Our Context
Our children live in an area of outstanding natural beauty which includes the New Forest, the World Heritage Jurassic Coast and the one of the largest natural harbours in the world: Poole Harbour. Heathland is accessible just a short walk away from the school and we have a small woodland within our grounds. Our curriculum is designed to develop children’s understanding of and respect for their local area as well as new and unfamiliar parts of the world.
Intent
At Ferndown First School we believe Geography is an essential part of the curriculum as it ensures children develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place and impact within it. We believe children must not only understand how diverse our planet is but also to understand how humans have shaped the planet and the current challenges our planet faces. Never has there been a more important time to raise the profile of Geography.
In a nutshell
‘Geography is understanding what our world is like and our impact on it.’
Implementation
- Geography is taught through the big ideas Places, Patterns, and Working Geographically.
- Places is the understanding that there are a variety of different areas of our world. The key questions of where, why and what are used. The key knowledge categories are location, physical features, human features and vocabulary.
- Patterns is the area of Geography where the impact that energy and humans can have on the world. The key knowledge categories are physical processes, human processes, diversity, uses and implications and vocabulary.
- Working Geographically develops the children’s ability to investigate, explain and analyse causes, as well as asking questions. It will develop the children’s ability to use a range of resources to answer questions. The three types of enquiry, and key knowledge categories are locational enquiry, observation enquiry and comparative enquiry.
- Children are taught to develop simple fieldwork skills.
- Geography lessons are taught regularly through the year.
- Lessons are delivered in a number of different ways. Some lessons are shorter and more discussion based, whereas some are longer with evidence recorded in Geography books. Lessons involve paired, group and independent learning. Investigations and discussions play a part in the lessons and not all learning is recorded in books.
- Children are encouraged to be inquisitive and ask questions about the world around them.
- Progression in knowledge and skills documents support staff to make assessments throughout the year.
Impact
Children at Ferndown First School will become geographers who:
- Have a passion for geography, and a sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people who live there.
- Have a secure knowledge of where places are and what they are like.
- Have a sound base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary.
- Have a secure understanding of the ways in which places are interdependent and interconnected.
- Understand how much human and physical environments are interrelated.
- Understand the impact we have on our planet and how we have a responsibility to look after our home.
- Understand some of the environmental challenges that our planet faces.
- Utilise fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques
- Have the ability to reach clear conclusions and explain findings.
- Have the ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment.
