Curriculum Intent

 

At Eastling school, we are very lucky to have amazing school grounds, which we make use of to support our learning in geography. Our intention is to inspire children’s curiosity and interest to explore the world that we live in and its people, which aims to ignite a love of learning.  We intend to equip children with geographical skills to develop their knowledge through studying places, people and natural and human environments. This seeks to deepen the understanding of the Earth’s human and physical forms and processes. Geography, by nature, is an investigative subject. Through our teaching, we intend to provoke thought, questions and to encourage children to discover answers to their own questions through exploration and research to enable them to gain a greater understanding and knowledge of the world and their place in it. Educational visits are another opportunity for the teachers to plan for additional geography learning outside the classroom. At Eastling the children have had many opportunities to experience geography on educational visits, using our two minibuses. The children have explored the local area,  including the nearby Otterden estate and recently conducted river studies in Canterbury. Local museums also provide an opportunity to further geography learning, as well as trips to local woods, castles and using map reading skills during residential trips.

 

Implementation

In order to foster children’s curiosity about the world, interest and creativity, we are enthusiastic about Geography and encourage children to explore and ask questions. At Eastling Primary School, in Key Stage 1, Geography is taught through a skills-based curriculum. We enable teachers’ autonomy to use the use the National Curriculum to select objectives and tailor teaching and learning to meet the needs and interests of the children in their class. By the end of Year Two, it is expected that the children will have developed their knowledge and understanding of all of the skills set out in Key Stage One. In Key Stage Two, due to mixed age classes, topic teaching is used to progress children’s knowledge and skills. Each class has a long-term plan with two to three Geography topics, which are to be covered over the year. Topics will alternate with History. Geography will be linked into some History topics, where appropriate, to develop children’s knowledge and understanding. It will also ensure all areas of the curriculum are covered in depth. Opportunities are found to regularly revisit prior learning to ensure that skills are embedded and kept sharp. Teachers are encouraged to consider opportunities available to use the school grounds and the local area for fieldwork to enable children to base learning on first hand experiences to enhance teaching and learning in Geography.

 

 

Impact

The impact and measure of this is to ensure that children at Eastling are equipped with geographical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world.

We want the children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about geography, therefore encouraging them to undertake new life experiences now and in the future.