Geography

Purpose and Aims

Purpose

For pupils to gain a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip pupils 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. The pupils should gain a growing knowledge about the world; deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.

Aims

• To investigate
• To investigate patterns
• To communicate geographically

Provision

Our curriculum is categorised in 2 ways:

• Substantive knowledge - which gives pupils the knowledge about the world around them
• Disciplinary knowledge- which gives pupils the skills to think and act like geographers.

Our curriculum knowledge is separated into seven concepts that are revisited and repeated throughout each year group, from EYFS to Year 6,  to develop our children’s knowledge and understanding.

Source: Chris Quigley Geography Curriculum Companion

Our curriculum drivers shape our approach to teaching geography so that every opportunity is taken to relate geography to the needs of our pupils. Geography is studied throughout each academic year and across each key stage so that pupils can gain a growing developmental understanding of the matters, skills and processes in our curriculum.

Progression and Assessment

In EYFS, we work towards the aims set out in the Development Matters framework related to Understanding of the World so that a child can reach their Early Learning Goal by the end of Reception.

From Year 1 to Year 6 we set out our expectations around Chris Quigley Essentials milestones. Each milestone has a set of indicators that repeated throughout: Basic (We call it Paddling), Advancing (we call in snorkelling) and Deep (we call it diving). It is expected that the vast majority of pupils will have an advancing understanding by the end of the milestone and some will have a deep understanding.

Assessment and reporting

Throughout each unit, teachers regularly assess the children’s progress through questioning, quizzes and written activities. At the end of each unit, children are asked to reflect on the learning and assess themselves against the skills for the unit. They also record new knowledge and skills in a short set of reflection activities. Teachers then use the children’s assessment and their own judgements to assess the pupil’s depth of understanding each term and use this to forecast as to whether pupils are on track and to support further planning in ensure the curriculum is tailored to the needs of each class.

Evaluation and Improvements

Each year an action plan is created to ensure that the subject is up-to-date with the most recent developments and to ensure that children in the school are receiving the highest standard of teaching. CPD opportunities are offered to staff throughout each year to develop their teaching.

International Month at Harpenden Academy

Ladybirds 

In Ladybirds we have been learning about Hong Kong, where two of our class friends have moved from. We learned how to greet each other in the register and have been practising each day. We then learned about the dragon boat festival that is celebrated each day. We discussed the idea of the boats racing and then with help of our buddies we created fans to create our own replica dragon boats.  On Spanish Day, we listened to our story the Little Red Hen in Spanish and noticed the similarities and differences between the story we knew and what we could see. Then we tasted some delicious olives and chorizo. Some of us were unsure but we all had a try! We talked about where Spain is and what we might see there. Some children shared with us about their holidays to Spain and told us they had to go on an aeroplane there. We looked on a map and talked about how far away it is. We then looked at some pictures of famous buildings and learned they have a royal family too - King Felipe! Some of us had a go at flamenco dancing. 

Year 1 

This week we have learnt about where Kenya is in the world and about the differences between England and Kenya. One of the big differences is the animals you would find in the wild. We made collages of our favourite animal we would see on Safari in Kenya! On Spanish day we decided to learn some Spanish words based on the book “ la oruga may hambrienta.  We thought about the names of fruit, the colours and the numbers. 

Year 2 

To celebrate Spanish day, in Moomin Class we made Patatas Bravas which we enjoyed tasting it. It was delicious! We listened to Jack and the Beanstalk in Spanish and wrote the character names and the setting in Spanish. We sung a 1-10 Spanish song to learn the numbers and completed a colour by numbers Spanish sheet. As a class, we found more about Spain and wrote factfiles giving information about Spain.

For International Month, we have been learning about Germany. We have located Germany on a map and learnt about the origins of the flag. In PE, we have been creating a dance based on the story 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' which is set in Germany.

Year 3

We have been learning about India. In PE we have learnt a Bollywood dance routine and we have merged Computing and Geography to create a popplet to share all the interesting facts we have learnt about the country. Our RE unit this half term has been Hinduism and that has given us a deeper understanding of the country.

Year 4

We have been learning about Brazil.  We learned about their famous carnivals and decided to make our own maracas and imagine that we could be at a carnival. As writers, we have written non-chronological reports to compare Brazil to the UK which is our geography focus this time. We have also used our computing skills to create weather reports by creating graphs on Excel and presenting in Powerpoint. This afternoon we had Nicholas’ mum visit us to talk to us about what it was like to live in Brazil and we were able to ask lots of questions. Thank you Nicholas’ mum for coming to talk to us about Brazil and teaching us some Samba

Year 5 

We have been learning about Australia. Did you know that there are 3 flags to represent the different parts of Australia? We used these flag ideas and their values to create our own designs for an Australian flag that combines all of them. We have also researched Aboriginal artists and are busy making fact files all about them. 

Year 6

Year 6 enjoyed a wonderful Ghanaian cookery workshop with Chef Patti -learning about traditional cooking techniques, the nutritional benefits of plantain and the joy that cooking and eating can bring.

Year 5 Dahl Class, Contour Lines

Dahl class have had a great geography lesson today creating our own contour lines model.

