'We are Explorers'

"The study of geography is about more than just memorizing places on a map. It's about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents. And in the end, it's about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together."

Barack Obama

Why should we learn about Geography?

Geography is a focus within the curriculum for understanding and resolving issues about the environment and sustainable development. It is also an important link between the natural and social sciences. As pupils study geography, they encounter different societies and cultures. This helps them realise how nations rely on each other. It can inspire them to think about their own place in the world, their values, and their rights and responsibilities to other people and their environments.

How will it help children in later life?

Geography gives children a sense of identity. It both provokes and answers questions about the natural world. It develops knowledge of places and environments throughout the world, an understanding of maps, and a range of investigative and problem solving skills both inside and outside the classroom. As such, it prepares pupils for adult life and employment.

What can our children expect?

Our children can expect a curriculum that is packed full of knowledge, investigation and wonder. The children will consider how West Derby, Liverpool, the UK, Europe and other areas of the world cope with changes. We become city detectives, travel agents, campaigners and sculptors.

As well as our exciting day to day Geography teaching and learning we also offer a range of enrichment opportunities to make learning meaningful. As part of their studies, our children have:

• Planted new saplings with the Mersey Forest team and the Croxteth Park Volunteers at Croxteth Park when considering sustainability.
• Walked to Deysbrook Tesco and met the produce team to find out where in the world our food comes from.
• Wore wellies while putting fieldwork skills into practice to investigate rivers from their source to the sea.
• Kept up to date with worldwide geographical issues through watching ‘CBBC Newsround’ and reading the child friendly newspaper ‘First News’ to place the issues around the world and discuss their impact.

Local area studies of both West Derby and Liverpool reinforce our own local knowledge and identity.

What can our parents expect?

We need your support to make learning memorable. See the list below for some of the things you can do to help: 

• Take a trip to Croxteth Country Park – There is so much to do! Visit the farm and look at how the land is used for the animals. The walled Garden has many different species of plants including a curry plant that if you rub the leaves, it smells of curry powder!
• Visit Liverpool – Go shopping and talk about the wealth of products you can buy just in Liverpool 1. We have an amazing maritime heritage that welcomes visitors from all around the world. A walk around the Albert Dock and think about Liverpool Pier Head being the starting point of peoples journeys around the world. 
• Explore your atlases and old A-Z guides – let your children plan a day trip. Can they follow a map or even be your Sat Nav for the day? Would you trust them to find a route home from a place you have visited in the UK?
• Develop them into global citizens – when visiting places around the world, discuss the people who live there, differences in society, what food we eat at home from that region. How and why people live the way they do.
• Talk - Interesting mealtime conversations about our ever changing world!

How we teach.

Our BPJS Geography curriculum ensures a broad and balanced approach that builds on expectations of the National Curriculum (2014). We build upon this with a bespoke long-term plan to teach exciting lessons. We aim to create a passion for geography which develops their sense of curiosity about their place in the world and their understanding of how they can make a difference now for their future.

We plan for the development and progression of skills to ensure our children are making progress.  Please see the long term curriculum overview and examples of what we teach within year group curriculum bulletins. (follow the links on page 1).

Inclusion

Differentiation is key to delivering an effective and inclusive curriculum.   All pupils' starting points are considered and activities and work is matched to ensure pupils reach their full potential, whilst supporting the child's learning.  Adult support, a range of activities, equipment and resources can enable children of all abilities to access learning. 

Our school will ensure that:

• all children have entitlement to a broad and balanced, enriching curriculum
• all children enjoy an active involvement in Geography
• all children have opportunities to experience a broad and balanced range of geography activities
• all children have opportunities to learn about geography from different regions and cultures
• all children will be given equal access to the experience of Geography regardless of their gender, race, disability, medical or other needs
• teachers use a variety of approaches that are matched to the activity and the ability of the children.