Geography
Our Vision: For our children to be environmentally aware, local, and global citizens and inquisitive and informed geographers.
What does it mean to be a geographer? What do geographers do?
Geographers study locations, places, human and physical features and they conduct fieldwork.
Here is a list of typical tasks for geographers:
- Use observations, maps, satellite images and censuses
- Use surveys, interviews and maths data
- Create and adapt maps, graphs and diagrams
- Write reports and present their research
- Use technology to collect, analyse and show data
- Advise governments, businesses and the public with issues. For example, planning homes and roads, disaster responses and landfills.
- Analyse the world’s physical and human aspects
- Conduct fieldwork to gather data
Why is it important to know what it means to be a geographer? The opportunities we give our pupils to raise awareness of different careers and prepare them for the world of work, can be found in our Careers Protocol.
Hart Geography Curriculum
At the heart of the Hart’s Geography curriculum is the substantive and disciplinary knowledge that children need to prepare them for success in their education journey and to prepare them for work in different industries.
Substantive geography knowledge is the core learning from the disciplines of location, place and human and physical geography.
Disciplinary knowledge involves fieldwork and geographical skills. This allows children to investigate and experience learning outside the classroom. Geographers gather, measure, record and present data. Each year group has an opportunity to conduct fieldwork in the school grounds, the local area or the regional area. Children ask geographical questions, such as ‘What is the place like?’ and ‘Has it always looked like this?’
Disciplinary geography knowledge happens because of substantive knowledge. When children know the established facts, they can start to consider how Geographers acquired this knowledge, its degree of certainty and how it is revised.
Recent examples children have spoken about include:
- How our local area changes over time
- Reduction of greenbelt areas
- Country borders changing (Sudan and South Sudan in 2011)
- Invasions (Russia invading Ukraine, which began in 2014)
- How processes change including erosion
- Migration and different reasons for this
Our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum.
By the end of Key Stage 1:
Pupils should develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They should understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness.
By the end of Key Stage 2:
Pupils should extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom and Europe, North and South America. This will include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. They should develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.
Cultural Capital
‘It is the essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens, introducing them to the best that has been thought and said and helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.’
Ofsted School Inspection Handbook 2019
Central to the teaching of geography is the enrichment of the curriculum through trips and visits. Children have regular fieldwork activities within the local and/or the regional area. Pupils develop these skills over time, from experiences in their local village and the school garden, to conducting fieldwork at popular tourist attractions and amongst local industries. These first-hand experiences provide children with a contextual understanding of the subject.
PD Ports
Orienteering at Summerhill
Reading in Geography
In our Geography lessons, children learn to ‘Read like a Geographer’ using the following diagrams:
An example of a Road Map which we use at the beginning of each lesson:
An example of how we introduce a geographical concept.
Our curriculum mapping includes a variety of texts. Here are some examples:
Our children regularly use a range of maps, including:
- Atlases
- Globes
- World maps
- Ordnance Survey
- Digimaps (digital mapping)
- Thematic
- Physical
- Maps throughout history
Key Documents
Geography Substantive and Disciplinary Knowledge – Whole school overview
Useful Links:
- Digimaps for Schools Please check Teams for the log in details.
- KS1 BBC Bitesize
- KS2 BBC Bitesize
- Geography games
- Top Marks
- Rivers and Coasts
- Barnaby Bear
- Class Clips – Geography
- Royal Geographical Society – Geography at home
