Why do we learn geography?
The Geography curriculum at Ark Conway aims to provide pupils with a deep knowledge about the variety of physical landscapes across the world. Through studying geography, children make sense of the world around them and learn how the events in their local areas and around the world can impact them directly and indirectly. They also learn to think critically about the impact of human activity on the natural world. Geographical study further equips students to discuss and debate issues on a local, national and global scale.
Our approach
The Geography curriculum at Ark Conway is carefully sequenced to guide students from the study of their local area in Key Stage 1 to the broader world in Key Stage 2.
Pupils practise key geography skills in every lesson by reading rich texts, reading and interpreting a variety of geographical information sources such as map, collecting data and expressing their understanding through writing, verbal discussions and drawing.
Students also engage in Wonder Days and fieldwork to dive deeper into the core skills.
Year 1
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| We will be exploring how what our school and local area are like and what makes it significant. We will continue to build our understanding of geography by draw a map of the local area using symbols and keys. Working towards discussing ways we can make our local area better. |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| We will be become familiar with maps of the United Kingdom and learn to recognise its shape and to locate it on a world map and a globe. Throughout the unit, we will use sources of geographical information such as maps, diagrams, globes and aerial photographs and will begin to interpret them and present our findings in a variety of way. We will be expanding out geographical vocabulary to talk about the location of significant places within the UK – including their defining physical and human characteristics. By the end of the unit, we will use this knowledge to write a response to the driving question: Why should people visit the United Kingdom? | We will studying the seaside by locating some popular seaside resorts in different parts of the United Kingdom. We will look at what people do at the seaside by analysing photographs to make distinctions between different modern and historical seaside activities and going as far back as the Victorian era. |
All Year 1 subjects Next Year 1 Subject - Religious Education
Year 2
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Pupils will study Planet Earth. Pupils will learn to recognise the seven continents and five oceans on the world map by their size and location in relation to one another. We will also take a more in depth look at Europe, North America and South America. Please check the knowledge organiser in your child’s discovery box for more information. | Pupils will continue their learning on Planet Earth by looking in detail at the continents of Africa, Oceania, Asia and Antarctica. We will also be learning about global climate patterns. Please check the knowledge organiser in your child’s discovery box from last half term for more information. |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| In this unit, pupils will study the country of Kenya. Pupils will learn the location of Kenya and the countries that border it. Pupils will study the physical and human features of the Kenyan landscape, comparing that of rural areas to urban areas. We will also study the climate in Kenya and think about how daily life could be similar and different compared to in the UK. |
All Year 2 subjects Next Year 2 Subject - Religious Education
Year 3
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| This term we will be beginning our topic about Europe by learning which countries make up the continent and exploring both their physical geography and famous landmarks. We will then take a more in depth look at the countries of Northern and Eastern Europe. | This term we will be building on our knowledge from last term about Europe, using Italy as a case study. We will learn about the different human and natural characteristics of the country and compare different regions. We will end by writing essays about which region of Italy we would most like to visit and why. |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| This unit builds on pupils’ knowledge in all strands of geography: place knowledge, locational knowledge and human and physical geography. Pupils begin the unit by using maps to focus on Europe. They identify regions, key physical and human characteristics, countries and major cities. Pupils look at Europe as a whole before diving into the regions of Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Europe. A key theme throughout this unit is ‘geographical similarities and differences’. |
All Year 3 subjects Next Year 3 Subject - Religious Education
Year 4
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| After learning about Biomes and Climate Zones last year, Year 4 will now explore the Amazon Rainforest in South America. We will start by identifying South American and learning about its human and physical geography. We will then focus our attention on the rainforest itself and learn what tropical rainforests are, what it is like inside them, and which animals call the rainforest their home. | After learning about Biomes and Climate Zones last year, Year 4 will now explore the Amazon Rainforest in South America. We will start by identifying South American and learning about its human and physical geography. We will then focus our attention on the rainforest itself and learn what tropical rainforests are, what it is like inside them, and which animals call the rainforest their home. |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
All Year 4 subjects Next Year 4 Subject - Religious Education
Year 5
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
What are natural disasters and how do they impact the people living in Asia? For the first six weeks, pupils will expand their place and locational knowledge through the study of the continent of Asia. They will also explore physical and human features through the study of borders, tectonic plates, mountains and their effects. |
What are natural disasters and how do they impact the people living in Asia? Pupils will learn about the key features of mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes. They will then explore the secondary impacts of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, such as tsunamis. To end, pupils will research one volcanic eruption or earthquake as a group. They will present their work in an exhibition for family members at the end of the term. |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
All Year 5 subjects Next Year 5 Subject - Religious Education
Year 6
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Global challenges What are some of the major physical and human challenges faced around the globe, and how can we make a positive difference? Climate change Sustainability World trade Renewable energy sources |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
All Year 6 subjects Next Year 6 Subject - Religious Education