Discover the world with Geography at Windmill Primary School

"The study of Geography is about more than just memorising places on a map. It's about understanding the complexity of our world."

Geography, as a subject, path and vision in our school is used to inspire children’s curiosity about the world they live in and the people, cultures and economies it contains. Children will become equipped with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and the natural and human environment.

The aim is to extend children’s knowledge beyond their local area to include United Kingdom, 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. Geography at Windmill enthuses a growing knowledge about the world to help deepen understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes. We give children the opportunity to communicate geographical information in a variety of ways (maps, atlases, globes, aerial photographs, stories, pictures, artefacts)

 

Implementation- How is Geography taught at Windmill?

The cross-curricular approach built into children’s learning provides a key strength to Geography. Geography is taught in a number of ways and integrated into the exciting and varied topics of each year group. In the Foundation Stage classes, the children’s work will be related to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals.

By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study. Within both key stages children will build on these key skills:
 

• Locational knowledge 

• Place knowledge

• Human and physical geography

• Geography skills and fieldwork

KS1 Objectives

During KS1, pupils will be given opportunities to:

• Develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. 

• Begin to understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography.

• Begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness.

KS2 Objectives

The work undertaken at KS2 will show progression from the work in KS1. By the end of KS2 pupils will have:

• Extended their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom and Europe, North and South America. 

• Built their knowledge on the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. 

• Developed their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.

The teaching of geography aims to provide learning experiences that provide a balance of knowledge and understanding appropriate to the key stages. As well as a balanced range of perspectives on the lives of people and places. Activities will be created to provide opportunities for pupils to develop, apply and make progress within the wide range of geographical skills and concepts. A large proportion of work undertaken by pupils will have an investigative, enquiry approach.

Throughout KS2 children will build on their prior locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography and geographical skills and field work. Children will revisit key concepts and skills which consolidates learning and demonstrates progression throughout the key stages. Children are summative assessed at the end of topics and teachers elicit previous knowledge in each year group.

Impact of Geography at Windmill 

"In Geography we learn about the whole world as well as where we live"- Year 2 child at Windmill

"I find it interesting to know how different countries live"- Year 5 child at Windmill 

"Geography makes me think about how I can help and make changes"- Year 3 child at Windmill

Windmill centres on creativity and challenge. In Geography children are challenged and also challenge concepts about the world around them. Children are aware of Geography as an important subject and one that also combines the others together. It is at the centre of our cross curricular approach. The aim and impact of Geography is for children to leave Windmill with a board understand of the complexity of the world.

Some useful websites!

• www.ngkids.co.uk
• www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/site/geography.shtml
• www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-geography-programmes-of-study