Geography
Geography at Wickhambreaux
Geography is taught at Wickhambreaux CEPS by focusing upon different cultures across the world, from local to global issues, along with key geographical skills, we aim to guide our pupils to becoming confident, creative and independent learners. Our pupils should leave the school with a far-reaching, working understanding of the world around them.
Across the school, all learning in this subject is topic-based and cross curricular; although there are some ‘stand-alone’ skills based lessons to equip the pupils with specific techniques to help them widen their learning experiences.
In EYFS the children follow the teaching and guidance from the area of the curriculum that covers their Knowledge and Understanding about the World.
In KS1, the children will study geographical aspects of the local area and compare Wickhambreaux with a country from a different continent. Also issues and knowledge surrounding Global Weather are explored and discussed at depth.
Throughout KS2, the basic skills and understanding developed in EYFS and KS1 are expanded upon and refined via study of topics such as the UK and Local geography, particularly focusing upon local buildings; mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes; rivers and rainforests; climate zones.
Subject Leader Profile
Mr Beard has always enjoyed the humanities subjects but in particular History and Geography. Whilst he was at school these subjects were always his favourite and he enjoyed studying them equally. This love of the Humanities continued through his adult education. Before going to Canterbury Christchurch University he gained a diploma in European Humanities with the Open University. These subjects also featured heavily in his teacher training where he gained specialist status in History and RE.
Mr Beard will often tell the children how the world is a smaller place than we realise. Knowing our History is key if we are to appreciate where we as a country came from, our place in the world and how we got there. Whilst being aware of the different peoples and places is so important and that a sound understanding of Geography is vital if they are to fully appreciate their place in it and be more aware of the others who share it with them.
What Geography looks like at Wickhambreaux
Vision Statement
At Wickhambreaux we aim to give our children a humanities curriculum which enables them to become confident, creative and independent learners who can explore the use of different knowledge and skills throughout topical learning. We seek to broaden children’s real-life experiences both inside and outside of school through educational visits, visitors, experimentation, exploration and discovery. Within lessons, our children acquire a range of knowledge and skills in both history and geography which they can then apply to other subjects and in a variety of situations. We believe the study of a combined History and Geography curriculum offers opportunities for children to gain a fuller understanding of where they are from, the journey of how we arrived here and the society in which they live. The children will experience a rich and relevant curriculum as they explore and investigate key historical and geographical topics on areas of local, national or worldwide relevance.
The interactive curriculum will enable the children to grow in their knowledge and understanding of key concepts and therefore developing skills such as: chronological understanding, evaluating evidence, comparing and contrasting, critical thinking, weighing evidence, sifting arguments, investigating artefacts and images, reading maps and atlases and problem solving. Pupils will be empowered to develop a sense of perspective and make value judgments based on evidence. We see these skills as transferable to other curriculum areas and fit naturally with children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmental education, as well as the teaching and promotion of British Values.
At Wickhambreaux the children will not just be gaining knowledge of Britain’s past or its place in the world, but through quality teaching they will be developing their understanding of the challenges of our own time and at the same time gaining life skills for the future. Furthermore, it is our aim that through historical and geographical learning, children will become accountable citizens, understanding their role in protecting our world and environment and knowing how they can cause positive change and development as they grow.
Subject Documents
Unit Overviews
Please see class pages for Unit Overviews that contain key facts and information that the children need to have a basic knowledge of to support their learning in class each term.
