Humanities

Geography

Intent

At Badgerbrook Primary School, our Geography curriculum aims to ignite a lifelong curiosity and wonder about the world and its people. We want our pupils to develop a deep appreciation for the diversity of places, cultures, resources, and both natural and human environments.

Our teaching is designed to provide pupils with knowledge about a range of global locations, people, and resources, while fostering an understanding of the key physical and human processes that shape our planet. As pupils progress through the school, we encourage them to build on this knowledge and develop a clearer understanding of how these processes interact, forming the landscapes and environments around us.

Through the development of geographical knowledge, understanding, and skills, we provide a framework that helps pupils explore how the Earth’s features are connected, shaped, and transformed over time. This foundation supports their ability to see the world in a more informed, interconnected way.

Aims of the Geography Curriculum at Badgerbrook Primary School:

Our Geography curriculum at Badgerbrook Primary is designed to ensure that all pupils:

Develop a strong foundation of knowledge about significant places around the world, both on land and at sea. This includes understanding the defining physical and human characteristics of these places, giving pupils the context needed to explore the impact of various geographical processes.
Gain a deep understanding of the processes that shape both physical and human geographical features. Pupils will learn how these features are interconnected, how they differ across locations, and how they change over time.

We also aim to ensure that all pupils become skilled in essential geographical practices, including:

Collecting, analysing, and effectively communicating data gathered through fieldwork, allowing them to explore and understand geographical processes first-hand.
Interpreting a variety of geographical resources, such as maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), to broaden their understanding and perspectives.
Presenting geographical information in diverse ways, including through map work, numerical data, and extended writing, helping pupils to communicate their findings and ideas clearly and confidently.

Implementation

At Badgerbrook Primary School, teachers collaborate closely to plan Geography lessons using our structured learning journey planning format. Our Geography curriculum is designed with progression maps and knowledge maps to ensure that teaching builds long-term understanding.

As well as this, we underpin our learning based on the Sustainable Development Goals to help pupils understand global challenges and inspire them to be global citizens. The SDGs provide a framework that connects Geography with real-world issues, such as climate action, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, and life on land and below water. This approach helps pupils retain key content and effectively integrate new knowledge into broader geographical concepts. By structuring learning in this way, we aim to support pupils in developing a deep, lasting understanding of Geography.

EYFS

At Badgerbrook Primary School, the EYFS Geography curriculum is focused around developing children’s map skills and exploring their local area. A key part of this focus involves hands-on activities where children create their own maps and go on a “Whetstone Walk” to discover their surroundings. Map-making is woven into their play, with activities like designing treasure maps, crafting a “bear hunt” map, and even going on a real bear hunt around the school grounds, using their maps as guides. The curriculum also introduces children to global geography through playful interactions with atlases and globes, often linked to story time, where they learn about animals from around the world. The focus on map skills continues, enhanced by the story “Rosie’s Walk,” which further helps children build a sense of direction and spatial awareness.

Key Stage One (Ages 5-7)

In KS1 at Badgerbrook Primary, pupils build their locational and place knowledge, learning about the world, the United Kingdom, and their local area. They are introduced to key vocabulary related to human and physical geography, and begin to develop geographical skills, including firsthand observation, to enhance their understanding of different locations.

Teachers use knowledge organisers to plan learning effectively. These organisers map out key information for each unit, supporting regular quizzing to check pupils’ understanding, reinforce knowledge, and identify areas where further practice is needed.

Geography units are taught once per term, alternating with History, Science, Design and Technology and RE which are designed by staff to meet the National Curriculum targets. Each topic spans a two-week period and is delivered in a focused block to allow for deep, immersive learning. Staff ensure that the National Curriculum requirements for KS1 Geography are fully met, following the school’s progression map to provide comprehensive coverage across the phase.

By the end of KS1, children will be able to;

Locational Knowledge

Identify and name the continents and oceans.
Recognize the United Kingdom’s countries, capitals, and surrounding seas.

Place Knowledge

Compare a small area in the United Kingdom with one in a nonEuropean country.

Human and Physical Geography

Understand basic human and physical geographical features (e.g., city, village, factory, mountain, river, weather).
Describe the local environment and recognize seasonal and daily weather patterns in the UK. Geographical Skills and Fieldwork
Use world maps, atlases, and globes to identify countries, continents, and oceans.
Use simple compass directions (North, South, East, West) and directional language (e.g., near, far, left, right).
Conduct fieldwork to observe and record physical and human features in the local area, using basic methods (e.g., tally charts, drawings).

Key Stage 2 (Ages 7-11)

The KS2 Geography curriculum broadens pupils’ knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to encompass the United Kingdom, Europe, and North and South America. Pupils explore the location and characteristics of some of the world’s most significant human and physical features, deepening their locational and place knowledge through targeted geographical skills.

Geography units are taught once per term, alternating with History, Science, Design and Technology and RE with each topic spanning a twoweek block. This intensive format supports deep, focused learning in each area.

In Lower Key Stage 2 (LKS2), staff ensure that the National Curriculum expectations are met, building on the foundations from KS1. By following the school’s progression document, teachers carefully plan and sequence content, allowing new knowledge and skills to build on what pupils have previously learned.

In Upper Key Stage 2 (UKS2), staff continue to build on prior learning from LKS2. Through careful reference to the progression document, the curriculum remains structured and cumulative, ensuring that pupils’ knowledge and skills are strengthened and expanded as they move through KS2. This approach enables pupils to make meaningful connections in their geographical understanding as they progress.

By the end of KS2, children will be able to;

Locational Knowledge

Locate the world’s countries, with a focus on Europe, North and South America.
Understand key geographical aspects of the United Kingdom, including topography (hills, mountains, coasts, rivers).
Identify major lines of latitude, longitude, and key features like the Equator, Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic Circles, and time zones.

Place Knowledge

Study geographical similarities and differences by comparing regions in the UK, Europe, and the Americas.

Human and Physical Geography

Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including climate zones, biomes, vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes, and the water cycle.
Explore human geography, including settlements, land use, economic activity, natural resources, and trade links.

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

Use maps, atlases, globes, and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe geographical features.
Use the eight points of a compass, four- and six-figure grid references, symbols, and keys.
Conduct fieldwork to observe, measure, record, and present physical and human features using a range of methods (e.g., sketch maps, graphs, and digital technologies).