Curriculum Statement: Geography
‘Excellence, Truth and Grace’
‘Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.’
Philippians 4: 8-9
Curriculum Intent
At Middleton Parish Church School, our curriculum offers a structure and sequence of lessons that covers the skills required to meet the aims of the national curriculum. The content allows for a broader, deeper understanding of the four areas of geography. It will develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places and understanding of the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, along with how they bring about variation and change over time. We intend to develop children's curiosity and a fascination of the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. The units offer a range of opportunities for investigating places around the world as well as physical and human processes, improving children's geographical vocabulary, map skills and geographical knowledge of place and location. They will also provide opportunities for consolidation, challenge and variety, to ensure interest and progress in geography.
Middleton Parish Church School's children will be:
- Ready to Learn: Our curriculum stimulates curiosity by starting each topic with a question that captures children's interest and creates a "hook". We ensure children are ready to learn by providing equipment needed such as maps and compasses. Our curriculum empowers children to be independent, resilient, and to develop a growth mind set.
- Respectful: Children are taught to have an understanding, and be respectful of, a variety of different cultures, environments and perspectives. Children engage in the culture they live in whilst understanding and respecting the cultures of others. Children are taught to be respectful of the opinions of others and to use equipment provided safely.
- Reflective: Children are taught how to, and encouraged to, ask questions using the enquiry cycle. They will reflect on questions asked by themselves, their peers and teaching staff. Children reflect on the impact of human behaviour on the planet and how this may impact physical features of the environment and their lives in the future.
- Aspirational: Children are inspired to have a positive impact on the planet through gaining a deeper understanding of climate change and its impact on life today and life in the future. Children will be taught skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas and which can and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Curriculum Implementation
We offer clear progression across schools and in all strands of the geography National Curriculum: locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, and geographical fieldwork. For example, children in KS1 will begin to use maps and developing mapping skills such as understanding keys and using directional language. They will identify physical and human features of the school building and local area whilst gaining an understanding of fieldwork. In KS2, map skills are developed further using digital and OS maps and will develop and use their fieldwork skills and investigate the wider world. Through revisiting and consolidating skills, our curriculum helps children build on prior knowledge alongside introducing new skills and challenge. Across both key stages, children have a range of opportunities to experience geography through practical engaging tasks beyond the classroom.
Middleton Parish Church School's children will be:
- Ready to Learn: Our clear steps of progression ensure all children are ready to learn and build on their prior knowledge. They will be encouraged to ask their own questions which capture their interests and encourages them to want to know more. At the start of each lesson, children will review previous learning so they can build on this and are ready to learn new skills.
- Respectful: Our curriculum promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. At Middleton Parish we reinforce these values regularly throughout the geography curriculum. Our children have respect for democracy and ensure everyone feels comfortable expressing their ideas and opinions through class discussions.
- Reflective: At Middleton Parish, children will reflect on the questions they asked at the start of each topic and are proud of how their knowledge has developed. Children are also taught to reflect on and empathise with those affected by disasters and conflict.
- Aspirational: Our geography curriculum inspires pupils to ask questions about their local area and the wider world. It inspires them to want to expand their knowledge of the wider world and possibilities for travel for the future. Children make links between what they learn in class, and their personal experiences outside of school.
Curriculum Impact
All children will use geographical vocabulary accurately and understand the different strands of geography, with a deep understanding of the Earth's key physical and human processes. Children will be able to confidently use a variety of maps and will have a good location and place knowledge. Children will begin to make relevant links between geography and other curriculum subjects, such as history and science. They will improve their enquiry skills and inquisitiveness about the world around them, and their impact on the world. All children will realise that they have choices to make in the world, developing a positive commitment to the environment and the future of the planet. Children will become competent in collecting, analysing and communicating a range of data gathered. They will be able to interpret a range of sources of geographical information and they will communicate geographical information in a variety of ways. All children in the school will be able to speak confidently about their geography learning, skills and knowledge.
Middleton Parish Church School's children will be:
- Ready to Learn: Children have confidence in what they have learnt and speak positively about geography. Children can confidently make links between geography and other curriculum areas and can apply this to new learning.
- Respectful: Children have a respect and a good understanding of different cultures, faiths and opinions.
- Reflective: Children are able to reflect on what they have learnt, ask questions and make links to a variety of subjects and situations.
Aspirational: Children are able to demonstrate and understanding that geography teaches fundamental life skills that are not only linked to a variety of occupations in the wider world, but is also a key skill required in everyday life. Children will leave Middleton Parish with resilience and high expectations of themselves.
Curriculum - Geography.
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