Geography

Subject Leaders

Mrs B Wellman Mrs A Makin

Geography at William Shrewsbury Primary School

A Journey into Geography

Welcome to the exciting world of geography at William Shrewsbury Primary School. Here, we believe that learning about the world is more than just memorizing facts; it's about asking questions, exploring our surroundings, and understanding our place within a global community.

Our geography curriculum is built around the idea that enquiry sits at the heart of learning. We encourage our young geographers to be curious and to ask 'why?' and 'how?'. This approach allows children to develop critical thinking skills and to make connections between different geographical concepts.

Fieldwork is an essential part of our curriculum. We take our learning beyond the classroom and into our local environment. Whether we are exploring the school grounds to create a map, or the River Dove to investigate its physical features, these hands-on experiences bring geography to life.

Developing mapping skills and a rich geographical vocabulary are integral to our lessons. From creating simple maps of our classrooms to using atlases and digital maps to locate different countries, we equip children with the tools they need to navigate the world. We introduce key terms like 'continent,' 'ocean,' 'urban,' and 'rural' to help them articulate their understanding of the world around them.

We strive for a balance between understanding core knowledge and developing a sense of place. We want our students to not only know the names of continents and capital cities, but also to have a deep appreciation for the unique characteristics of different places, including our own local community.

Our school values of Care, Achieve, Respect, and Equity (CARE) are woven into every geography lesson. We teach our students to care for the environment and for each other. We inspire them to achieve their full potential as geographers. We foster respect for different cultures and communities around the world. And we promote equity by ensuring that all children have the opportunity to explore and understand the world, regardless of their background.

We can't wait to embark on this geographical adventure with your children!

How Geography is taught at William Shrewsbury

At William Shrewsbury, our geography curriculum is designed to ignite a passion for the world in every child. We believe that a deep understanding of geography is built not just on knowledge, but on the ability to ask questions, think critically, and connect with the world on a personal level.

Enquiry-Led Learning

Our approach is centered around the concept of enquiry. Each new geography topic begins with an overarching enquiry question. This question serves as the driving force for the entire unit, guiding our students as they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to formulate a comprehensive answer by the end of the topic. This method empowers children to become active learners, encouraging them to seek out information and build their understanding step by step.

Developing Geographers

From Year 2, we take this a step further. At the end of a unit, students often complete a double-page written assessment. This is more than just a test; it's an opportunity for children to demonstrate their mastery of the topic by writing as geographers. They are encouraged to use the rich geographical vocabulary they have learned throughout the unit, showcasing their ability to articulate complex ideas with precision and confidence.

A Balanced Curriculum

Every lesson we teach is also based on a specific enquiry question. These lessons are carefully balanced to develop two key aspects of geographical understanding:

Core Knowledge: We ensure that children build a strong foundation of facts, locations, names, data, and vocabulary. This includes learning about different continents, countries, physical features, and key geographical processes.
Sense of Place: We also dedicate time to exploring the more personal and emotional side of geography. Through engaging activities, we encourage children to use their senses, values, opinions, and emotions to connect with different places and people. This helps them to develop empathy and a deeper appreciation for the diversity of our world.

Enhancing Our Lessons with Oddizzi

To support our enquiry-led curriculum, we utilize an online scheme called Oddizzi. This resource has been designed by members of the Geographical Association and experienced teachers, ensuring it is both high-quality and relevant to the needs of primary school students. Oddizzi provides us with a wealth of engaging videos, interactive maps, and up-to-date content that enhances our lessons and brings the world to life for our students.

Geography and The National Curriculum

At William Shrewsbury Primary School, our geography curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the world, following the key principles of the National Curriculum for England. We aim to equip children with a deep understanding of people, places, and environments, both locally and globally.

Our curriculum is built around four key areas of study, which are progressively taught and revisited throughout a child's time at our school:

1. Locational Knowledge This strand focuses on helping children understand where places are in the world. As they move through the school, they will:

Name and locate the world's seven continents and five oceans.
Identify the countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas.
Locate the world's countries, focusing on Europe, North and South America.
Use atlases, globes, and digital maps to locate and describe places.
Learn about the Equator, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and the Tropics.

2. Place Knowledge This area encourages children to develop a deeper understanding of what places are like. We compare and contrast different places, helping them to appreciate the diversity of the world's cultures and landscapes.

Study the human and physical geography of our local area.
Compare a small area of the United Kingdom with a contrasting non-European country.
Ask and answer geographical questions about the characteristics of different locations.
Explore how and why places are changing over time.

3. Human and Physical Geography This strand delves into the processes that shape our world. Children will learn about the relationship between human activity and the physical environment. They will explore:

Physical geography: Key physical features such as mountains, rivers, volcanoes, and the water cycle. They will also learn about climate zones, biomes, and vegetation belts.
Human geography: Different types of settlements, land use, economic activities, and the distribution of natural resources. They will also consider the impact of these on people's lives and the environment.

