St John the Evangelist CE Primary School

Geography

"The study of geography is more than just memorising places on a map. It is about understanding the complexities of our world." Barack Obama

Intent: Our Geography curriculum is designed to develop children’s curiosity and fascination about the world and to promote children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments. Children investigate a range of places – both in Britain and abroad – to help develop their knowledge and understanding of the Earth’s physical and human processes. We are committed to providing children with opportunities to investigate and make enquiries about their local area so that they can develop a real sense of who they are, their heritage and what makes our local area unique and special. Geography, by nature, is an investigative subject, one where curiosity and questioning is key. We aim to inspire our children to ask why?

Implementation: Our Geography curriculum is carefully sequenced for both coverage and progression. Substantive knowledge has been sequenced over the primary years across four interrelated forms: locational knowledge, place knowledge, environment, human and physical processes and geographical skills and fieldwork. Alongside this disciplinary knowledge is developed as children learn how to be geographers through our enquiry-based approach to learning in geography. Children ask and answer enquiry questions such as: Where is this place? What is this place like? Why is this place like this? How is this place changing?

Throughout our geography curriculum, children meet a range of case studies that help bring their learning in geography alive. For example, when studying ‘Changing Coasts’ in Years 3, the children undertake a case study of the impact of coastal erosion on Holbeck Hall Hotel in Scarborough. This builds on children’s understanding of geographical processes introduced earlier through a first-hand study of the local River Cole using fieldwork skills.

EYFS: Geography in EYFS introduces children to their world. They explore their immediate environment, like the school grounds, and learn about places through stories or maps. Activities include discussing weather, seasons, or local features like parks. Children compare their surroundings to distant places, such as Africa or Antarctica, fostering curiosity. This aligns with ‘Understanding the World’, encouraging observation and questioning. Simple vocabulary—near, far, hot, cold—is introduced. Outdoor play enhances spatial awareness, like navigating paths. These experiences build early geographical skills, helping children understand their place in the world and preparing them for broader concepts later.

Impact: Assessment strategies and tasks focus on the ‘key content’ that children will need to know and remember to support their future learning. Retrieval tasks are embedded within each learning journey to support assessment for learning as well as assessment as learning opportunities. Teachers use these tasks to address misconceptions and gaps in knowledge. Teachers use the subject assessment grids to record pupils’ learning and this then informs future units of work and teachers.

Curriculum Plans:

Click the link below to download the long term plan for Geography:

Long Term Plan for Geography

Map and Fieldwork Progression

Click the links below to download the Geography Learning Journeys:

Year 1 Autumn Term - Only One Me!

Year 1 Spring Term - Beyond the School

Year 1 Summer Term - Passport to Britain

Year 2 Autumn Term - Our United Kingdom

Year 2 Spring Term - Around the World

Year 2 Summer Term - African Adventure

Year 3 Autumn Term - River Story