“Children today are the future stewards of the Earth. They need to understand how it works, and how we relate to it.”  Sir David Attenborough 

Aims

Here at Stivichall Primary School, we aim to provide a Geography education that inspires our children to be curious about the planet, develops their interest in the world around them and encourages children to ask thoughtful questions to deepen their understanding of people, places and the environment. Through our teaching, we nurture a strong sense of respect and appreciation for the natural and human world, starting with our local area and expanding to global contexts. Our Geography curriculum promotes children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and supports children in becoming globally minded citizens. It is our belief, that pupils should leave Stivichall Primary School equipped not geographical skills such as map reading but also with a broader awareness of the world and their place in it.

Curriculum

Geography at Stivichall is taught through a themed and topic-based curriculum with clearly identified linked across English, Maths and Science as well as the creative arts. This integrated approach allows children to make meaningful cross-curricular connections while deepening their geographical understanding. Lessons are carefully planned to ensure the progression of key geographical knowledge and skills across year groups.

As part of each project, the children are presented with a philosophical question that encourages deeper thinking, broadens perspective and supports the development of critical enquiry. Inspirational figures are also studied allowing pupils to explore the impact of influential individuals through research and project work. Our Geography curriculum provides extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom. Core fieldwork skills, including map reading, observation, and data collection, are developed both within the school grounds and the local area, as well as during residential trips, offering real-world application in a variety of geographical contexts.

Children are also introduced to careers in geography through visits and talks from local professionals and specialists. This supports their understanding of how geography applies beyond school and introduces them to the wider world of work, inspiring aspirations for the future. In everything we do, we aim to foster a lifelong interest in the world around them - encouraging children to think like geographers both inside and outside the classroom.

Outcomes

Geography learning is evidenced across Project, English, Maths and Science books showcasing the integration and breadth of understanding achieved through our curriculum.  Children demonstrate their learning through a range of tasks that reflect both knowledge acquisition and skill development. Lessons begin with a review of prior learning, giving pupils the opportunity to reflect and make connections.

Throughout lessons, oracy is a key focus. Children are encouraged to engage in reasoned discussion, use precise geographical vocabulary and express ideas clearly and confidently. These regular opportunities to communicate and question help to deepen understanding and foster critical thinking. By the end of year 6, pupils confidently use geographical terminology, can interpret and analyse geographical data and explain key processes and concepts with clarity and relevance.

Extending Learning Beyond School

We actively encourage families to continue exploring geography beyond the classroom. Here are just a few ways home learning supports geographical thinking:

• Map-based activities at home - use atlases, globes, or digital maps like Google Earth to explore different countries, landscapes and environments. This can be linked to where family members live or places the children have visited or would like to explore.
• Weather watching and data logging - track daily weather patterns, temperatures or rainfall over time using home-made charts. This supports skills in data collection and observation, linking well with fieldwork.
• "Where in the World?" challenges - research countries or cities through themed challenges, e.g., “Find a country that speaks French and borders two others,” or “Find a city near a volcano.”
• Local walks and explorations – explore your local area, identifying human and physical geographical features (e.g., rivers, parks, roads, land use). Children can draw maps, sketch features or take photos to bring back to class.
• Cultural discovery projects - choose a country to research at home, exploring its language, food, traditions and geography. This helps develop global awareness and empathy.
• News-based geography - watch or read age-appropriate news stories and locate the countries or cities involved on a map. This helps children connect current events to real-world geography.
• Documentaries and geography apps - watch child-friendly documentaries (e.g., Planet Earth, Our Planet, Blue Planet) and explore educational apps or games related to maps, ecosystems or world geography.
• Sustainable living at home - recycle, reduce waste, grow plants or food at home and discuss how small actions can help the planet.
• "Geographer of the Month" projects - explore the life and work of a famous geographer or explorer at home and present what they've learned to the class - linking history, biography and geography.