About Our Geography Curriculum

Across the school, we teach Geography using the CUSP curriculum, which pays close attention to guidance provided by the National Curriculum sequence and content. Our ambitious Geography curriculum has the intention of increasing children’s geographical thinking, enriching children’s tier-2 and tier-3 vocabulary and wider view of the world, and putting what they learn into practice.

The following core disciplines and concepts underpin our teaching of Geography, and we strive to weave these concepts into each unit we teach:

• Locational knowledge (understanding the world's countries, continents, and oceans)

• Place knowledge (understanding geographical similarities and differences)

• Human and physical geography (studying climate, rivers, biomes, settlement, and land use)

• Geographical skills and fieldwork (using maps, atlases, globes, and compasses to gather and record data)

At the Federation of North Walsham Infant and Junior Schools, we aim to provide a rich experience of Geography that enables our children to experience both depth and breadth in the units they cover. This is achieved through our CUSP-aligned spaced learning sequence, which includes integrated retrieval opportunities where we systematically revisit prior learning from earlier units and previous years to consolidate knowledge.

The methodology for teaching Geography at the Federation of North Walsham Infant and Junior Schools is to provide opportunities for children to develop their questioning skills, ignite curiosity about diverse places and cultures, and widen their knowledge of the world and how it works. We want our children to respond proactively and positively to environmental and global challenges, striving to learn more about the interconnectedness of our planet. We recognise that ‘our children are the future’ and they need to be equipped with the necessary spatial awareness, cultural capital, and critical thinking skills to become responsible global citizens.

We also recognise that Geography encompasses a broad range of subject knowledge and draws on disciplines from the wider world such as history, mathematics, science, and computing. We believe making these curriculum connections—such as linking physical geography to scientific processes or using data skills in fieldwork—are essential components that help to engage and connect our children with the opportunities Geography provides.

By the time our children leave the Federation of North Walsham Infant and Junior Schools, they will have the skills, knowledge, and experience to have a level of independent, geographical thinking to carry through to their future education and into their lives beyond the classroom.

For further information on the curriculum please read the Subject Overview below.