globes, aerial photographs and digital mapping to name and identify countries, continents and oceans; and by communicating information in a variety of ways.

We want the children to enjoy and develop a love of learning for geography by gaining knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Geography in EYFS is where the children begin to gain a wider experience of the world around them. Geography is taught in Nursery and Reception as an integral part of the topic work covered during the year. Pupils will learn through first-hand experiences to explore, observe, problem solve, predict, think critically, make decisions and talk about the people, creatures, objects and plants in their natural environments. To encourage the children to think and make connections between ideas, adults will ask pupils open-ended questions about the things they observe and experience.

Key Stage One

During Years 1 and 2 children will begin to develop their geographical vocabulary by learning about where they live, as well as another part of the United Kingdom and a contrasting non-European country. Alongside this, pupils will learn about weather patterns here in the United Kingdom and those in hot and cold areas of the world. Over Years 1 and 2, the children will learn to use ICT, world maps, atlases and globes, aerial photographs and plans, simple compass directions as well as simple fieldwork and observational skills.

Key Stage Two

In Years 3 to 6, pupils build upon their previous knowledge and understanding. Learning about more areas of the United Kingdom and Europe and North and South America. Including the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features including; climate zones, rivers, mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes, water types, types of settlements, economic activity and the distribution of natural resources. Developing their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills, enhancing their locational and place knowledge.

Assessment

At St. Joseph’s, we assess pupil progress in a variety of ways . Ongoing assessment of children’s work in Geography is made by informal judgements as we observe the children during lessons. Once the children complete a piece of work, it is marked and commented on. Teachers assess learning at the end of each topic, against the national curriculum requirements. We use this information to plan future work to ensure we are building upon the children’s current skills and knowledge.