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Part of the Heath Family (NW)

Geography

At Daresbury Primary School, we want every child to SHINE as a geographer. Our Geography curriculum encourages children to be curious and fascinated by the world around them, developing their knowledge of places, people, environments and the physical and human processes that shape our world.

We want children to develop a secure understanding of their local area, the United Kingdom, Europe and the wider world, while recognising the connections between people, places and environments. Through Geography, children develop a greater understanding of the world and begin to recognise their own roles and responsibilities as global citizens, both now and in the future.

Our Geography curriculum is part of our trust-wide curriculum and is carefully sequenced so that children progressively build and connect their geographical knowledge, vocabulary and skills as they move through school. Learning systematically develops children's understanding of the United Kingdom and the world's countries and continents, while allowing them to revisit important geographical concepts and make connections between previous and new learning.

Geographical Knowledge and Skills

In accordance with the National Curriculum, children develop their knowledge and understanding across locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, and geographical skills and fieldwork.

Throughout their time at Daresbury, children are given regular opportunities to:

  • develop their knowledge of the United Kingdom, its countries, regions and key geographical features;

  • locate and explore countries, continents, oceans and significant places around the world;

  • compare and contrast different places and environments;

  • understand important physical and human geographical features and processes;

  • explore the relationships between people, places and environments;

  • use maps, atlases, globes and digital mapping to locate and investigate places;

  • use geographical vocabulary accurately when describing and explaining their ideas;

  • collect, record, present and interpret geographical information;

  • ask and investigate geographical questions;

  • use fieldwork to observe, measure, record and understand the geography of the world around them.

Children are encouraged to think geographically, making connections between the near and far, the physical and human, and people and their environments. As they progress through school, they develop an increasingly detailed understanding of how places are connected and how they can change over time.

Fieldwork and Geographical Enquiry

Fieldwork is an important part of our Geography curriculum because it enables children to experience and investigate geography beyond the classroom.

Children have opportunities to explore their school grounds and local area, using observation, measurement, data collection, maps and other geographical tools to investigate their surroundings. These experiences allow children to apply their geographical knowledge and skills in meaningful contexts and develop a stronger understanding of the place in which they live.

As children progress through school, they develop increasing independence in asking geographical questions, gathering information, interpreting evidence and drawing conclusions about the places and environments they investigate.

Geography and SHINE

Geography makes an important contribution to our Daresbury SHINE framework: Safe, Healthy, Independent, Nurturing and Exploring.

Safe – Children learn about their local environment and the wider world, including how people respond to environmental challenges and natural hazards. During fieldwork, they learn to explore environments safely and responsibly.

Healthy – Children explore how environments and human choices can influence people's lives and wellbeing and develop an understanding of the importance of creating and caring for healthy places.

Independent – Children develop confidence in using maps, atlases and geographical information, asking questions, interpreting evidence and reaching their own geographical conclusions.

Nurturing – Children develop respect for different people, places, cultures and environments and consider their responsibilities towards other people and the planet.

Exploring – Children are encouraged to be curious about the world, investigate places and environments, undertake fieldwork and ask questions about why the world is the way it is.

Leadership Through Geography

We believe Geography provides valuable opportunities for children to develop leadership, responsibility and care for the world around them.

Our Eco Warriors take an active role in helping our school think about its impact on the environment. They help to raise awareness of environmental issues, encourage positive choices and support initiatives that make our school more sustainable.

Through this role, children have opportunities to put their geographical understanding into action, develop their confidence and leadership skills and encourage others to take responsibility for looking after our school, our local environment and the wider world.

Geography Beyond the Classroom

We want children to understand that Geography is not simply something that happens in a lesson. Geography surrounds us and helps children to understand their local community, the wider world and their place within it.

Through fieldwork, local area studies, educational visits and wider experiences, children have opportunities to apply their geographical knowledge and skills in real contexts. Our local environment provides opportunities for children to observe, investigate and understand geographical features and processes first-hand.

Children also explore important issues affecting our world, including environmental change, sustainability and the relationship between people and the natural environment. This encourages them to consider how choices and actions can affect places, communities and the planet and helps them develop as informed and responsible global citizens.

Our aim is for children to leave Daresbury as curious, knowledgeable and thoughtful geographers with a secure understanding of their local area, the United Kingdom and the wider world. We want them to be able to ask geographical questions, make connections between people, places and environments and use their knowledge and skills to better understand the world around them and their place within it.

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