Geography

At Riverside, we develop our children to become working geographers, gaining an understanding of the wider world and the people within it.

Teaching will equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.

As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world will help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.

We want our children to gain confidence and practical experiences of geographical knowledge, as well as understanding and skills that explain how the Earth’s features are shaped, interconnected and change over time. Just like real geographers, children will be provided vital hands-on practical experiences of field work.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Within the Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception), the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework is followed. The ‘Geography’ aspect of the curriculum is followed through the area 'Understanding the World'. 

Geography teaching is integrated into the overall topics or themes of the half term. During EYFS, children learn to:

• Describe familiar routes and locations, using words like ‘in front of’ and ‘behind’. 
• Know that there are different countries in the world and talk about the differences they have experienced or seen in photos.
• Draw information from a simple map.
• Explore the natural world around them.
• Recognise some environments that are different to the one in which they live. 
• Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps.
• Recognise and explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries, drawing on knowledge from stories, non-fiction texts and (when appropriate) maps. 
• Know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class. 

Key Stage 1

Pupils will develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They will understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness. 

Pupils should be taught to:

Locational knowledge

1. name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans
2. name, locate and identify characteristics of the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas

Place knowledge 

1. understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of a small area of the United Kingdom, and of a small area in a contrasting non-European country

Human and physical geography

1. identify seasonal and daily weather patterns in the United Kingdom and the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles§
2. use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to:
   1. key physical features, including: beach, cliff, coast, forest, hill, mountain, sea, ocean, river, soil, valley, vegetation, season and weather
   2. key human features, including: city, town, village, factory, farm, house, office, port, harbour and shop

Geographical skills and fieldwork

1. use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the United Kingdom and its countries, as well as the countries, continents and oceans studied at this key stage.
2. use simple compass directions (North, South, East and West) and locational and directional language [for example, near and far; left and right], to describe the location of features and routes on a map.
3. use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features; devise a simple map; and use and construct basic symbols in a key.
4. use simple fieldwork and observational skills to study the geography of their school and its grounds and the key human and physical features of its surrounding environment.

Key Stage 2

Pupils will extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom and Europe, North and South America. This will include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. They will develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.

Pupils should be taught to:

Locational knowledge 

1. locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on Europe (including the location of Russia) and North and South America, concentrating on their environmental regions, key physical and human characteristics, countries, and major cities.
2. name and locate counties and cities of the United Kingdom, geographical regions and their identifying human and physical characteristics, key topographical features (including hills, mountains, coasts and rivers), and land-use patterns; and understand how some of these aspects have changed over time.
3. identify the position and significance of latitude, longitude, Equator, Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the Prime/Greenwich Meridian and time zones (including day and night)Place knowledge.
4. understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of a region of the United Kingdom, a region in a European country, and a region within North or South America.

Human and physical geography

Describe and understand key aspects of:

1.  physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle.
2. human geography, including: types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water.

Geographical skills and fieldwork

1.  use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.
2. use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and key (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world.
3. use fieldwork to observe, measure, record and present the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods, including sketch maps, plans and graphs, and digital technologies.