Winshill Village
Geography
Subject Leader: Miss G. Tomlinson
“The world is not in your books and maps, it’s out there”
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
Vision
At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, we intend to inspire children to become curious and explorative thinkers through our progressive curriculum. We aim for children to leave Winshill with the tools required for their transition into KS3 and a diverse knowledge of the world. This is achieved through the development of children’s confidence to ask questions, make observations, measure data and showcase their findings in a way which they see fit. Our curriculum allows the children to build an awareness of how Geography shapes our lives over a prolonged period. We hope to encourage pupils, no matter their background or starting point, to become resourceful, active citizens who have the aspiration and motivation to contribute to and improve the world around them.
Aims and Goals
At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, our Geography curriculum aims to develop:
Knowledge and Understanding:
To ensure that pupils gain a secure understanding of the world’s places, people, and environments, and how they are interconnected both locally and globally.
Curricular Coverage:
To ensure that all statements from the National Curriculum are taught, including:
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Locational knowledge
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Place knowledge
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Human and physical geography
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Geographical skills and fieldwork
Geographical Skills:
To develop pupils’ ability to ask geographical questions, collect and interpret data, use maps and fieldwork skills, and present their findings in a range of ways.
Cultural and Environmental Awareness:
To teach pupils about different cultures and environments, fostering curiosity, respect for diversity, and an understanding of how human activity influences the world around us.
Fieldwork and Practical Activities:
To provide opportunities for fieldwork and practical investigations, both within the local area and further afield, to enhance pupils’ real-world geographical understanding and skills.
Critical Thinking and Citizenship:
To encourage pupils to think critically about geographical issues, recognise their role in caring for the environment, and become active, responsible citizens who contribute positively to their world.
Curriculum
At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, we aim to inspire children to become curious and explorative thinkers who have a deepening understanding of the world around them. Through our progressive Geography curriculum, pupils develop the knowledge, skills, and curiosity needed to explore their local environment and the wider world with confidence and respect.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
In the Early Years, children begin to develop an awareness of the world around them and their place within it. They learn to respect and care for the natural environment and all living things, recognising that different people live in different places and that the world is made up of many countries and cultures.
As children move through Reception, they will:
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Draw information from simple maps.
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Recognise similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries.
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Explore the natural world around them.
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Describe what they see, feel, and hear when outdoors.
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Recognise environments that differ from the one in which they live.
These early experiences lay the foundations for geographical enquiry, curiosity, and appreciation of the world.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, children begin to build on their early understanding by learning about their local area, the wider United Kingdom, and the world beyond.
The National Curriculum aims for all children to:
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Develop locational knowledge, identifying the seven continents and five oceans, and naming and locating the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom.
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Explore human and physical geography, identifying seasonal and daily weather patterns in the UK and in different parts of the world.
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Use basic geographical vocabulary to describe key physical and human features of their surroundings.
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Begin to use simple fieldwork and observational skills to study the geography of their school and local area.
Key Stage 2
In Key Stage 2, pupils extend their geographical knowledge and understanding beyond the UK to explore regions, countries, and continents across the world.
The National Curriculum aims for all children to:
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Deepen their locational knowledge, learning about countries, cities, and major geographical features across the globe.
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Describe and understand key aspects of:
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Physical geography, including climate zones, biomes, vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes, and the water cycle.
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Human geography, including types of settlement and land use, economic activity and trade links, and the distribution of natural resources such as energy, food, minerals, and water.
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Interpret and use a range of maps, atlases, and digital mapping tools to locate and describe features of the world.
Fieldwork and Practical Enquiry
Fieldwork is a vital part of our Geography curriculum. From Key Stage 1 onwards, pupils develop the practical skills needed to explore and record the world around them.
Children learn how to:
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Use compasses and directional language to navigate.
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Read, interpret, and create their own maps with increasing accuracy.
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Observe, measure, and record information about human and physical features in the local area.
These experiences help pupils to apply their classroom learning to the real world, developing curiosity, independence, and a sense of place.
Cross-Curricular
At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, we believe that Geography should not exist in isolation. We strive to create meaningful cross-curricular links that enrich and deepen pupils’ learning experiences. By integrating Geography with subjects such as English, Mathematics, History, and Art, pupils are encouraged to make connections across different areas of learning.
For example, children may write explanations in English based on their understanding of the water cycle, interpret statistics and graphs in Mathematics, explore how places have changed over time in History, or create artistic representations of landscapes and physical features in Art.
This whole-curriculum approach not only broadens pupils’ understanding but also enhances engagement, curiosity, and long-term retention of knowledge.
