Intent
The aim at Hamstead Infant School is to provide children with an ambitious, coherent curriculum allowing children to develop their confidence and independence regardless of their independent needs. We provide a broad and engaging curriculum based on the EYFS Development Matters and National Curriculum allowing children to extend their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. We aim to provide children with opportunities to develop the skills needed to become a geographer. To do this children explore locational knowledge of significant places around the world including their human and physical features. Children also explore and compare locations using maps, atlases, globes and aerial photographs.
Our Curriculum Drivers are used to personalise the curriculum to meet the needs of the children within the school with the aim to provide challenge for all:
Language- Children to be able to use a rich, varied and extensive range of vocabulary, linked to geography. Children are encouraged to be curious and to ask increasingly challenging questions about the world and its diverse places, people and environments.
Independence- Children will take part in informative and engaging geography lessons, where they can share their ideas and views with others.
Outdoor- Children will be given the opportunity to experience their learning through outdoor opportunities and to use what is around them in the immediate and local area to enhance their learning. They will be able to experience the local area through Forest School sessions, Sandwell Valley visits and local area walks.
Implementation
The geography curriculum is taught both discreetly and in a cross curricular approach.
In EYFS continuous provision provides children with opportunities to develop a sense of the world around them.
In KS1 children have 3 geography topics with each one taught over a half term. In each topic lessons are sequenced and have a key question as the focus for that lesson. The key questions allow children to develop their locational knowledge, compare human and physical features and practise fieldwork skills such as map work, using compasses and aerial photographs.
Children also learn about environmental issues through participating in events such as ‘Walk on Wednesdays’ and ‘The Big Battery Hunt’.
Children’s skills are developed and built upon throughout their school journey to allow them to gain a deeper knowledge and confidently use skills. Misconceptions are explored and used to adapt children’s learning.
Children are encouraged to be active, talk, experiment and use their imagination at every opportunity through a range of guided and independent activities.
Impact
Children who leave Hamstead Infant School will have achieved their personal best, be confident, independent learners who are ready for the next stage of their education.
Children are able to develop and use the skills and language learnt related to geography and apply these independently.
Children will have a depth of knowledge about the geography of Hamstead.
Our ambitious and engaging curriculum provides children with a love of learning so they ‘Know more, Remember more’.