4. Geographical Skills and Fieldwork This is where children become active geographers. We provide hands-on experiences and teach essential skills that enable them to investigate the world for themselves. Children will learn to:

Collect and analyse data through fieldwork in the school grounds and local area
Interpret a range of geographical sources, including maps, diagrams, aerial photographs, and digital systems.
Use compasses and grid references to navigate.
Communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, writing, and presentations.

Through these four interconnected strands, we ensure that our students not only gain a strong foundation of geographical knowledge but also develop the skills and curiosity to become life-long learners and responsible global citizens.

Geography Fieldwork: Bringing Learning to Life

At William Shrewsbury, we believe that geography extends far beyond the four walls of the classroom. Fieldwork is a cornerstone of our curriculum, providing our students with invaluable hands-on experiences that bring their learning to life and help them develop a deeper connection to the world around them. Each year group undertakes at least one fieldwork visit, carefully chosen to link directly to their geographical studies.

Here's a glimpse into our exciting fieldwork schedule:

Reception: Our youngest geographers begin their journey by exploring the immediate school grounds. Through engaging activities, they develop a sense of their place in the world and learn to observe and describe their local environment.
Year 1: Building on their sense of place, Year 1 students embark on a local village walk. This excursion allows them to further develop their understanding of where they are in the world and what is in that place. They learn to identify key landmarks, different types of buildings, and the various functions of their local community.
Year 2: As part of their topic on rainforests, Year 2 visits Twycross Zoo. This visit is a fantastic opportunity for them to see animals and plants from different biomes up close. It provides a tangible link to their classroom learning, helping them understand the unique physical and human features of rainforests and the importance of conservation.
Year 3: Year 3's fieldwork at Packington Farm directly links to their work on climate zones and farming. They get to see firsthand how farming practices are adapted to different climates and how climate impacts what can be grown. This visit helps them understand the vital link between physical geography and human activity.
Year 4: In Year 4, students visit the nearby city of Lichfield. This trip is designed to help them understand what makes a city and the various human features that define an urban environment. This knowledge then serves as a crucial foundation for their later topic on Africa, where they compare and contrast Lichfield with the sprawling city of Cairo, exploring the similarities and differences in urban life across continents.
Year 5: Year 5 undertakes two separate fieldwork trips. They visit the River Dove, where they conduct a geographical investigation of a river's features and processes. Additionally, a local village walk allows them to explore local land use and understand how it supports the population, reinforcing their knowledge of human geography.
Year 6: In their final year of primary school, Year 6 looks forward to exploring a local business to see its global contacts and ties. This exciting visit will help them understand the interconnectedness of our modern world and how local businesses play a role in the global economy, bringing their geographical learning to a close with a real-world perspective.

Supporting Your Child's Geography Learning at Home

Geography is a subject that is all around us, and there are many fun and simple ways you can support your child's learning at home. By encouraging curiosity and exploration, you can help them develop a lifelong love for understanding the world.

Here are some ideas for how to engage with geography together:

1. Explore Your Local Area

Become a "Local Explorer": Go for walks or bike rides in your local area. Ask your child to point out and name different human and physical features like hills, rivers, shops, parks, and post offices.
Map It Out: Create a simple map of your street or a favourite park. You can draw it by hand or use a free online mapping tool. Ask your child to add symbols or labels for key places.
Talk About Your Environment: Discuss how the weather affects your day. Why do we need to wear a coat today? What does the sun do to the plants in the garden?

2. Make Use of Everyday Resources

Check the Weather Together: Look at the weather forecast on the news or on an app. Talk about the different symbols for sun, rain, and snow. You can also discuss how the climate where you live is different from other parts of the world.
Travel with a Map: If you are going on a trip, let your child look at a map or an atlas to see where you are going. You can trace the route with your finger and talk about the different places you will pass through.
Read and Watch: Look for books, documentaries, and films that are set in different countries. This is a great way to learn about different cultures, landscapes, and ways of life. For example, a film set in a snowy landscape could lead to a conversation about biomes and climate.

3. Discover the World Together

Food Geography: When you are at the supermarket, look at where different fruits and vegetables come from. Talk about the countries they were grown in and the journey they took to get to your plate.
Global Connections: Discuss where your clothes, toys, or other household items are made. Look at the labels and find the countries on a map. This helps children understand that we are all connected in a global community.
Look at the World from Above: Use a free online tool like Google Earth or Google Maps to explore a place your child is interested in. You can "fly" to different countries, zoom in on famous landmarks, or explore a rainforest from above.

By making geography a part of your daily conversations and activities, you can help your child see that the world is an exciting place to explore and understand