Intent
At Woodland Primary School we use a topic based creative curriculum as a way of achieving the outcomes set by the national curriculum for Art and Design, History, Geography, Music, English and Science in our mixed age classes. We want a curriculum which extends beyond the classroom and into the world around, one that enables children to understand who they are and the world in which they inhabit and which ultimately gets children excited to learn and prepared for the future that awaits them.
Through our Geography teaching at Woodland Primary School we aim to enable our children to learn not only about the world but also how it works, how it fits together, how and why it is changing and how to make a difference and become positive contributors to it.
Our geography curriculum enables children to develop knowledge and investigative skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas. Geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world and we aim to inspire in our children a curiosity and fascination about the world and it’s people and develop an interest and understanding of diverse places, people and environments which will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
Implementation
Our geography curriculum is planned on a four yearly programme to ensure coverage and high priority within our mixed age classes. Within carefully selected topics, children make meaningful links between art, music, history, geography, design technology, English and science. They are helped to understand how these subjects bring a deeper understanding to their lives, other people and the world. We become the explorers, artists, writers, inventors and scientists. Through further experiences and creative thinking skills activities, children delve deeper into their understanding whilst developing new skills for a range of purposes.
Cross curricular outcomes in geography are specifically planned for and the local area is fully utilised to achieve desired objectives, with learning outside the classroom through visits and/ or visitors embedded in practice. The geography curriculum is enriched by practical cross curricular experiences such as walks within the local area, visits to Beamish museum, orienteering and map reading. Lessons are planned to stimulate curiosity and develop understanding and knowledge, they are designed to be fun and engaging for all pupils and inclusive for all the ages, starting points and abilities within the class.
Topic workshop or celebration days are planned termly for the whole school to show parents and the school community the learning that has been achieved within the topic, with children showing and explaining the geographical concepts to their parents and peers.
Impact
We use a progression of skills throughout school that teachers use to monitor progress. Understanding is evaluated through regular questioning, work produced and assessment against the objectives. As children progress throughout the school they develop their knowledge, understanding and appreciation of their local area and it’s place within a wider geographical context.
Meetings with the County Geography advisor ensure that the geography topics we teach are relevant, exciting, meaningful and will prepare our children for the next step in their education. Teachers are supported in their planning and resourcing of topics. We also use learning walks, professional dialogue with teachers and pupil voice discussions to evaluate the impact of our curriculum.
Our children will leave Woodland Primary with an understanding of the environment in which they live, how it fits into the wider world and the positive impact they can have on it.
Shown in the link below is how the Geography Curriculum is covered through our topics:
