Geography

Geography

At Colham Manor, we recognise that Geography helps us to make sense of the world around us, better understand the places we live in, learn about and visit, why they matter and how they are connected to a globalised world. Through geography, we encounter different societies and cultures and learn to appreciate the incredible diversity of landscapes and peoples. In geography, we face questions of what it means to live sustainably in an interdependent world and learn to value and care for the planet and all its inhabitants.

We believe that geography, unlike some other subjects, is not learnt in a strictly linear way, so it is not possible to identify a simple progression in geographical content. Instead, we see geography as an inter-connected network of skills and concepts which help pupils develop their geographical thinking, identify relationships and make connections with increasing fluency in different and more complex situations.

Through 'Learning Means the World', the sequencing of geography is planned using the triangulation of three elements:-

• The National Curriculum
• Knowledge Building Pillars and Cognitive Blocks
• The Skills Ladder

The geographical learning within themes is designed to enable pupils to build on and contextualise prior learning using a contemporary, meaningful framework.

Geography is planned for in such a way that each pupil will:-

1.  Broaden and deepen their knowledge of places
2.  Increase their technical geographical vocabulary
3.  Develop their understanding of a range of scales (local > national > global)
4.  Move from more concrete concepts e.g. beach to more abstract ones e.g. renewable energy
5.  See connections between people, places, processes and environments
6.  Develop skills in a progressive, incremental way
7.  Use these skills appropriately and, eventually, with independence

Geography is taught through thematic units. Our Satellite Views map out which thematic units feature this subject and clearly shows the objectives taught. Key knowledge and skills of each unit of work are mapped across the school, ensuring that knowledge builds progressively and that children develop skills systematically.

Geography is taught through a combination of subject knowledge, geographical skills, enquiry and fieldwork. Learning takes place both inside and outside the classroom.