Geography at Longsands

Our geography curriculum aims to inspire pupils to become curious and explorative thinkers with a diverse knowledge of the world; in other words, to think like a geographer.

We make use of our local area in order to develop pupils' fieldwork and enquiry skills through first hand observation, collection, recording and analysis of data. Pupils are encouraged to work collaboratively and to communicate their ideas and findings in a range of ways. Our geography curriculum enables pupils to make links and comparisons between their own locality and the wider world.  We aim to build an awareness of how geography shapes our lives at multiple scales and over time. We hope to encourage pupils to become resourceful, active, global citizens who will have the skills to contribute to and improve the world around them.

In EYFS,  pupils work towards the ‘Understanding the world’ Development Matters statements and Early Learning Goals, while also covering foundational knowledge that will support them in their further geography learning in Key stage 1. 

Our geography curriculum encourages:

• A strong focus on developing both geographical skills and knowledge.
• Critical thinking, with the ability to ask perceptive questions and explain and analyse evidence.
• The development of fieldwork skills across each year group.
• A deep interest and knowledge of pupils’ locality and how it differs from other areas of the world.
• A growing understanding of geographical concepts, terms and vocabulary.

Our geography curriculum covers the National Curriculum content under the four strands of geographical knowledge and understanding;

• Locational knowledge
• Place knowledge
• Human and physical geography
• Geographical skills and fieldwork

The curriculum is structured as a spiral curriculum, with essential knowledge and skills revisited with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revise and build on their previous learning. Locational knowledge, in particular, will be reviewed in each unit to coincide with our belief that this will consolidate children’s understanding of key concepts, such as scale and place, in geography. 

Each unit includes planned opportuntities for pupils to develop their fieldwork skills both within the school grounds and in the wider locality, for example a study of the River Ribble in Year 4 and coastal visits in Year 2

Where possible, we make explicit links between geography and other areas of the curriculum in order to strengthen pupils' understanding of the interconnections between the human and physical world.

Geographical skills and knowledge of place are also developed through our Forest School curriculum.

Geography Curriculum Map

Geography Progression Document