Burnham-on-Sea Infant School

Geography Curriculum Overview

Curriculum Lead: Carly Hatch 

Our curriculum approach to geography reflects our ethos statement ‘Working Together Building Futures’ providing all our children rich opportunities to find out about the world around them.

Intent (curriculum design, coverage and appropriateness) :

Our aim of the Geography curriculum is to inspire our children to be curious about the world around them and their place within it. We support our children to think and act as geographers using an enquiry-based approach where the children are expected to think critically and be able to ask and answer questions. The children are equipped with the vocabulary that they need to become geographers and to talk about the world. At Burnham Infants Geography is taught through engaging topics that follow the National Curriculum giving our children opportunities to explore their local surroundings, and find out about wider geographical places through engaging lessons combined with exciting opportunities, both theoretical and practical. We understand the importance of raising children to be responsible, inquisitive thinkers who are able to process new information, and reflect on it. Children will be given  learning opportunities to develop their understanding of  both human and physical geography which  will enable them begin to have a better understanding of themselves and the wider world they live in as they grow up to be caring, responsible adults who can influence the future of our world.

Implementation (curriculum delivery, teaching and assessment):

Geography is the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments. Geographers explore both the physical properties of Earth's surface and the human societies spread across it. 

To ensure that high quality geography is taking place throughout the whole school we implement a curriculum which is progressive from EYFS through to Year 2.  Our learning in geography will be focused on the four aspects of Space (Where, map work etc.), Place (what is it like- characteristics), Process (environmental-human/physical Geography) and Skills – (fieldwork, gathering and presenting information.) 

All lessons have a strong focus on vocabulary which ensures that all children can talk about geography using the appropriate language. The subject leader ensures that knowledge and skills within geography lessons are progressive through the school through monitoring and evaluating. 

The journey begins for Early Years Foundation Stage, with a a mixture of taught sessions and practical exploration through child initiated play. 

At KS1 geography is taught with a termly focus linked to a big enquiry question. Each lesson is sequences so that it builds on the learning from the previous lesson. Hands on exploratory tasks and key enquiry questions encourage children to explore their thinking and apply their learning in different contexts, making connections with prior learning.  Quality language rich texts are used as vehicles for children to explore key geographical and environmental issues. 

Impact (attainment and progress):

Through our Geography curriculum children will have carried out geographical investigations and understood and used a range of geographical language. They will be able to use simple maps and atlases to locate places and compare and contrast places through discussing their characteristics. Children will be able to identify some human and physical features of locations and taken part in some simple field work studies, recording their findings in a variety of ways. Evidence of children’s learning will be found in their work books, recorded in a variety of ways including writing and photos.

The Geography lead at Burnham On Sea Infants:

- helps design the curriculum map and then monitor in order to ensure that units are being taught at the correct time

 - completes learning walks, talks to pupils about their learning and discusses with colleagues successes and barriers

- is available to offer subject knowledge and advice when needed to support subject teaching staff in their understanding and delivery of the geography curriculum

- ensures their support knowledge and subject leadership is supported through engagement with professional bodies such at The Geography Association.

Review

October 2023