Geography

Intent

At Balfour Infant School we encourage our pupils to have a greater understanding and knowledge of the world we live in. We believe that Geography helps to provoke and provide answers about the world. We seek to inspire and motivate children with a curiosity and fascination about different places.

Aims:

• To stimulate pupils' interest in their surroundings through meaningful first-hand experiences
• To develop an interest in, and a respect for the environment
• To become aware that the world extends beyond their own locality
• To help pupils to develop geographical knowledge and understanding
• To develop an understanding of the different ways in which people live
• To enable children to make progress and develop their knowledge, understanding and skills.

Implementation

We use the National Curriculum as the basis for our curriculum planning, and from this, we have tailored our long-term plan to our children. We ensure that there are opportunities for children of all abilities to develop their skills and knowledge in each unit and we build planned progression and built on prior learning.

Early Years

Within the Early Years Foundation Stage, geography is included as part of Understanding the World. The children learn to investigate similarities and differences, the local environment and cultures and beliefs, fostering the skills essential to developing geographical understanding. This is set out in the early year’s curriculum as children needing to:

• observe, find out about, and identify features in the place they live and the natural world;
• Begin to know about their own cultures and beliefs and those of other people;
• Find out about their environment, and talk about those features they like and dislike.

Key Stage 1

During 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 about the wider world. They carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom. In doing this, they ask geographical questions about people, places and environments, and use geographical skills and resources, such as maps and photographs. 

Impact

Outcomes and evidence will show a broad and balanced Geography curriculum, the acquired knowledge and where children have made progress from their starting points. This will be seen through learning walks, displays, book looks, the learning journey book, photographic evidence and Pupil Voice. Children will want to investigate the world around them, exploring and using geographical language and thinking critically about the content explored. Children are fully equipped with the age appropriate knowledge of diverse places, people, environments and the community.

What do our children think of Geography at Balfour Infant School?

Year R child: “I like learning about the North Pole because it is a cold place.”

Year One child: “We have been learning about human and physical features. A house is a human feature.”

Year Two child: “In Geography, we went to Rochester and learnt about our local area. We have roads, traffic lights and shops. We created a map.”

Geography Gallery