We have worked collaboratively with schools across our Trust to select topics that fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum whilst immersing the children in inspiring and fascinating geography to promote a love for the subject.
Each year group has a topic which is clearly organised into substantive and procedural knowledge which build on those in the previous year. This ensures that children are developing their skills of geographical enquiry whilst gaining a breadth of knowledge to help them understand the diversity of human and physical geography on Earth.
Our knowledge and understanding of the world begin in Early Years and Foundation Stage; exploring the local area and learning about things in the environment that are significant to our pupils’ lives and getting hands-on in themed learning.
As the children head into Year 1, they will begin to explore rural and town areas personal to them and within their home of the UK; strengthening their knowledge of the local area. Following this, the children will make links to a non-European country, understanding geographical similarities and differences between the UK and Japan.
Moving into Year 2, children’s geographical knowledge is built upon through map investigation, discovering the continents and oceans that make up the globe. The children will dive into the continents of Europe and Asia, identifying their key human and physical features and using this knowledge to explore how life in Asia and Europe is different in comparison to life in the UK.
Building on our knowledge so far, the children in Year 3 strengthen their fieldwork and locational skills, reading global maps and creating their own local maps. They progress their understanding by exploring what goes on beneath the surface of the world, understanding key elements to help them appreciate the wonder of mother earth. With this knowledge, the children will investigate the physical and human features of Africa, exploring the extremes of deserts and rainforests.
Moving into Year 4, the children are jetting off to capital cities around the world to research the similarities and differences between our hometown of Northampton and the cities of London, Washington and Moscow. The children have the opportunity to explore the extreme climates of the world and compare different landforms from arctic deserts to equator deserts.
In Year 5, children explore South America. This incorporates their equator knowledge from Year 4 investigating climates and human settlement and comparing this to life in Europe. The children have an opportunity to put an investigative hat on and research the fair and unfair distribution of produce across the continent, including the impact of Fairtrade.
Finally, Year 6 children use their fieldwork skills to record, sketch and discover features of South East Asia and Vietnam; solidifying prior knowledge as well as providing skills to transition to Secondary School. The children get hands on with a Field Study in the local area, putting all their geographical skills to use in the outside world.
