St Mary's GEOGRAPHY
"Geography is a subject which holds the key to our future."
Michael Palin
Through our curriculum platform, Curriculum Maestro, we deliver geography projects that develop children’s geographical knowledge, skills and subject disciplines. We look at a range of geographical locations which have been chosen to provide a broad and diverse understanding of the world. Where there are opportunities for making meaningful connections with other projects, geography projects are sequenced accordingly. All geography projects are taught in the autumn and spring terms, allowing us the opportunity to revisit less secure concepts in the summer term.
Geography in Reception
Understanding the World is one of the four specific areas of learning in the EYFS framework. It involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology, and the environment. Much of the children's early Geographical skills are taught through the projects that sit within this area of learning. More details can be found on our Science page.
Geography in KS1
Each autumn term begins with essential skills and knowledge projects. Teaching these projects in Years 1 and 2 enables children to be introduced to, or revisit, critical geographical concepts, aspects, skills and knowledge. These projects prepare children for the study of more thematic geography projects in the following term. In the spring term of Year 1, children study the project Bright Lights, Big City. This project introduces children to the geography of urban environments and the physical and human features of the United Kingdom.
In contrast, in the spring term of Year 2, children carry out a detailed study of coastal geography in the project Coastline. This project introduces children to the geography of coastal environments and provides children with the opportunity for in-depth coastal fieldwork.
Year 1
| Autumn Term | Spring Term |
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Our Wonderful World
This essential skills and knowledge project teaches children about physical and human features, maps, cardinal compass points, and positional and directional language. They learn about the equator, hemispheres and continents and are introduced to the countries, capital cities and settlements of the United Kingdom. The children carry out simple fieldwork to find out about local physical and human features. |
Bright Lights, Big City
This project teaches children about the physical and human characteristics of the United Kingdom, including a detailed exploration of the characteristics and features of the capital city, London. |
Year 2
| Autumn Term | Spring Term |
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Let's Explore the World
This essential skills and knowledge project teaches children about atlases, maps and cardinal compass points. They learn about the characteristics of the four countries of the United Kingdom and find out why there are hot, temperate and cold places around the world. They also compare England to Somalia. Children carry out fieldwork, collecting primary data in their locality to answer geographical questions.
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Coastline
This project teaches children about the physical and human features of coastal regions across the United Kingdom, including a detailed exploration of the coastal town of Whitby, in Yorkshire.
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Progression in Geography at St Mary'sGeography programme of study - Year 1 & 2