Geography

 

Our Vision for Geography at St Mary’s

At St Mary’s, we see Geography as a way of exploring the world, asking questions and making sense of the places we live in and beyond. We want every child to develop curiosity, observational skills and a sense of responsibility for the environment. Through hands-on experiences, fieldwork and discussion, children learn to notice patterns, understand connections and appreciate the diversity of people, places and landscapes. Our aim is to nurture confident, thoughtful geographers who can apply their knowledge and skills to understand the world around them now and in the future.

 

Our Geography Curriculum

At St Mary’s, Geography helps children explore the world around them and develop a sense of place, both locally and globally.

In the Early Years, Geography is taught within Understanding the World. Children learn through play, stories and practical experiences - noticing the features of their surroundings, talking about the natural world, and beginning to think like “geographers” as they explore people, places and environments.

In Key Stage 1, Geography is taught weekly for half a term at a time, alternating with History. Lessons are designed to be practical, engaging and enquiry-based, encouraging children to use maps, ask questions and carry out simple fieldwork. Over time, children revisit key concepts such as location, place and environment in different contexts, building a deeper understanding step by step.

Geography learning combines:

  • Exploring and investigating places, environments and maps.
  • Discussion and enquiry to build curiosity about the world.
  • Practical activities including fieldwork, observations and map work.

 

Geography by Year Group

Early Years

Within Understanding the World (UTW) children begin by exploring their immediate surroundings, such as their homes, school and our local areas of Frensham and Farnham. They talk about the world around them, notice weather and seasonal changes, and begin to recognise differences between places through stories, pictures and play.

Key learning includes:

  • Noticing features of the local area (e.g. buildings, parks, natural features).
  • Understanding simple maps and routes.
  • Talking about places they’ve visited or learned about.

Key Stage 1

Year 1

In Year 1, children start to use basic geographical tools like maps and aerial photographs to explore the world around them. They learn to identify features of the UK and begin comparing different places.


Key learning includes:

  • Naming the countries and capital cities of the UK.
  • Identifying physical and human features in the local area.
  • Using simple directional language (e.g. near, far, left, right).
  • Comparing their local area to a contrasting non-UK location.

Year 2

In Year 2, children expand their geographical knowledge beyond the UK and learn to locate continents and oceans. They begin to use more detailed maps and fieldwork skills to collect and present information.


Key learning includes:

  • Naming and locating the world’s seven continents and five oceans.
  • Understanding key physical features (e.g. mountains, rivers) and human features (e.g. towns, ports).
  • Using compass directions and simple grid references.
  • Exploring how environments can change and what we can do to protect them.

 

Geographical Skills and Resources

Children develop key geographical skills through:

  • Map reading and simple compass work.
  • Fieldwork and observation activities in the school grounds and local area.
  • Use of atlases, globes, digital maps and photographs.
  • Class discussions to compare places and share experiences.
  • Storybooks and multimedia resources to explore life in other countries.

 

Geography Beyond the Curriculum

At St Mary’s, we are passionate about providing children with opportunities to explore and celebrate Geography outside the classroom. Throughout the year, pupils take part in a variety of activities designed to bring their learning to life and deepen their understanding of the world around them. These include local walks and visits, themed assemblies, whole-school events focusing on environmental issues, and our Woodland Wonders sessions.

 

Children also benefit from cross-curricular links, such as combining Geography with Art, Science and Literacy to deepen learning and explore topics in new and engaging ways. There are also opportunities for virtual exploration too, using tools such as Google Earth and online maps to investigate global locations. Special visitors and access to online resources via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) further enrich learning, giving children exciting ways to investigate, discover and develop a sense of place beyond the curriculum.

 

Assessment and Progression

We monitor children’s progress in geography through:

  • Teacher observations during discussions and activities.
  • Questioning and feedback to assess understanding.
  • Pupil work including maps, drawings and written explanations.
  • End-of-topic assessments to ensure key learning is secure.                                                         
  • End-of-unit tracking to ensure key knowledge and skills are developing over time.