The intent of our geography curriculum at Great Waltham is to develop children’s geographical skills and knowledge to provide a broad and diverse understanding of the world around them.

To implement our geography curriculum, each year group has an initial essential skills and knowledge project in the Autumn term. Teaching these projects enables children to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of key geographical concepts and prepares them to study more thematic geography projects, with opportunities for revisiting concepts throughout the year.

The impact of delivering geography in a logical order enables children to gain substantive (knowledge of established geographical facts) and disciplinary knowledge (knowledge of the methods used to establish facts) by building on their understanding each year.

In the Early Years, children have the opportunity to explore the natural world through exploration and observation as part of the Understanding the World aspect of the EYFS.

In Key Stage 1, the children study urban and coastal environments and the physical and human features of the United Kingdom. In Lower Key Stage 2, the children focus on physical features and phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanoes, rivers and mountains. In Upper Key Stage 2, the children study agriculture and land use, with a focus in Year 6 on the polar regions.