Geography

Subject leader: Mrs Shami 

Contact email: pennowethlowerks2@croftymat.org

Our geography curriculum intent

‘The study of geography is about more than just memorising places on a map.
It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents.’

— Barack Obama —

At Pennoweth, we believe that Geography helps to provoke and provide answers about the natural and human aspects of the world. Children are supported and encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world and their place in it. Our curriculum, taken from Cornerstones, enables children to progressively develop knowledge, skills and vocabulary, which are transferable to other areas of the curriculum and which can and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Through a well-planned and well-resourced curriculum, we develop children’s curiosity about the world and its people, and promote children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.

Geography at Pennoweth is taught in blocks across a two-year cycle in order that children achieve depth in their learning. Key knowledge, skills and associated vocabulary have been identified and these have been mapped across the school to ensure progression. At the start of each unit, teachers establish the starting point for each child and ensure that all lessons taught are relevant and developmental, and consideration is given to how greater depth will be reached within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.
Cross curricular outcomes in Geography are specifically planned for, with strong links between the subject and English lessons identified, planned for and utilised. During the unit, the chosen class text also links to the aspects being taught. Emphasis on learning outside the classroom is of great importance in our teaching of Geography, with the local area used wherever appropriate to support teaching and learning.

DNA

The culture of our DNA at Pennoweth also aids and supports the teaching of geography.

Always starting our geography lessons with a recap of our local geography ensures children feel safe before embarking on adventures around the world in profound and purposeful learning. Mistakes are seen as stepping stones to deeper learning. There is a sense of awe and wonder about the world which includes them as people which shows how much they are loved. They are able to be responsible for their learning in geography through using a wide range of resources such as atlases, globes, technology and books to aid their understanding of the world. The children are engaged and motivated in their learning due to immersive, stimulating projects which leave children in amazement of the world we live in, eager to find out more processes, skills and knowledge. Finally, our children are ready. Ready to face the wider world armed with geographical knowledge, skills and vocabulary which will help them succeed as they discover for themselves the magnitude of our amazing planet.

Our Geography Ambassadors
Here are our geography ambassadors. Chloe, Mikolaj, Peggy and Isaiah represent geography across the school. They have been chosen for their passion for geography. They are our ‘go tos’ for anything geography and will spread excitement, knowledge and skills in geography across the school!
What will my child experience through geography at Pennoweth?
Geography is taught as part of a project approach where over their time at Pennoweth, children will cover every aspect of the geography National Curriculum. Children will encounter this in a meaningful way through immersive projects such as ‘Land Ahoy’, ‘Tremors’ and ‘Allotment’. During these projects, children will have their reading and writing based upon geography too. This might look like a report on farming, a diary entry in the middle of a tsunami or a letter to Captain Cook. 
What geography  skills and knowledge will my child learn at Pennoweth?
What sort of geographical language will my child learn at Pennoweth?
What do Pennoweth’s children think about geography?
From our recent year 1 and 2 project Bright Lights, Big City
I liked learning all of the capital cities of the countries of the united kingdom because then I will know them because when I’m older, I can go and explore them.  Eleanor

I liked learning to use maps to find different places in the world because it’s interesting. Harrison

I liked learning about Big Ben because I didn’t know that Big Ben is the name of the bell in the tower and not the tower itself.  Albie

I liked learning the song ‘Seven Continents, Five Oceans’ because it helped me to learn all the names. Kyson

It was fun to learn about all the landmarks in London, like the London Eye because it looked really beautiful. Layla

It was fun to learn to draw Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament because it helped me to picture them in my head.  I really want to go and see them one day.  River

I liked when we walked into town and went to the church and saw how Christians get ready for Christmas.  It was really fun!  Lilly-beth

I liked learning about the Tudor houses because we got to make them.  It really surprised me because the top was bigger than the bottom.  And people could shake hands with their neighbours because the streets were so narrow.  Kyson

 

From our recent year 3 and 4 project ‘Road Trip USA’
Ivy, Year 4, ‘I enjoyed going on the field trip where we looked out for physical and human features in the town. I also liked mapping the route on a map and using a key.’

