Geography

Teaching of geography enables children to understand and develop their fascination of the world in which they live and the interaction between the physical and human environments.

Essential characteristics of geographers are:

• An excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like.
• An excellent understanding of the ways in which places are interdependent and interconnected and how much human and physical environments are interrelated.
• An extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary.
• Fluency in complex, geographical enquiry and the ability to apply questioning skills and use effective analytical and presentational techniques.
• The ability to reach clear conclusions and develop a reasoned argument to explain findings.
• Significant levels of originality, imagination or creativity as shown in interpretations and representations of subject matter.
• Highly developed and frequently utilised fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques.
• A passion for and commitment to the subject, and a real sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people who live there.
• The ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment.

There are three threshold concepts in Geography.

These are:

• Investigate places: This concept involves understanding the geographical location of places and their physical and human features
• Investigate patterns: This concept involves understanding the relationships between the physical features of places and the human activity within them, and the appreciation of how the world’s natural resources are used and transported.
• Communicate geographically: This concept involves understanding the geographical representations, vocabulary and techniques.

In Key Stage 1 pupils investigate their local area and a contrasting area in the United Kingdom or abroad, finding out about the environment in both areas and the people who live there. They also begin to learn and find out about the wider world. Pupils carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside classrooms. They are encouraged to ask questions about people, places and environment, and use geographical skills and resources such as maps and photographs. In Key Stage 2 pupils investigate a variety of people, places and environment at different places in the United Kingdom and globally, and they make links between different places in the world. They find out how people affect the environment and how they are affected by it. Pupils are also encouraged to ask geographical questions, and use resources such as maps, atlases, aerial photographs and ICT.