Geography
Curriculum Intent ‘Empowering Deep Learning in a Purposeful Context’.
At Meadow Green we follow a thematic and engaging curriculum to deliver, not only the statutory National Curriculum with regards to the majority of foundation subjects, but also our own School Curriculum. Each theme takes a main subject to drive the learning forward. We believe that choosing the right context to engage our children in their learning is vital in developing critical thinkers, problem solvers and fostering a love of learning whilst also maintaining our high standards.
ENQUIRY-BASED THEMATIC CURRICULUM
An effective enquiry based approach involves the careful framing of questions, problems or scenarios, (along with clearly identifying the key skills and concepts to be taught) to enable progression through the learning sequence. Enquiry based learning creates classroom environments where independence, thinking skills, collaboration and active learning are developed, at the same time as knowledge is acquired. Through explicitly identifying key skills and concepts as milestones in medium term plans and sharing these with the children, there is greater ownership and potential for children to become immersed in acquiring and deepening their knowledge.
GEOGRAPHY CURRICULUM INTENT
At Meadow Green we believe that Geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. Children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place in it. The geography curriculum at Meadow Green enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas and which can and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Geography is, by nature, an investigative subject, which develops and understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills. We seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives; to promote the children’s interest and 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.
The curriculum is designed develop knowledge and skills that are progressive, as well as transferable, throughout their time at Meadow Green and also to their further education and beyond.
PEDAGOGY & GEOGRAPHY ENQUIRY
Geographical Enquiry is
- An approach to learning which involves making sense of new and existing information for themselves
- Recognises that Geography knowledge, has been constructed by other geographers from their observations collection and interpretation of evidence and data.
- Gives opportunities for children to have more control of their own learning.
Geographical Enquiry
ICT in Geography
The use of ICT in geography helps pupils learn by providing access to large quantities of information on people, places and environments. It also enables children to analyse data to investigate patterns and relationships in a geographical context. Once pupils have made their findings, ICT can then help them organise, edit and present information in many different ways.
ICT provides teachers and students with immediate access to up-to-date, topical geographical information and our highly interconnected world. It is a dynamic medium which, when used appropriately, can significantly reinforce and deepen geographical knowledge and understanding Moreover, it has been shown that students often sustain concentration levels more fully when given the opportunity to support their learning through the use of ICT.
ICT in the Geography Curriculum
- ICT has created new ways of exploring the world through maps. These can now be interactive, of variable scale, and supported by multimedia. They are easily accessible and can be integrated into a variety of media.
- Multimedia software can help pupils to investigate geographical topics that would be too remote, too dangerous, or involve too long a timescale, to be studied without ICT.
- The internet and email enable pupils to interact with peers and other communities, to access and research information and exchange details of weather, environment and culture. This brings otherwise inaccessible localities into the classroom. This can help to develop global citizenship and awareness of the sameness, differences and diversity in the cultures of the world.
- ICT has the potential to offer pupils opportunities to work in role, engage with ‘real time’ situations which promote teamwork, citizenship and thinking skills. Mapping skills can be rehearsed in simulated environments before being used in the real environment.
- Whilst it is not statutory at Key Stage 1 to use ICT, it is clear that pupils will learn from and enjoy activities which incorporate use of ICT. In Key Stage 2 there is a statutory requirement for pupils to use ICT ‘to help in geographical investigations’. Ipads, Google Earth, Streetview and other apps show how ICT can enhance and extend pupils' geographical study.