Sophia, Year 4, ‘I liked learning about the 50 states of America and locating them on a map.’

Ruby, Year 4, ‘I liked it when we learned about the Rocky Mountains because there was lots of beautiful scenery and we created an information text about them.’

Oli, Year 3, ‘I liked learning about the states in America. I learnt that there were 50 states, such as, Washington, Georgia and Florida.’

Aela, Year 3, ‘I liked learning about the Iroquois tribe and where they settled in America. I liked finding out how they crossed over to America in the Ice Age and that they were hunter and gathers.’

William, Year 3, ‘I liked learning about the physical features of the Rocky Mountains. I liked making a leaflet about what I learnt.’

From our recent year 5 and 6 project ‘Frozen Kingdom’ 
Alicia – I like this topic because it helps us understand what is going on in the world.

Harry – I enjoy learning about the different animals in the arctic and Antarctic

Emelija – I have enjoyed this topic as I didn’t know how animals adapt in the polar regions and now I do.

Samuel – I enjoy learning about Frozen Kingdoms because you get to know things you don’t really get to know, like in our investigation when we have looked at how quickly icebergs melt.

Chloe – I enjoy learning facts, e.g. how deep icebergs go and how far animals can swim.

DJ – I like that we get to learn about David Attenborough and his adventures

Izzy – I liked learning about food chains because it was good to learn about what different animals eat.

Kyron – I like that we learnt a lot of things about climate change and how it affects animals’ habitats.

Sienna – I liked looking at the polar bear tracker to see how far polar bears travel.

Callie – I liked when we could make our own digital scrapbook about icebergs as we could learn lots of interesting facts.

 

Walter: I liked when we were learning about all the animals that live in the Artic and Antarctic and where they are located. This tied in with our Science, where we learnt about how they have adapted to live in their environment. I also liked learning about the top ten largest icebergs and about Robert Falcon Scott.

Jack: I quite liked learning about the countries that are in the Arctic circle. I also liked putting all of my Geography knowledge to use in Computing, where we made a powerpoint focusing on Arctic phenomenon, especially the Northern Lights.

Mikolaj in Year 5 said ‘I love being a geography ambassador and learning about geography around the world.’
Harley in Year 4 said the following:
Sonny in year 5 said ‘I liked learning about volcanoes because they’re really fascinating and it looks amazing when they explode!’
Austeja in Year 4 says ‘I like linking my geography to writing sentences like when I do it about tsunamis.’
Peggy in Year 4 said the following about geography:
James in Year 3 said, ‘I’ve loved learning about the oceans. I
didn’t know that the Arctic Ocean even existed and it’s been so
interesting learning about the Challenger Deep!’
What does geography look like at Pennoweth? 
Foundation Stage
Bright Lights, Big City
Year 1 & 2
‘Land Ahoy!’
Year 1 and 2
Splendid Skies
Year 3 and 4
Road Trip USA
Year 3 & 4
‘Tremors’
‘Misty Mountain Sierra’
Frozen Kingdom
‘Allotment’
Year 5 and 6
Hola Mexico!
Useful geography websites and links
BBC Bitesize (Reception under ‘Understanding the World’)
BBC Bitesize (Year 1 – 2)
BBC Bitesize (Year 3- 6)
The Seven Continent Song (the kids LOVE this in school!)
The Five Oceans Song (It’s pretty catchy!)
Google Earth
Children can spend hours zooming into different places on this world map. Can they name the continents and oceans? Where would their dream destination be? Why? Can they find Redruth? Which county, country and continent is it in?
Google Maps
Let children explore anywhere in the world or their neighbourhood by using Google maps. Turn to street view for a camera view of where they are.
Go Jetters
Children love this programme and they will be learning about somewhere in the world without really realising!
My World Kitchen
This programme shows you the food cooked and eaten from different parts of the world. Maybe your children could have a go at a recipe?
Blue Planet
What more could you want than amazing scenes and David Attenborough’s wisdom? This is aimed more at older children in KS2 but some fascinating facts and information about everything to do with how the world works and is impacted by us humans.