Year 1 Elmer Class, Learning the Continents

Elmer class love learning the names of the continents using this song

Year 3 Potter Class, Formation of Rivers

In geography, we have used drama to explore how rivers are formed.

Year 3 Potter Class, Europe

In Geography, we have continued to investigate Europe and learn about the human and physical features. Both at home and at school, the children chose a country to research and find out about their features. In school, we looked at a range of pictures from across Europe and sorted them into human and physical feature; discussing rivers and mountains as well as man-made landmarks. We then started our research, each choosing a different country from a across the continent. Children at home created some fantastic fact files with their research. 

Moomin, Reenacting the Titanic

A ghastly event has taken place in Year 2 Moomin class. Whilst the passengers aboard the Titanic were asleep the ship hit an iceberg! Women, children and some men in first class were saved but sadly had to watch the Captain, family and friends go down with the ship!

Elmer, The Titanic

As historians, Elmer pretended to be on board the Titanic.  They each had a ticket which showed which class of passenger they were.  Some of the children were allowed to go on the lifeboats, others had to wait.  Unfortunately, we ran out of lifeboats! They then used their role play to write diary entries.

Whole School Remembrance Day

As a school, we pride ourselves in taking time each year to remember those who we have lost in the war. Mrs Davies, usually, invites a range of visitors into assembly to discuss the impact of the past wars and we take part in a range of activities to mark this time of year.

This year, whilst it was different, we still marked the occasion with an outdoor, socially-distanced assembly and invited the local reverend in to lead us in a reflection.

Each class created a wreath to lay in the centre of playground during the assembly and took part in an online podcast assembly discussing the symbolism of the poppy. Did you know the poppy was first worn by a lady called Moina Michael?

Key Stage 1, History off the page – The Great Fire of London

Key Stage One had some exciting visitors from History Off the Page linked to their unit Great and Ghastly Events. Children were immersed into life in 1666 right from the moment they stepped in the door dressed in typical clothing from the era. Children learnt historical skills of looking for evidence in the rubble left by the Great Fire and undertook typical jobs of the period, including baking bread and sewing.

Elmer Class create a map of Harpenden Common in Forest School

This week at Forest School, Elmer class were challenged with making a map of Harpenden Common. They had to use different map symbols and think about it    using perspective. Children worked in groups, exploring the area and noting it on their map. Each group showed great team work skills and lots of knowledge of their local area. We are looking forward to learning how to read maps next.

London Eye, Year 3 School Trip

Year 6 Food Tasting

Look what recipes we made from The Americas 

     

Year 6 Local Walk 

Year 6 went on a local walk to identify local environmental issues and solutions to these problems (both existing and potential solutions). We were delighted to discover that there were more than fifteen litter bins within two blocks of school. However, we were disappointed to note that there are far more cars than bikes due to a lack of safe cycle paths. We will be linking our learning to a climate change project over the next few weeks, culminating in the St Albans sustainability week in April. Thank you to Josie and Chloe’s mums for coming along and helping out.

Going Global 

This week the children have been having a fabulous time learning about different continents around the world. Thank you to all the parents who have been in to school to share their experiences of living in a different county and continent. Example of the work will be displayed in the hall next week. In fact the children have had such a terrific time they have asked to have another ‘Going Global’ next year...we will see what we can do!

Below are some photos from the week with comments from the children:

What an exciting week we  had 'down under' in Aslan class! We  created our own aboriginal art and written instructions; performed the Haka (the children were very scary); created detailed sketches of the Sydney Opera House and discussed a range of stories from Australia and New Zealand. Thank you to Max's mum who came in and discussed her experience, the children loved learning about the different animals. Thank you to all the parents who shared their precious resources from their travels; we have had engaging and informative show and tell sessions this week using them.

Year 3 Japan

Year 3 Kipling/Potter have been focusing on Japan as our Continent was Asia— we did origami and wrote instructions on how we made them. We also looked at the Japanese Artist Hokusai and we did landscapes of Japan in a similar style.

Year 4 Mexico

Mr Sanchez visited Year 4, Austen class, to talk about his time working in Mexico in the jungle. Mr Sanchez worked on a project in several natural gas processing plants scattered in the Mexican jungles. During that time he got some exposure to local customs, the food, the animals (alligators, big snakes, vultures, ... ), the weather (amazing rainstorms, it was the Katrina year), the pyramids in the jungle ...; and he got a share of Mexican life that's usually not available to tourists.

What an opportunity for the class to learn about Mexico!

Year 6 Europe

This week Year 6 have been learning all about Europe and highlights have included: researching and writing non-chronological reports about a European country (with a focus on conflict as this is our current topic); preparing/buying European food for a food fest on Wednesday afternoon; and researching and writing instructions for a European playground - to be shared with the rest of school over the coming weeks.

Ladybirds - Lost and Found

Ladybirds have been reading Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers. Linked to this story, we researched penguins found in Antarctica.

North America 

Year 6 kicked off their study of North American with a cookery session- blending the two of the most popular dishes of USA (apple pie) and Mexico (empanadas) to create their own unique apple empanadas with home made pastry. Yum!