Geography

Geography Coordinator: Mrs McCann

“The truth is: the natural world is changing. And we are totally dependent on that world. It provides our food, water and air. It is the most precious thing we have and we need to defend it.” - Sir David Attenborough

The Strands of the Geography National Curriculum

Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes
Understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time
Are competent in the geographical skills needed to:
- Collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes
- Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- Communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

Our Vision for Geography at Eaves

At Eaves, our vision for Geography is to develop curious, knowledgeable and responsible geographers who understand their place in the world and are excited to discover more about it. Our curriculum is intentionally designed to begin with what is most familiar to our youngest children – themselves, their school, their families and their local community – before progressively widening their geographical horizons to St Helens, Merseyside, Britain and the wider world.

This reflects our Eaves Curriculum Model: “Roots in our community – Reach into the wider world.” Children develop strong roots, building a sense of identity, belonging and pride in where they live, before opening windows onto different people, places, cultures and environments and ultimately opening doors to the wider world.

From Our Locality to the Wider World

Our youngest children begin by exploring the places and environments they encounter in their everyday lives. As they progress through school, this knowledge is deliberately revisited, connected and extended. Children increasingly explore contrasting localities, regions of the UK and countries and environments across the world, alongside important physical and human geographical processes.

Through this carefully sequenced journey, children develop their understanding of place, space, location, environment and interconnection, while progressively strengthening their geographical skills through maps, atlases, globes, fieldwork, observation, data and geographical enquiry.

We want children to nurture, value and celebrate their own locality, while recognising that they are part of a much bigger, diverse and interconnected world. Geography therefore brings our EAVES values of Exploration, Authenticity, Vision, Encouragement and Synergy to life, encouraging children to ask questions, investigate real places and issues, make connections and consider how people and environments influence one another.

Oracy Through Geography

Oracy is an important part of Geography at Eaves. Children learn to talk like geographers, using increasingly precise geographical vocabulary to describe places, explain processes, interpret evidence and justify their ideas. Through discussion and geographical enquiry, children ask questions, compare different perspectives, make connections and use evidence to explain how and why places are changing. This purposeful talk helps children to organise their thinking and become confident, articulate geographers.

Geography Beyond the Classroom – Trips, Visits & Cultural Capital

At Eaves, we believe that some of the most powerful geographical learning happens beyond the classroom. Trips, local visits, fieldwork and first-hand experiences are carefully chosen to enrich our curriculum and build children’s cultural capital, giving every child opportunities to experience places, environments and communities that extend their understanding of the world.

Beginning within our local area of St Helens and Merseyside, children have opportunities to observe geography first-hand, use fieldwork skills and make meaningful connections between classroom learning and the places around them. As they progress through school, experiences broaden children’s horizons and help them encounter different landscapes, environments, communities and ways of life.

Ultimately, we want Eaves children to leave us with strong roots in their own community and the knowledge, skills and curiosity to look beyond it. They should understand and celebrate the place they call home while being excited to explore, understand and care for the wider world.

Explore. Observe. Question. Investigate. Connect. Understand. Care. – Geography The Eaves Way.