Geography
Pinner Wood uses the Geography Primary National Curriculum to underpin a strong, core curriculum. The children are provided with knowledge about human and natural environments, people, places and resources. They will develop a secure knowledge of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Their growing knowledge about the world will help deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and the formation and use of landscapes and environments.
Our curriculum aims to provide opportunities of learning that will:-
Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places
Promote an understanding of the processes that produce key physical and human geographical features of the world
Develop competence in the geographical skills needed to collect, analyse and communicate data gathered through fieldwork
Encourage the communication of geographical information through maps, diagrams, aerial photographs and writing at length
We want Pinner Wood children to be future, responsible world citizens and Geography gives us a way to do this. Children will learn the Global Goals and through the key ideals will understand how they can take action to make a difference to their future.
In each unit we will explore the idea of ‘legacy’ and how they can use their knowledge to have an impact e.g. when learning about rivers we will think about how we can save water or when learning about the rainforest, they will understand how man’s actions are destroying habitats.
Geography at Pinner Wood is delivered in half termly blocks throughout the year, allowing for children to achieve depth in their learning. Key knowledge and skills of each unit of work are mapped across the school, ensuring that knowledge builds progressively and that children develop skills systematically. Tasks are selected and designed to provide appropriate challenge to all learners, in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.
A ‘big’ key question provides the stimulus for the start of a unit of work and subsequent lessons are derived from associated key questions that build knowledge and skills sequentially. This will be launched though a ‘stunning start’ to immerse children in the topic content and get them thirsty to learn more. The finale will be a ‘show casing’ ending where the children create a piece that brings together their knowledge of the unit in a purposeful way. Work is presented in a class project learning book and also on display in each classroom. This learning journey evolves throughout the topic and provides further opportunities for children to build up a secure knowledge of previous learning.
Cross curricular outcomes in geography are specifically planned for and these are indicated on the whole school Geography Knowledge and Skills Progression Map. The Geography provision is also well resourced and specific resources are mapped to specific year groups and topics to support effective teaching and learning. The local area is fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice.
Fieldwork
Alongside our classroom learning, we create a number of opportunities for children to learn outside the classroom, on trips and in their local community. This may include completing studies and questionnaires about shops in the local area, reviewing the flora and fauna of our school site and studying biodiversity.
Sustainability
Unique and fulfilling opportunities for outdoor learning are embedded throughout the curriculum to allow for stimulating and enjoyable learning experiences. There are also links made to Sustainability within the inside classroom learning. You can find more information about Sustainability at Pinner Wood here.
