Intent
At Keir Hardie Primary we aim to provide our pupils with a rich and engaging Geography curriculum that equips them to contribute to the wider world by learning about current issues that are affecting our world. Environmental issues, such as climate change, deforestation, plastic pollution…
We want to expose our pupils to rich and sustained opportunities that develop their Cultural Capital, ensuring our pupils draw their learning from other countries, cultures and languages. Our Geography curriculum will enable our pupils to become better global citizens, champion global issues, respect diversity and appreciate their moral duty to make our world a better place.
As a result of the current drive to develop new buildings due to the increasing demand for housing and the consequent decline in natural open spaces, we aim to give our pupils opportunities to experience first-hand other areas that are different from our community through Educational (residential) Visits.
Implementation
Our pupils learn Geography using the experiential approach. They visit Outward Bound Centre in Wales, Fairplay House Outdoor Education Centre in Maldon, Lambourne End Outward Activity Centre in Essex, Cody Dock Creative and Community Hub in Newham, Local Walks…
In lessons, pupils use digital resources like the VR headsets and Now Press Play headsets to immerse themselves in Geography, computing programmes like Google Maps, Google Earth, Digimaps, maps, globes, online resources such as Oddizzi to support and enrich the teaching and learning of Geography
Through our well-sequenced learning journeys, lessons are carefully planned to ensure the children are taught the skills and content for their age range. Each year, children progressively learn more about the UK as well as a contrasting place in another location, country/continent. Our pupils learn key Geographical vocabulary, develop their oracy, learn about different places, human and physical processes, key skills and fieldwork.
We expect our pupils to learn the mapping strands. The first is the focus on locating places using atlases. The second strand is building in skills of map reading including symbols, grid referencing, compass directions and following a map in practical activities. The third strand is using maps to make judgements and understand human or physical processes.
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Impact
Displays around the school capture Geography knowledge and skills, pride and curiosity of our pupils. They enjoy finding out and learning, raising questions that help them to gather more information about people and places.
Our pupils appreciate their role as global citizens by learning about and taking an active interest in global issues such as climate change, pollution, especially plastic pollution, sustainability… For instance the focus of our school council is sustainability and our Year 4s recently took part in a Water project with schools in Kenya. It was a proud moment for us.
Overall, Geography is a subject that our pupils enjoy. A student recently said “ learning about different environments makes me want to find out more” It, therefore, gives our pupils a lifelong thirst for knowledge and prepares them for the wider world.
