Geography Rationale

At SMSJ it is our intent that Geography is delivered through an ambitious, bespoke, high quality curriculum.  The curriculum at SMSJ has been tailored to suit the needs of our children which incorporates a language rich environment whereby children are given opportunities to continuously use new vocabulary learned. This is done using quick quizzes at the beginning of each lesson, promoting new language in group discussions, using knowledge organisers and using new vocabulary cross across the wider curriculum.

We strive to ensure our teaching is fun whilst engaging and challenging all pupils’ understanding of the earth’s physical geography and human processes.  We encourage our pupils to be creative and explore opportunities within their local community to gain a better understanding of the town and county in which they live and the history behind it. Children are also encouraged to develop a greater knowledge of the wider world studying other countries, climates, people and cultures.

EYFS

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Geography is explored through the area of Understanding the World, where children begin to make sense of their physical environment and community through observation, exploration, and discussion. Our geography provision nurtures curiosity about the world around them, encouraging children to notice features of their local surroundings and to talk about places they have visited. Through hands-on experiences, stories, and imaginative play, children develop early geographical skills such as recognising maps, using positional language, and identifying natural and human-made features. These foundational experiences support children in developing a sense of place, belonging, and respect for the environment, laying the groundwork for more structured geographical learning in Key Stage 1 and beyond.

In our language-rich geography curriculum, we place a strong emphasis on oracy to deepen pupils’ understanding of the world and to develop confident, articulate communicators. Geography lessons are structured to build vocabulary and support pupils in using full sentences, reasoning, and discussion to explain their thinking. Each unit incorporates planned opportunities for purposeful talk, enabling children to practise geographical language and explore key concepts through dialogue and collaborative learning.

Key Stage 1

In our language-rich geography curriculum, we place a strong emphasis on oracy to deepen pupils’ understanding of the world and to develop confident, articulate communicators. Geography lessons are structured to build vocabulary and support pupils in using full sentences, reasoning, and discussion to explain their thinking. Each unit incorporates planned opportunities for purposeful talk, enabling children to practise geographical language and explore key concepts through dialogue and collaborative learning.

In Key Stage One, our geography curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity and develop foundational knowledge about the world, beginning with children's immediate surroundings and gradually expanding their understanding of different places. Through engaging units such as My School and School Grounds, pupils start by exploring familiar spaces, developing spatial awareness and observational skills. Fieldwork in Practice allows them to apply these skills through hands-on activities like simple mapping, data collection, and using directional language. As their understanding broadens, children explore The Surrounding Environment, comparing human and physical features locally and considering how people interact with their environment. This local grounding prepares them to make meaningful comparisons with contrasting localities. In A Small Area of the UK: Isles of Scilly, children investigate a unique coastal setting, identifying geographical features and lifestyles different from their own. This is extended further through the study of A Small Area in a Non-European Locality: Serrekunda, The Gambia, where pupils develop global awareness by comparing daily life, environment, and culture. Across all units, pupils are encouraged to ask questions, use geographical vocabulary, and begin to develop a sense of place, fostering respect and curiosity about the diversity of the world around them. In addition to this, pupils are immersed in high-quality vocabulary, modelled talk, and opportunities for writing, ensuring they not only understand geographical concepts but can confidently communicate their ideas with clarity and curiosity.

Lower Key Stage 2

In Lower Key Stage Two, our geography curriculum is designed to deepen pupils’ understanding of places, environments, and global responsibility, while developing core geographical skills. We begin with The Global Citizen, where pupils explore the concept of interconnectedness and begin to consider their responsibilities in a global context. This unit lays the foundation for understanding sustainability, diversity, and global interdependence.

Building on this global outlook, pupils study contrasting regions within the UK and Europe. In A Region of the UK: South Wales and A Region of the UK: East Anglia, children explore differences in landscape, economic activity, and settlement. These comparative studies help pupils recognise how physical and human processes shape the character of a region. The Geography of the Local Area: Blackburn gives pupils the opportunity to connect this understanding to their own community, using fieldwork and mapping to explore local features, land use, and how places change over time.

In A Region in a European Country: Naples and Campania, pupils expand their place knowledge beyond the UK, examining how physical geography—including volcanoes and coastal features—affects human life. This is complemented by A Local River Study, where pupils investigate a river from source to mouth, developing an understanding of the water cycle, erosion, and the role rivers play in shaping the land and supporting human activity.

Across all units, pupils build confidence in using maps, atlases, and digital tools, while developing a rich geographical vocabulary. Our curriculum encourages children to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and make connections between local, national, and global contexts—helping them to become thoughtful, informed, and responsible geographers.

Upper Key Stage 2

In Upper Key Stage Two, our geography curriculum equips pupils with the knowledge, skills, and curiosity to understand and critically engage with the world around them. Through a rich and diverse range of regional studies, pupils build on their prior learning by investigating places in greater depth, developing a nuanced understanding of human and physical geography across a range of global contexts. In A Region in a European Country: Athens and Central Greece and A Region Within North America: California, pupils explore how climate, physical features, and economic activity shape communities, drawing comparisons with the UK and reflecting on the global diversity of landscapes and lifestyles.

In A Region Within South America: The Amazon Basin, pupils examine the vital role of the rainforest within the global ecosystem, considering the impact of human activity on fragile environments and developing their understanding of sustainability and environmental responsibility. The unit Be Geography Ready supports pupils in consolidating core skills such as interpreting maps, using grid references, and analysing geographical data—ensuring they are confident, independent geographers ready for Key Stage Three and beyond.

The World in My School brings geography closer to home by celebrating the cultural diversity of the school community. Through enquiry, discussion, and shared experiences, pupils explore global connections and develop empathy, respect, and awareness of the multicultural world they live in. Finally, in A Coastal Study: Lytham St. Annes, pupils conduct fieldwork and analysis to explore coastal processes and landforms, as well as the challenges and opportunities presented for those living near the sea.

Throughout Upper Key Stage Two, pupils are encouraged to think critically, communicate effectively using subject-specific vocabulary, and apply their understanding across a range of scales—from local to global. Our curriculum aims to develop informed, thoughtful global citizens who are ready to engage with the world around them with confidence and curiosity.