Friars-Academy-2022-29-2

Geography

Geography is concerned with the study of places, the human and physical processes which shape them and the people that live in them. It helps pupils to make sense of their surroundings and the wider world.

Why is Geography a valuable element of the Friars’ curriculum?

Geography can enhance a child’s education by:

  • Securing their locational knowledge and understanding of spatial relations
  • Developing a knowledge and understanding of current events, from local to global
  • Explaining geographical patterns and processes, both physical and human
  • Enabling well informed judgements about environments and by supporting an understanding of sustainable development
  • Addressing the complexity of human and physical environments
  • Making connections between natural, economic, social, political and technological systems
  • Developing the skill of visual literacy – interpreting maps, graphs, diagrams, aerial photographs and satellite images
  • Providing opportunities through fieldwork for the first-hand investigations of places, environments and human behaviour
  • Providing a meaningful context for developing transferable skills – literacy, numeracy, ICT, problem solving, team work, thinking skills and enquiry
  • Preparing children for the world of work with their skills of analysis and synthesis
  • Stimulating an interest in, and a wonder, of the world around us
  • Giving real purpose for using new technologies such as Geographic Information Systems
  • Empowering all young people to become active global citizens
  • Helping students to understand that there may be more than one way of tackling specific real life problems

At Friars Academy we believe that…
Children need to understand their immediate environment in order to develop knowledge of their own role in society. At Friars we aim to develop children’s understanding and appreciation of their home locality by learning about its origins and the forces and influences that affect their lives. Our children’s learning is based largely on direct experience and practical activities; an extensive use is made of the School, its grounds and the immediate local area, as well as sites further afield such as Everdon.

The content of the Geography taught at our academy is covered by the following study units:

Key Stage 3

  • Settlements
  • Exploring the UK Water and the Weather
  • The Industrial World
  • Feeding the People
  • Coastal Processes
  • Hazardous Environments
  • Population and Development
  • Key Stage 4
  • Geography is taught through cross-curricular links.

Cross-Curricula Links

Geography taught at Friars is topic based, and where possible, linked with other subjects. The nature of the subject ensures that there are plentiful links with other subject that offer the pupils at our School the chance to further develop key skills and understanding in a wider range of contexts.

Maths

  • Coordinates
  • Grid references
  • Map reading
  • Handling data
  • Graph interpretation
  • Data representation

Science

Plate tectonics; earthquakes and volcanoes, the water cycle; evaporation and condensation, water use and water treatment

English

  • Literacy and language skills
  • Development of speaking and listening skills
  • Comprehension
  • Expressive Arts
  • Dramatisation of geographic events, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, nuclear war etc...

ICT

  • Core ICT skills of using and manipulating core programmes e.g drawing graphs, finding images, presenting work,
  • SMARTboard resources
  • Analysis of images
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Satellite images from Google Earth etc
  • Citizenship / PSHE
  • Life skills from field work and residential opportunities
  • Global awareness of environmental damage
  • Awareness of their own environment and how to improve it
  • Recycling