Geography
Welcome to the Geography page.
Mr Smith leads Geography throughout school.
‘Since being given Geography subject lead I want the children to know the study of geography is about more than just memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.’
Mr Smith
Our Geography curriculum …
At Sandylands we aim for high-quality geography education to inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination in about Morecambe, the world and its people.
Engage, inspire and challenge children through a sequence of well planned lessons
To develop knowledge and skills from EYFS to year 6 to achieve mastery of the subject
Engage with the Eden project and contribute towards the Morecambe Bay curriculum
Know how geography has shaped the world’s history and will shape the future of the planet
Understand the environmental issues facing our planet and Morecambe Bay highlighting what we can do to make a sustainable, greener planet on a local to global scale.
Click below to access our Geography Principles, Practices and Guarantee
Geography Learning Pathway
Knowledge
Sequenced opportunity to revisit key geography knowledge…
Substantive – facts about boundaries (continents, localities, nations), cartography (atlases, directions, distance, Equator, latitude, longitude, North/South Pole, maps, scale, symbols), change (adaptation, sustainability), climate (climate change, climate zones, pollution, weather), interdependence (economy, trade), movement (migration, navigation, transport) , geography (biomes, bodies of water, tectonics, topography), resources (energy, food supply, infrastructure) and settlements (population, rural areas, urban areas).
units
Themes – for example … sustainability, people and places and fieldwork. Themes have been sequenced to deepen knowledge, each year has a unit with a sustainability and fieldwork focus. Year 3 study Italy in preparation for their Roman history theme in year 4, whilst year 6 study the Amazon Rainforest using their prior learning of biomes and vegetation in year 5 and rivers / South America in year 4.
Procedural – development of techniques e.g mapping
Disciplinary – How the children want to develop their ideas and thoughts and starting to make connections about people and places.
Timetabling
Geography is taught for an hour a week and alternates with History under the umbrella of Humanities. Each theme runs for 5-6 weeks and then there are opportunities for fieldwork and essential entitlement woven throughout the year.
Assessment
- Geography is taught and assessed again the critical content through a series of checkpoints. The children should be able to articulate the geographical knowledge and use technical vocabulary when answering the big question. The subject lead conducts pupil book studies with the children on a timetable to assess standards in their subject and plan for the next steps.
CPD for teachers
Mr Smith has used The National college and the Geographical Association to watch webinars to expand his geographical knowledge and understand how to further support staff in the teaching of geography. He ran training for staff on using the digimap tool recently following some feedback from pupil book studies.
Essential Entitlement
Year 1 Biodiversity
Year 1 have been trying to increase the biodiversity of the school. The children have loved seeing different types of birds eating away on their bird feeders. This week, they planted flowers in the hope that more butterflies, bees and other animals will visit,...
The Country Trust Lake District Residential
Winter is Coming!
Year 1 have been out in the local area working scientifically to observe changes in the seasons. [gallery size="large"...
Year 1 Class Assembly
Year 1 presented their Science learning this week in assembly to the phase. We talked about how we were learning scientifically, and the changes we had observed in the seasons, from Autumn through to Winter.
What is weather?
Year 1 have been learning all about Weather in Geography. This week, we tested out how to tell the wind direction. In our school yard, we have a weather vane.
Looking for Autumn
Year 1 visited Williamson's Park looking for signs of Autumn: [gallery size="large"...
Year 6 Residential to Low fell farm and Buttermere
The Year 6 children had a fantastic 4 days on the farm. The weather was kind and they took part in lots of different activities from making butter to tending to the chickens and pigs. There was hill walking , sheep herding and a trip along the lake on a boat....
Year 2 – Promenade Trip
Year 2 finally got to visit the local area walking down Morecambe Promenade. We were looking at the local features of Morecambe, scanning for local wildlife and habitats and seeing the local coastal town. [gallery size="medium"...