Geography
Our geography education is designed to inspire a sense of curiosity and wonder in our children in both their immediate surroundings, the local community and the world we live in. We encourage them to raise questions about a variety of localities and environments and to learn about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments that will develop life-long diverse knowledge and a spirit of enquiry.
We strive for our teaching to equip pupils with knowledge about the Earth’s key physical and human processes and its people. As our pupils reach the end of Key Stage 1, we will have inspired our children to appreciate their local area as well as to understand that we are part of a bigger world where areas have similarities and differences. As pupils progress through Key Stage 2, their knowledge about the world will form a strong foundation for them to widen their understanding of how physical and human processes, landscapes and environments are interconnected. They will learn about how the world will continually change over time and we as humans have parts to play in protecting our planet.
The children’s geographical knowledge and understanding is supported by subject specific skills that are learnt throughout the key stages including map reading and fieldwork. These geographical skills help pupils to understand, present, analyse and communicate a range of information, either collaboratively or as an individual. Skills are put into practice both inside and outside the classroom through local fieldwork, educational visits and the use of our own school grounds.
We aspire for children to be curious and passionate geographers, who understand the current human and physical challenges to our planet and to appreciate their role in ensuring a sustainable future. We want to encourage our pupils to be global citizens who are roundly educated and aware of their local surroundings and the world we live in.
We aim to have a broad curriculum with three geography topics during the school year.
Check out the tabs to see what each year group is learning.
Year 5
Amazing Americas
In this unit about the Amazing Americas, children will begin by exploring lines of longitude and latitude; and use these to find locations based on coordinates. They will then explore the continents of North and South America, and the countries that form them. They will also look in more detail at some of the contrasting regions of the Americas, finding out about the landscape, climate and locations of each area. They will identify the similarities and differences between a region of the Americas and Lytchett Matravers. They will also develop their map and atlas skills and practise reading and writing coordinates. They will learn about the ancient and new wonders of the world, specifically those of the Americas.
Rainforests
In this Unit, children take a closer look at the mysteries of tropical rainforests. From the layers of the forest and its animal inhabitants, to the unique climate found in the tropics. They compare a British forest with the Amazon rainforest, and begin to explore some of the conservation issues surrounding the destruction of rainforest habitats.
Changing Coasts
In this Unit, children will discover some of the many ways in which the world around them is changing; with a focus on coastal erosion. They carry out a detailed fieldwork study of Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, where they will also develop their map and atlas skills and practise reading and writing coordinates. They will have the chance to predict the future and look at which might change again in their lifetimes, and explore ways in which the coast can be protected.
Year 6
Industrial Revolution
In this unit, children will deepen their understanding of the Victorian times, where they will be exploring the geographical impact from the Industrial Revolution. They will understand the main factors in the creation of Industrial Britain and locate key locations; key cities, rivers (and how these were important), exploring the use of canals. They will understand how the British landscape changed during the Industrial Revolution, and how the British Empire grew during due to trade.
Trade and Economics
Children find out about how goods and services are traded around the world. They will explore the UK's trade links today and in the past, finding out about goods imported and exported and the methods of transport used. Through a more detailed look at one of the UK's trade partners, the children will learn about the benefits of trading internationally, as well as the risks to this area. The children will also learn about fair trade and why it is important in a global market.
Natural Disasters
Children will learn about the destructive powers of nature, from volcanoes and earthquakes to tsunamis and tornadoes. Through discussion and practical tasks, children will learn about how and why these natural phenomena occur, and the ways in which they affect people and the environment. They will learn how mountains and volcanoes are formed. In the final lesson of the unit, they will find out more about Chernobyl and its impact on Eastern Europe and the rest of the world.
