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Geography

Curriculum Intent

At Dorridge Primary School, we follow Kapow Primary’s Geography scheme of work. We aim to inspire pupils to become curious and enthusiastic geographers who develop a secure understanding of the world around them and their place within it. We want children to ask questions, investigate places and environments, recognise connections and think critically about the geographical issues that shape our world. 

Through engaging, practical and enquiry-based learning, pupils develop their knowledge of locations, places, human and physical processes and geographical skills. Children explore their local area, the United Kingdom and contrasting locations across the wider world, enabling them to recognise similarities and differences between places and understand how places change over time. 

We want our children to understand that Geography is much more than learning the names of countries, cities and physical features. It is about understanding the relationships between people, places and environments. Pupils learn how physical processes shape our planet, how people interact with their surroundings and how human activity can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment. 

Our Geography curriculum encourages children to become confident geographical investigators. Pupils use maps, atlases, globes, digital mapping and a range of geographical data to locate places, identify patterns and draw conclusions. They learn to collect, present and interpret information and develop their ability to use geographical vocabulary accurately when explaining their ideas. 

Fieldwork is an important part of our Geography curriculum. Wherever possible, children have opportunities to explore their surroundings first-hand, make observations, collect and analyse data and apply their classroom learning to the real world. Beginning with their immediate environment and local area, children progressively develop the skills needed to investigate increasingly complex geographical questions. 

Through Geography, we also encourage children to consider some of the important challenges facing our world today. Topics such as climate, sustainability, natural resources, settlement and environmental change provide opportunities for pupils to consider different viewpoints and understand how the choices people make can affect places and communities locally and globally. 

Ultimately, we want our pupils to leave Dorridge with a sense of curiosity about the world, the knowledge and skills to investigate it and an appreciation of their responsibility as global citizens. 

Curriculum Implementation

During their journey through school, children follow the age-related expectations for Geography set out in the National Curriculum. Our carefully adapted Kapow Primary Geography scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end-of-key-stage attainment targets and ensures that geographical knowledge and skills are developed progressively from Early Years through to Year 6. 

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), children begin to develop their understanding of the world by exploring their immediate environment, observing seasonal and environmental changes and recognising similarities and differences between places. These experiences provide the foundations for geographical learning in Key Stage 1. 

As children progress through Key Stages 1 and 2, they build increasingly detailed knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world. They study a range of locations and environments and develop their understanding of both human and physical geography. Key geographical concepts and vocabulary are revisited throughout the school so that children can build upon prior learning and make meaningful connections between different places, processes and topics. 

Geographical skills are taught explicitly and applied throughout each year group. Children develop confidence in using maps, atlases, globes, compass directions, grid references, aerial photographs and digital mapping. They also undertake fieldwork, where appropriate, to observe, measure, record and present geographical information. 

Learning is enriched through practical activities, local fieldwork, educational visits and opportunities to investigate real geographical questions. These experiences help children understand that Geography exists beyond the classroom and encourage them to observe and question the world around them. 

By continually revisiting and developing their knowledge and skills, we aim to ensure that pupils become increasingly independent geographers who can ask geographical questions, gather and interpret evidence, identify patterns, make connections and communicate well-reasoned conclusions. 

Useful Geography Websites 

These websites can help children explore Geography further at home: 

  • Kapow Primary – Geography — Find out more about the Geography curriculum we follow. Kapow also produces a dedicated parent and carer guide covering the Geography journey from Reception to Year 6. Kapow Primary 

  • Google Earth — Explore our local area, the UK and places around the world using satellite imagery, maps and 3D views. 

  • Ordnance Survey – MapZone — Develop map-reading skills through interactive games, quizzes and activities. Ordnance Survey currently provides primary resources covering Reception to Year 6. Ordnance Survey 

Exploring Geography at Home 

You can support your child's geographical learning in simple ways. Try looking at maps together, discussing places you visit, observing the weather and seasons, identifying human and physical features on journeys, using Google Earth to investigate unfamiliar places or encouraging your child to notice how their local area changes over time. 

Geography is all around us!