Geography
Mission Statement
At Quarry View Primary School we believe that geography provokes an inquisitive mind that allows children to question their own environment. It develops knowledge of places and environments throughout the world. The teaching of geography will foster a caring and considerate nature towards themselves, others and the environment. Geography develops an understanding of maps and develops investigative thinking and problem solving skills.
Aims
The aims of geography at Key Stage 2 are:
1.To enable children to investigate various places and themes across a widening range of scales.
2. To help children in understanding the various human and physical processes that shapes their world.
3. To help children understand how people affect the environment and how they are affected by it.
4. To develop their skills to use resources such as maps, atlases, photographs and ICT
5. To promote a sense of identity through learning about the UK, and its relationship with other countries within the world.
The aims of geography at KS1 are:
1. To help children learn about the world as a wider place.
2.To promote a sense of identity through learning about their local area in and out of school.
3.To develop geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom.
4.To develop an understanding of various lifestyles and cultures.
5.To help children to understand physical processes that influences their environment.
6.To develop their skills to use geographical resources such as maps and photographs.
Skills - Attitudes/Knowledge
Skills are developed through the QCA units introduced in a balanced programme over the key stages. These are outlined in the humanities entitlement grid that is situated at the front of each year group's file.
1. It is our intention that children will develop the following skills as a result of participating in geography:
2. The ability to explore and use maps, atlases and photographs effectively
3. Confidence in field work techniques, both in and out of the classroom
4. The ability to observe, question collect, record and analyse primary and secondary evidence related to geographical features and issues, thus drawing their own conclusions from their research and communicate effectively.
5. The use ICT as a geographical resource.
6. The ability to communicate their own opinion related to a geographical issue.
Delivery
Each year group is provided with a planning file that contains an entitlement grid and relevant schemes of work. All activities are carefully planned to be enjoyable, informative and challenging, meeting the needs of a variety of groups and individuals. Planning is based on continuity and progression in skills and study units throughout the key stages and is to be found in the school's scheme of work, guidance has been taken from QCA units of work.
Skills and themes are taught progressively both as individual units and alongside other cross-curricular themes.
Current topical events should be used where appropriate.
Organisation
Every attempt will be made to give all children equal opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities, thus integrating CAP pupils for geography lessons where appropriate.
In addition to study units covered geography provides opportunities to make strong links with the local community to explore citizenship and become more aware of their own environment. It is intended that skills acquired in geography will be applied to all areas of the whole school curriculum, developing an independent and enthusiastic child who can work with confidence.
Environment
Each classroom within all key stages displays an interactive researching display. Children's work in geography is represented throughout each year group in classrooms and other display areas located around the school.
Assessment and Monitoring
There is no formal assessment for geography, however each unit of work is provided with end of unit expectations.
Through informal assessment and evaluation of plans teachers are able to plan more effectively as opportunities are given to reflect and moderate the permanent plans during weekly planning meetings.
The teaching of the units is monitored by the geography co-ordinator and curriculum co-ordinator by liaison with year leaders, evaluation of plans, observation of lessons, monitoring planning.
In order to monitor children work evidence is gathered at the end of each unit. Work is collected from all ability groups.
Resources
Resources available for geography are boxed and given to each team leader. The resources available to each year group are relevant to the units being covered, in addition to this there are research books, atlases, globes and maps.
Every attempt is made to use the local environment, the humanities field trips are enclosed in each year group's geography planning file.
Future Development
Throughout the coming year the main areas for development are as follows:
- To monitor and evaluate Key Stage 1 schemes of work
- To develop cross-curricular links with literacy in Key Stage 2
- To monitor the use of ICT as a resource to teach geography across both key stages.
This policy was drafted in December 2002 and will be evaluated in September 2003.
Following this the teaching of the units will be reviewed by the geography co-ordintor and curriculum co-oridnator. Due to the current trailing of a skills based curriculum, the senior management team are monitoring the changes made to the planning and delivering of this subject.
Resources
Resources available for geography are boxed and given to each year group. The resources available to each year group are relevant to the units being covered, in addition to this there are research books, atlases, globes and maps.
Every attempt is made to use the local environment, the humanities field trips are enclosed in each year groups planning file.
Future development
Throughout the coming year the main areas for development are as follows:
- To liase with the senior management team regarding the monitoring of a skills based curriculum
- To monitor the use of ICT as a resource to teach geography across both key stages.
- To monitor resources so that they are available and relevant to the new skills curriculum.