A member of Dales Academies Trust
Geography Curriculum Statement
At Carnagill School, our curriculum is built on the attitudes and values: independence, curiosity, aspiration, commitment, kindness and pride. Our school motto is ‘Inspiring Bright Futures Together’, which demonstrates our commitment to developing our children so that they can succeed in life. Mental health and well-being are key focus areas to effectively re-build and restore our school community after the major disruption of the pandemic.
At Carnagill School, the curriculum we offer is based on four key principles:
We underpin all of this with:
Context
At Carnagill Community School, we structure our Geography Curriculum to ensure it is fully inclusive to every child. Our aims are to teach beyond the requirements of the National Curriculum for Geography to ensure they develop understanding of their place in their local community, their country, and the wider world; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum; ensuring the progressive development of subject concepts, knowledge, and skills. This approach is vital in combatting their often-insular outlook – looking beyond the bubble of Garrison life, wherever in the world they may be.
Intent
At Carnagill Community school, we believe geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about 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 enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas. Geography is, by nature, an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge, and skills.
Carnagill Primary School geography curriculum is designed to:
· Be independent by using key vocabulary, linked to their relevant topics and beyond, in context and developing their subjecting knowledge through key questioning during lessons and discussions.
· Inspire the children through curiosity and fascination about the world and its people, which will remain with them for the rest of their lives, equipping them well for further education and beyond.
· Show aspirations through learning through first-hand experiences, such as field trips; encouraging children to share their knowledge with their families and their local community.
· Demonstrate commitment to the wider world by equipping children with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources, and natural/human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.
· Encourage kindness towards the world we live in and have a clear understanding of the impact that global warming is having.
· Have pride in themselves, their learning and have an awareness that the role they play in their community can have an impact on their environment.
Implementation
Geography at Carnagill Primary School is taught in blocks throughout the year, so that children can achieve depth in their learning. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic block and theses are mapped across the school, ensuring that knowledge builds progressively and that children develop skills systematically. Existing knowledge is checked at the beginning of each topic, as part of the KWL strategy (what I know, what I would like to know and what I have learned). This ensures that teaching is informed by the children’s starting points and that it considers the student’s position and interests. Tasks are selected and designed to provide
appropriate challenge to all learners, in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion. At the end of each topic, key knowledge is reviewed by the children and rigorously checked by the teacher and consolidated, as necessary.
At Carnagill Primary School, a Geography lesson will look like…
· A key question will always be displayed and referred to throughout the lesson.
· Subject specific vocabulary will be displayed and taught at the beginning of each lesson. Teachers will also model and encourage children to use this vocabulary throughout each lesson and throughout cross-curriculum lessons (when it is appropriate).
· Opportunities for children to ask questions and develop their curiosity throughout the lesson to support their critical thinking and enabling the children to take ownership of their learning.
· Time for children to deepen their knowledge and apply their skills, displaying what they have achieved through a range of medias.
· Opportunity to celebrate children’s achievements through SeeSaw, WOW work walls and during assemblies.
· Opportunities for children to go on fieldwork trips and gain first-hand experiences.
· Each lesson will start with a ‘Find Five’ task to access prior knowledge and support the children’s curiosity.
Impact
Outcomes in geography books and SeeSaw, evidence of a broad and balanced geography curriculum and demonstrate children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge relating to each of the identified national curriculum strands, as appropriate to key stage, locational knowledge, place knowledge and human and physical geography. Key skills will be enforced through practical, supported fieldwork. As children progress through the school, they develop deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation of their local area and its place within the wider geographical context.
· As children progress through Carnagill Primary School, they will develop a deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation for their local area and its place within the wider geographical context.
· Children will enhance their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and how they affect landscapes and environments.
· Children will have geographical understanding, as well as spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
· Children will be proud of their work and willing to share what they have learnt to their peers, their parents, and the wider community.
· Children’s knowledge and skills will develop progressively as they transition through the school, not only to enable them to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum but to prepare them to become competent geographers in secondary education and beyond.
