“Bringing nature into the classroom can kindle a fascination and passion for the diversity of life on earth and can motivate a sense of responsibility to safeguard it.”- David Attenborough 

At St Mary’s, we want our children to love geography. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be landscape architect, town planners, conservationists or an environmental scientist! We want our children to have a sense of belonging in the world that surrounds them.  Our ambitious curriculum is structured to introduce and revisit knowledge through a sequential and enriching journey that begins in EYFS.

Children at St Mary’s become Geographers by looking at the world through four Main Strands:  Locational Knowledge,Place Knowledge, Human and Physical geography,and finally, Geographical Skills and Fieldwork.

By looking at the world around us in these ways, children can build upon their understanding and make links to previous learning. To further engage and support learning, Geography draws from other areas of the curriculum as well as builds upon their understanding of the world.

Our intent is to deliver a curriculum that aims to inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them throughout St Mary’s and beyond. Our geography offer 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. Our curriculum is a knowledge-engaged progress model which clearly outlines the key knowledge and vocabulary for each stage of learning in sequence.

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. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.

Our Geography curriculum has deliberately been adapted in order for pupils to see themselves within the curriculum; with field studies and visits encompassing locations in and around Malton. Through experiencing places familiar, we are able to contextualise our learning and prepare our children for life in modern Britain.

At St Mary’s, Geography is taught across each year group in modules that enable pupils to study in depth key geographical understanding, skills and vocabulary. Each module aims to activate and build upon prior learning, from EYFS to Year 6, to ensure better cognition and retention. Each module is carefully sequenced to enable pupils to purposefully layer learning from previous sessions to facilitate the acquisition and retention of Key Strands (Locational Knowledge, Place Knowledge, Human and Physical geography,and finally, Geographical Skills and Fieldwork) and geographical knowledge. Each module is revisited as part of a spaced retrieval practice method to ensure pupils retain key knowledge and information. To further instil children’s understanding, the children are given the opportunity of ‘Thinking Geographically’ within each strand by exploring: Place, Scale,Environment and Culture.

The impact of our ambitious Geography approach:

• Children are equipped with geographical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the next key stage and for their future.
• Children can articulate their learning and have a deep knowledge of the world they live in and how they can make a positive impact as global changemakers.
• Children can access and follow our ambitious curriculum that shares our vision for exceptionally high expectations.
• A curriculum that gives our children understanding of space, place, environment, and culture throughout.

Enrichment

Through enrichment opportunities children gain  a sense of scale, place and environment, we continually adapt to offer our children:

• The opportunity to carry out field studies- Geography surrounds us and we believe experiencing it has as much value as learning about it.
• A chance to explore what is on our doorstep- Malton is in an ideal setting and we aim to use this as much as possible.
• Provide the children time to learn and explore in our onsite forest school.
• The opportunity to bring Geography into school by liaising with museums and organisations.
• Promote sustainability through our Eco Warriors initiative and Garden Club

Early Years

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum supports children’s understanding of geography, people and communities through the planning and teaching of ‘Understanding the World’.

Children learn about features of their own environment such as school, home, community and their town of Malton and Scarborough beach through first hand experiences and learn how environments may differ through the sharing of books, stories, poems, small world play, role play and visits. Children enjoy the valuable experiences gained from our regular trips to places within their local community such as the library, park and local shops as well as joining in with the parish and trust celebrations visiting other schools in contrasting locations of York and Middlesbrough. Children are given time to discuss, comment and ask questions about what they observe about the world around them and are encouraged to be active learners and explore their interests further.