Beech Grove

Geography

We follow a two year rolling programme in geography. Please follow the links below to see an overview of our geography curriculum and progression in this subject: 

Year A overviewYear B Overview 

Geography progression Geography sequencing 

 

INTENT

At Beech Grove, we strive to deliver a geography curriculum that encourages pupil’s curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. 

Children investigate a range of places, both in Britain and abroad, to help develop their knowledge and understanding of the earth’s physical and human processes.

We are committed to providing children with opportunities to investigate and make enquiries about their local area of Wellington so that they can develop a sense of who they are, their heritage and what makes our local area unique and special.

Through high quality teaching, we develop the following essential characteristics of geographers:

  • An excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like, both in Britain and the wider world
  • A comprehensive understanding of the ways in which places are interdependent and interconnected
  • An extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary
  • Fluency in complex, geographical enquiry and the ability to apply questioning skills, as well as effective presentation techniques
  • The ability to reach clear conclusions and explain their findings
  • Excellent fieldwork skills as well as other geographical aptitudes and techniques
  • The ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current issues in society and the environment
  • A genuine interest in the subject and a real sense of curiosity about the world and the people who live here

 

IMPLEMENTATION

Geography is taught discreetly each term in 6 week blocks. This ensures that pupils have the opportunity to learn geography every term without long gaps between one unit of work and the next. 

Meaningful links with other subjects are made to strengthen connections and understanding for pupils. 

All learning starts by revisiting prior knowledge. This is scaffolded to support children to recall previous learning and make connections. Pupils create a 'mind map' at the start of each unit of work as a retrieval exercise and as an assessment of what knowledge has been retained. The mind maps are then added to at the end of the unit of work as an assessment of what children have learnt. 

 

Learning is supported through the use of 'learning overviews' which are stuck into the children's books at the start of a new unit of work. These capture what prior learning is needed for the unit of work and what new learning is to be gained. This helps pupils to make links with previous learning.  

 

Each lesson begins with a 'learning question' which the children answer at the end of the lesson. This provides useful assessment information for the teacher. 

 

            

 

 

Pupils also take quizzes throughout a unit of work as a fun way to practice knowledge retrieval and to help the teacher assess what knowledge pupils have secured in their long term memory. 

At the end of each term, the teachers use all the assessment information that has been gathered, including pupils' work in books to assess pupils against the objectives for that unit of work. Each child is recorded as either working 'below', 'at' or 'above' age related expectations. This assessment information is used to inform future planning. 

 

Teaching throughout the school, is enriched through the use of external visits which enable the children to explore the world around them. Fieldwork trips to Simonsbath, Slapton Sands and the local area ensure the children have the opportunity to put their geographical skills and locational knowledge into practice. When appropriate, we also make use of the excellent facilities at Norton Manor Camp, including taking part in the Orienteering Festival run by SASP.

 

IMPACT 

Pupil voice shows that our pupils enjoy their learning in geography and they are confident to talk about what they have learnt using subject specific vocabulary. Pupils' work demonstrates that geography is taught at an age appropriate standard across each year group with opportunities planned in for pupils working at greater depth. Work is of a good quality and demonstrates pupils are acquiring knowledge, skills and vocabulary in an appropriate sequence.