Geography
Purpose of study
- At Norton St Nicholas we want to inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
- We aim to equip them with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.
- From Key Stage One, where we work on developing their knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality.
- In Key Stage Two we look to extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include Europe, South America and Africa.
Aims
When children leave Norton St Nicholas they will:
- Understand vocabulary relating to human and physical geography.
- Have learnt about a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features.
- Have developed their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.
- Deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.
What we teach
- In Key Stage One, building from prior learning in EYFS, the focus continues to be on the immediate world around children, beginning with the country, continent and area that they live in. They also look at the physical natural of geography by studying the weather.
- In Key Stage Two we compare geographical areas with other countries around the world, and have a focus on a physical aspect: earthquakes, volcanoes, rivers, mountains, and rainforests.
Early Years
Year 1
What is it like here?
- Where we are in the world.
- What we can find in our school grounds.
- Making our playground even better.
What is weather like in the UK?
- Where the UK is in the world.
- The four seasons.
- Compass directions.
- How weather is different in other parts of the UK.
- How people prepare for the weather.
Year 2
Why is our world wonderful?
- UK features and landmarks.
- Worldwide features and landmarks.
- Oceans.
- Exploring what is amazing about our local area.
- Exploring why natural habitats are special and how we can care for them.
Would you prefer to live in a hot or a cold place?
- The continents.
- Where the coldest places in the world are and what it is like to live there.
- The equator and what it is like to live in hot places.
- Exploring whether it would be best to live in a hot or cold place.
Year 3
Where does our food come from?
- How our food choices impact the environment.
- What it means to trade responsibly.
- Where food in our school comes from and how they are sourced.
- Exploring whether it is better to buy local or imported food.
Why do people live near volcanoes?
- How the earth is constructed.
- Where mountains are found.
- Why and where we get volcanoes.
- The effects of a volcanic eruption.
- What earthquakes are and why we get them.
- Where the rocks in our school grounds come from.
Year 4
What are rivers and how are they used?
- The water cycle.
- How rivers are formed and where they are found.
- How rivers are used.
- Exploring our local river.
Why are rainforests so important to us?
- Where tropical rainforests are located.
- What the Amazon rainforest is like.
- People who live in the rainforest.
- How rainforests are changing.
- How our local woodland is used.
Year 5
Are all settlements the same?
- Ebenezer Howard's vision for Garden Cities.
- How Letchworth Garden City developed.
- Six-figure grid references.
- Exploring the best of city and rural life today.
- Exploring what a Garden City of today would look like.
What is life like in the Alps?
- Where the Alps are and what it is like there.
- Why people visit the Alps.
- The differences between the Alps and our local area.
Year 6
Why do oceans matter?
- How we use our oceans.
- The Great Barrier Reef.
- The reasons our oceans are suffering and how we can help.
- Exploring how littered the marine environment is.
Why does population change?
- Changes to the global population.
- Exploring why people migrate.
- The impact of climate change on population.
- The impact of population on the environment.