Through the blocking of topics, pupils are given an opportunity to embed and build upon their learning.

 

In line with the National Curriculum, at Kew Riverside, our Geography curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils have opportunities to;

• Understand the importance of people and place.
• Ask relevant questions about our world.
• Become equipped with the geographical skills to answer their own questions as part of enquiry based learning.
• Develop accurate locational and place knowledge to support comparisons between different areas of the world.
• Build up a rich and textured understanding of our local area through local fieldwork projects which form a springboard from which to explore further afield.
• Develop accurate mapping skills, both within local fieldwork and at a larger scale, which they can apply to new places.

Curriculum Implementation

At Kew Riverside, we follow the National Curriculum for Geography. KS1 begins with a focus on London and the United Kingdom, growing outwards to consider the concept of continents and oceans, comparing basic physical and human features. We build out again in KS2 to compare the UK to different places across the world, always returning to our local area as a lens through which we can explore and compare other places and people.

 

We teach Geography in a blocked approach as we find that this model enables our children to develop their knowledge and deepen their understanding of the topic. Children learn about our world through a range of experiences, with a focus on questioning and practical enquiry. Each unit is supported by a Knowledge Organiser which details conceptual knowledge, skills, vocabulary and enquiry questions for each topic.

 

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6
Autumn 1	History	History	History	History	History	History
Autumn 2	Where in the world am I? (Local fieldwork study)	Around the world - Hot and Cold	Orkney Islands (Scotland)	Rivers (Local fieldwork study)	Volcanoes and Earthquakes	Human impact on the Amazon Rainforest
Spring	History	History	History	History	History	History
Summer 1	We are the UK	Geographical comparison: UK/Kenya (Local fieldwork study)	France Geographical comparison: UK/France (Local fieldwork study)	North America	The Andes Mountains Geographical comparison: UK/Andes (Local fieldwork study)	UK study Geographical comparison Coastal/Local (Local fieldwork study)
Summer 2	History	History	History	History	History	History

Enrichment

• Geography trips: Kew Gardens (workshop and self-led), London Wetland Centre, Pensford Field, Juniper Hall, Osmington Bay RSPB visit.
• Local fieldwork opportunities include: river walks, Richmond Park, local walks, local recycling centre (land use), exploring transport locally.

• Community opportunities: the children tend their allotment throughout the year, with the help of parents, using these experiences to compare our local area to the wider world.