Geography

We are all geographers

Throughout their time at St Michael's, children are immersed in a geography curriculum that is embedded in termly topics like Rivers, Rainforests and Farming, which lends itself well to teaching European geography. Geography is, therefore, taught not only as a subject in its own right but right across the curriculum in multiple subjects. We aim to inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about our world and its people, past and present.

Geography at St Michael's Academy

At St Michael’s the geography curriculum is divided into 3 parts:

• Locational knowledge

• Place knowledge

• Human and physical knowledge

Locational knowledge examines the location of the world’s countries using maps to focus on Europe, North and South America, concentrating on regions, key physical / human characteristics, countries, and major cities. Children work on locating the counties and cities of the United Kingdom, and start to explore their human and physical characteristics.

Our pupils also examine geographical similarities and differences by comparing the geography of a region of the United Kingdom with a region in a European country, and with a region in either North or South America. For example, during their Rainforest topic year 4 pupils compare their local environment with a rainforest environment. This is all part of place knowledge.

For human and physical geography, children are taught to describe and understand key aspects of geography, for example: climate zones, rivers, mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes, the water cycle, types of settlement, economic activity and the distribution of natural resources.

Most of all we strive to encourage a lifelong enthusiasm for learning about the world and its diversity of people and places.

Curriculum documents

How geography is taught at St Michael's

How is geography taught at St Michael’s Academy?

Geography should be taught for one hour every week, for three half terms of the year. In half terms where history is taught, geography will be taught for a minimum of one hour. In addition, 10-minute history and geography recap sessions will be fitted into the weekly timetable, focusing on locational knowledge and key vocabulary.

Every geography lesson should focus on a key geographical skill:   

• Locating: countries or physical features on a map   

• Describing: physical features (e.g. mountains, rivers) or human features (e.g. types of settlement, land use)  

  • Explaining: e.g. how physical features are formed   

• Data collection (see fieldwork)   

• Data presentation/analysis   

• Map skills: grid references, creating maps, map symbols, navigation Fieldwork   

All year groups will conduct fieldwork at least twice per year. This may be a trip away from Yeovil, in the local area or within the school grounds. All geography field trips will include data collection and/or map work. This data will be presented and analysed when children return to the classroom. There are many opportunities for cross-curricular links between geography and science, maths and computing.

Examples of geography at St Michael's