Geography

“Geography is the subject which holds the key to our future.”

Michael Palin

Why we teach Geography

Teaching geography equips students with the knowledge and skills to understand the world, their place within it, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. It fosters critical thinking, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills, which are valuable for success in many fields. Geography also encourages students to engage with real-world issues and consider potential solutions, promoting informed citizenship and a sense of global awareness.

Our Geography curriculum helps prepare young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding to make sense of their world and to face the challenges that will shape our societies and environments at the local, national and global scales.

At Egglescliffe Primary School, our high-quality geography curriculum aims to spark a natural curiosity and fascination about the world in our pupils. We strive to equip them with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources, and both natural and human environments, along with a deep understanding of the Earth's key physical and human processes.

How we teach Geography

Geography is taught as a discrete subject and a bespoke curriculum has been designed to ensure coverage of the National Curriculum along with children developing a greater geographical understanding of their local area.

Our geography curriculum covers four key areas: locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, and geographical skills and fieldwork. We make full use of the local area and trips further afield to provide first-hand experiences that enhance children's understanding of their surroundings and the wider world. Children will collect data, make observations and create maps when completing field work in the local area.

At the start of each new unit, we check existing knowledge to tailor our teaching to the children's starting points. Our lessons are designed to challenge all learners appropriately, ensuring every pupil develops the skills of a geographer.

We make use of a large wall map in our school hall alongside floor maps, digital maps, aerial photography and atlases to help children gain greater locational knowledge.

Exceptionality of Geography

Subject leader works closely with Academy Trust Lead Practitioner in Geography
Subject leader attends network meetings and PD opportunities
Afterschool clubs incorporated to include Geography skills (Orienteering and JAS Award scheme)
Bespoke curriculum planned to fit the locality and needs of the school (Bee keeping, River Tees etc)
Geography café open to all parents to answer questions and explain the teaching of Geography
External Professional Development attended to develop subject leadership and curriculum
Large Geography display in hall allowing greater awareness of geographical features and allowing access by all children and classes.
Fieldwork opportunities planned by subject leader and class teachers to allow children to collect data and observe geographical areas and features in the local area.
Large floor maps ordered and used to allow greater whole class learning and development of skills (bespoke map linked to school area, UK map and world map)
EYFS and KS1 carry out explorations of school grounds, gardens and local area