St Michael’s C of E Junior SchoolGeography
Intent
At St Michael’s Junior School we believe that Geography helps children to understand the world we live in. We foster our children’s curiosity by allowing them to ask questions about the natural and human aspects of the world.
Our Geography curriculum follows the same cycle in each year group. It begins focussing on map skills of a specific area. It then broadens out to focus more on the physical and human features. In the final term, children are challenged to explore the wider world, its people, places and the impact that we have on the environment. This links well with our school charity, the World Wildlife Foundation.
Our curriculum is designed to develop knowledge and skills that are progressive, as well as transferable, throughout their time at St Michael’s Junior School.
Implementation
Lessons will be immersive, active and varied. ‘Wow Days’, fieldwork and active lessons, inspire the children and allow them to retain knowledge in their long term memory. Subject specific vocabulary will be displayed in the classrooms and will be specifically tailored to each year group to ensure progression. This vocabulary will be referred to during ‘flashback sessions’ in lessons. Teachers will encourage the children to independently make connections and see the bigger picture. The school environment will be geography rich through working walls, resources and vocabulary.
Impact
We strive to allow the children to show their understanding in a range of creative ways. Assessment is ongoing through every lesson through verbal feedback and class discussion; the lesson’s LJ (Learning Journey) is also ticked when the objective has been met or achieved. The impact of the lessons is also assessed through discussion and pupil voice, during which children can be encouraged to use the correct geographical vocabulary. When appropriate, written work will be recorded in each child’s journal. Through marking, pupil’s misconceptions are challenged as they arise. Each term, teacher assessment takes place and the subject leader is provided the names of the children requiring next steps.