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Geography
Geography is the study of people and places.
Vision for Geography
At Oatlands Junior School, we aim to inspire in our pupils a lifelong curiosity about the world and its people. Through high quality learning experiences, all pupils will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to explore the world on their doorstep and beyond.
Long Term Plan
Key Vocabulary
Geography Subject Leader - Emily Mansfield
National Curriculum Aims
The national curriculum for Geography aims to ensure that all pupils:
- develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes
- understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time
- are competent in the geographical skills needed to:
- collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes
- interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.
How Geography is taught and what it looks like at OJS
Geography skills and knowledge are taught through topic based work here at Oatlands Junior School. Topics are taught and entwined in the curriculum either termly or half termly, alternating with the children's history lessons.
During Geography sessions, children build upon their learning – year on year – through a development of:
- Location knowledge
- Place knowledge
- Human and physical geography
- Geography skills and fieldwork
This is achieved through a variety of whole-class teaching, group activities and individual tasks. Within these lessons, students will be given the opportunity to practise, consolidate and extend their Geographical skills, as well as critically evaluate the work of their peers.
The design and pedagogical approach to the geography curriculum is further captured in the Curriculum Handbook for staff.
What your child will leave OJS knowing, understanding and appreciating in Geography
By the end of your child's time here with us at Oatlands Junior School, they will have had a rich and varied experience through the teaching and learning of geography. Children can confidently use fieldwork to observe, measure and record findings of human and physical features in our local area using sketch maps, plans and digital technologies, through yearly fieldwork trips into the local area and beyond. In Year 3 the children complete a survey of our local area and in Year 4 children complete a study on rivers and take part in a local fieldwork study, as well as attending a 3 day residential to Kingswood Dearne Valley. In Year 5 children use their fieldwork skills on a woodland experience day and in Year 6 the children further these skills on their 5 day residential trip to FSC Castle Head.
Year on year and lesson by lesson, children build upon their location and place knowledge. We always talk about where things occur, whether this be in history lessons, English lessons or science lessons. Children can confidently locate places in atlases on maps and using digital technologies.
Pupil Voice Group
Eco-Committee
The Eco-Committee meet with Mr Hunter every half term to share ideas about how to make geography and our school environment even better and to help plan and organise themed days or events. Our Eco-committee loves the natural world and all it can give in return. We are looking forward playing our part in protecting the environment at Oatlands Juniors School. Over the coming year we will be working hard to achieve the Eco-Schools award by creating ways to be more environmentally friendly and energy efficient across the school. Our big goal for the year is to develop the nature area and outdoor spaces to attract and protect a wider variety of wildlife.
What pupils at OJS think about Geography
'I love learning about the rainforest and all of our learning is about it!' ~ Year 3 Pupil
'We learn about the local area and about mountains, rivers and coasts. I have learnt so many new facts!' ~ Year 4 Pupil
'We have been comparing people and places - where we live is very different to towns in other countries! We are also learning about climate change, there is lots we can to to help.' ~ Year 5 Pupil
'I have learnt lots about the world around me in our topic, Earth Matters'. ~ Year 6 Pupil
