Geography

At Altmore, we aim to provide all children with a high-quality education in geography and give them a wealth of knowledge concerning different locations, the resources present in their surroundings, as well as the physical and human processes shaping our planet.

We hope our curriculum inspires our children to develop a fascination about the world and people within it. We want our children to appreciate the diversity of physical and human features that exist both in far away places and in our local area and to recognise their own position as global citizens. We hope our children develop versatile skills that can be applied across various subjects and play a pivotal role in nurturing their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural growth.

In EYFS

In the EYFS, teachers follow the EYFS Framework. Of the seven areas of learning and development outlined in the framework the one that fits best with geography is ‘Understanding the World’. This area of learning provides the children with the opportunity to make sense of their physical world and their community. Activities are planned that allow the children to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

They learn about familiar features such as houses and shops. They observe and discuss the weather everyday which allows them to become familiar with different types of weather and how it can affect us. The children are guided to make sense of their physical world and community through a range of personal experiences.

In KS1

At Altmore we follow the National Curriculum for Geography. The National Curriculum for Geography aims to ensure all pupils:

  • Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes
  • Understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time
  • Are competent in the geographical skills needed to:
    – collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes
    – interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
    – communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through

Geography concepts are introduced at various times throughout the year, with knowledge being built upon progressively as the children move through year groups. They begin by learning about the features of their immediate surroundings and gradually ‘zoom out’ to understand their position in an awe-inspiring, ever-changing world.

As they progress the children develop their understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Throughout the year, children also develop map skills by using atlases and maps to demonstrate their understanding of place and space and how we represent features of land.

Useful Links

BBC Bitesize
Google Earth
National Geographic Kids
School Learning Zone
BBC Weather Centre
World Geography Games

Useful texts

The Great Explorer by Chris Judge
Ernest Shackleton by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara & Olivia Holden
The Vanishing Rainforest by Richard Platt & Rupert van Wyk
Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter
Tidy by Emily Gravett
The Big Book of the UK by Imogen Russell Williams & Louise Lockhart
Maps of the United Kingdom by Rachel Dixon & Ms. Livi Gosling
Dear Greenpeace by Simon James
Atlas of Ocean Adventures by Emily Hawkins and Lucy Letherland
Paper World: Planet Earth by Ruth Symons & Bomboland
Earth is Big by Steve Tomecek & Marcos Farina
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers

Enrichment

We consider enrichment activities to be an important part of our children’s learning, providing children with stimulating and engaging practical experiences that support the curriculum and create a love for learning. Throughout the school year, children take part in a variety of enrichment activities. These include: visitors in school, visits from authors, educational visits, competitions, performances and celebrating our ‘Altmore Achievers’ in a weekly assembly.

Inspiring a love of learning in the resilient and confident leaders of tomorrow.