Geography is an integral part of our provision and ethos at Lakey Lane. It is firmly placed within the context of our aims, visions and values as a school – Aspiration, Citizenship and Equality. Geography is encompassed in our curriculum’s aspirations and expectations of driving and achieving high standards, making progress, engagement, enquiry and diversity. Geography is used to develop the children’s creativity, curiosity and awareness of the world around them. We celebrate their achievements throughout the school environment and ensure that their experiences of geography are enriched by developing children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, within their local environment and places further afield. Children are encouraged to ask questions, use maps, and acquire geographical vocabulary and fieldwork skills in order to develop their knowledge of place, location, and human and physical geography.
Intent
We aim to deliver our curriculum through 3 key drivers which underpin our children’slearning.
Aspiration - Our geography curriculum allows children to ‘think like a geographer’, to deepen their understanding and explore their natural curiosity of our world. We believe children should be given a variety of enriching opportunities to explore, understand and be proud of where they live and the diverse community they are part of. At Lakey Lane, we strive to give children the experiences to appreciate, seek enjoyment and learn about our world. We offer children the opportunities to learn about aspirational explorers and communities around the world – both past and present - in order to inspire their curiosities as geographers. They are taught to be aspirational, ambitious and responsible citizens of our local community, our city of Birmingham, Great Britain and the wider world.
Citizenship - Our geography curriculum develops children’s ability to understand their role as an individual, living in one of the most diverse cities in the world. They are given many opportunities to appreciate, embrace and celebrate all cultures - both locally, nationally and internationally. Children know that they play an integral role as a citizen of Hall Green, Birmingham and Great Britain. They know that they have a responsibility and duty to understand and deliver British values and be proud to be part of our diverse, wonderful world.
Equality - Our geography curriculum teaches children that everyone is treated in a non-judgemental manner, regardless of where in the world they were born or where they live. Children are taught to embrace, respect and celebrate a multitude of cultures, values, traditions and beliefs of communities from around the world and to always be respectful of the world in which they live in and the people who live in it.
Intent of our school values linked to our geography curriculum
Ambition – ‘To strive to be ambitious citizens of the world and to develop a sense ofpride of where they come from, where they live and how they conduct their lives. To have high aspirations as individuals, be the best citizens they can and to have apositive impact on the area we live in, our city of Birmingham, Great Britain and the wider world.’
Self-belief – ‘To know that they are an important part of our local and wider community. Children will be given opportunities to explore the values of our world and the diverse communities, cultures and traditions they have to offer. To know that they play an integral role as a citizen in Great Britain and to be proud of this.’
Community – ‘To develop our children’s awareness and appreciation of our local and wider community. Children will be given opportunities to explore, help build new initiatives and be proud to be part of Hall Green, Birmingham, Britain and the wider world.’
Respect – ‘To show an appreciation of our local environment and to value the place we live in. Children will understand and compare areas in the wider world and discuss how we can make our world a better place. To learn about and understand they play an important role in climate change and that their choices matter. Change starts with them, they can make a difference!’
Curiosity – Children are encouraged to develop their natural curiosity andfascination about our world. They will develop their enquiry skills as geographers and ask questions about the world they live in. They will be taught to ‘think like a geographer’ and experience a variety of enrichment opportunities which allow them to fulfil their curiosity.
Kindness – To care about our school, our local area, the city we live in and show an understanding and appreciation of British Values. To look after the place we live in and show kindness and care to human and physical features we share and more importantly – the animals and people we share them with.
Implementation
Our Geography curriculum promotes a love and respect of the world around us,encourages children to develop their curiosity about our planet and is planned todemonstrate progression.We focus on progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary whilst developing acuriosity about our world and strive to promote the culture of others.
The main areas of geography taught are through the National Curriculum areas of:
- Place knowledge
- Locational knowledge
- Human and physical features
- Map skills and field work
Our curriculum strives to ensure that all children learn to show a love, appreciationand respect for our local area and community, our country (linked to British Values),our continent and the wider world. Our curriculum also develop children’s understanding of the impact of climate change and the part that we all play in it.
To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in Geography, at Lakey we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. It builds upon prior knowledge and develops the children’s geographical knowledge and skills as they move through the school.
In KS1 and KS2, pupils are actively encouraged to use retrieval skills to access prior knowledge which will support and inform them in their current and future learning. Consideration is given to how depth of knowledge and skills will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion. The countries and cities that pupils study have been chosen with consideration of the backgrounds of our pupils and to ensure a full range are explored.
Impact
How will we know our intent has been fulfilled?
- We expect the children to know and remember more, demonstrating good progress from their starting points
- Through discussion and feedback, pupils talk enthusiastically about theirgeography lessons and show a genuine curiosity and interest in the areas they have explored. Pupils use acquired vocabulary to interpret and conveytheir understanding of the world.
- Our children will be able to analyse and interpret information in order toquestion and reflect on the world and its inhabitants.
- The children will have a sound understanding of location and place.
- They will have a secure knowledge of human and physical processes and understand how these effect environments.
- Our children will have a strong understanding of climate change and the impact that they can have on the world they live in.