Geography
At Outwoods, we take pride in our geography curriculum, which is designed to ignite curiosity and fascination in our children about the world around them and the diverse people who inhabit it. We firmly believe that a strong foundation in geography helps our children think critically and be adept at interpreting a range of sources of information and at communicating geographical information clearly and concisely. As our children progress through their education, we aim to instil in them geography skills that will remain with them throughout their lives.
Our curriculum aligns with the national curriculum, structured around enquiry questions tailored for each year group. These questions are carefully selected to spark interest from the outset. Within these units, we break down the enquiry into smaller, manageable questions. As children incrementally build up their substantive knowledge of location, place and human and physical geography across a unit, they also progressively develop their disciplinary skills. The skill of analysing a range of globes, maps and photography is also progressively planned through our curriculum. This aspect of the curriculum is vital as it enhancing their understanding of place and scale.
Fieldwork opportunities are also an essential part of our geography curriculum. We believe that hands-on experiences ignite a sense of awe and wonder. Our children have numerous chances to explore the local environment, including our school grounds, fostering their curiosity about the world.
Our curriculum is designed to be progressive in nature, ensuring that each unit builds upon the knowledge and skills gained in prior years. For example, in Year 1, students start their geographical journey exploring the United Kingdom, learning about the names of its countries and their corresponding capital cities. By Year 3, pupils revisit this foundational knowledge and deepen their understanding by delving into the UK's counties and rivers. Then, in Year 5, children take a broader view as they study the vast continent of South America, examining its countries and natural resources before zooming in on a detailed study of Brazil and the Amazon rainforest. This approach allows our children to begin with a broad perspective, developing their location knowledge before honing in on specific places.
Moreover, we are committed to creating connections across the curriculum. Our geography lessons complement what is taught in Science and History, establishing purposeful links that enable children to retrieve substantial knowledge from their long-term memory. This approach allows our children to build more complex schema that prepares them for a range of applications.
Key concepts such as Place, Scale, Space, Environment, and Earth Systems are interwoven throughout our curriculum. By consistently sharing these concepts and reinforcing their significance across multiple units, we aim to deepen our children’s geographical understanding.
By the time our children leave Outwoods, we aspire to equip them with substantial knowledge about diverse places, cultures, resources, and both the natural and human environments. They will leave Outwoods at the end of Year 6 with a deep understanding of the key physical and human processes that shape our planet, along with a sense of responsibility and awareness, illustrating how they can contribute to making the world a better place.
Our geography curriculum is not merely an academic subject; it’s a tool that empowers children to appreciate and engage with their world, fostering a community of informed, compassionate citizens ready to navigate and contribute positively to society.
