At Upwood Primary Academy we ensure that children are provided with a high-quality curriculum which inspires and nourishes children’s curiosity and fascination for the world, the environment and its diversity of inhabitants. The Geography curriculum encourages children to develop knowledge of Earth, the beauty of the environment as well as its dangers, and the impact that humans have had, and continue to have, upon it. Geography is naturally an investigative subject which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills and how they interlink and connect big ideas together. Through teaching Geography, we broaden children’s horizons and challenge prejudices instilling resilient and tolerant attitudes to their learning.  We equip children with knowledge about places and locations; resources in the environment; physical and human processes and how these can shape the world, considering the impact humans have on the planet. We also want our children to develop geographical skills such as collecting and analysing data, map reading -including using globes and digital maps to identify countries, continents and oceans- and studying specific case studies in detail which are built upon through their experiences outside of the classroom.  

It is a natural human instinct to notice ones surroundings, Geography is the study of ones own, and others’ environment, and at Upwood, is organised through thematic enquiry to ensure substantive knowledge is deliberately and explicitly taught and organised in a meaningful fashion, towards answering a disciplinary appropriate question ensuring that all students, regardless of background or ability succeed.  

The topics and proposed sequence are organised around thematic units. These provide a narrative to help students make sense of major geographical concepts (e.g., natural processes, place, scale, interrelationships etc). Units start by developing the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin the narrative, exemplifying the geographical story through examples of different places, at different scales. This encourages students to consolidate their understanding, but also helps them to contextualise their learning and develop a broader, global appreciation of places as a result.  

Lessons within a unit follow the broad format of: 

1. Exposure to new concepts and ideas 

2. Consolidation of the concepts and ideas 

3. Exploring geographical issues related to the theme 

4. Application of the concepts and ideas (to a place or places) 

Through teaching geography, we broaden children’s horizons and challenge prejudices instilling resilient and tolerant attitudes to their learning.  We equip children with knowledge about places and locations, resources in the environment, physical and human processes and how these can shape the world by considering the impact humans have on the planet. We also want our children to develop geographical skills such as collecting and analysing data, map reading including using globes and digital maps to identify countries, continents, and oceans, studying specific case studies in detail which are built upon through their experiences outside of the classroom. An effective Geographer is best able to become a global citizen.