Excellence and enjoyment in primary schools: the contribution of geography
'Geography teaching and learning should be an enjoyable, creative and magical experience for pupils and teachers alike (Paula Richardson, Geography Consultant').
‘Investigating the quality and character of different places is essential in any worthwhile geography curriculum. Children are uniquely equipped to undertake these studies as they have a freshness of vision and a strong natural desire to explore their surroundings’ (Stephen Scoffham, Lecturer in Higher Education).
‘Primary geography investigates real contexts and real life. It has relevance to children’s lives and engages them emotionally’ (Elaine Jackson, Local Authority Advisor).
‘Geography provokes and answers questions about the natural and human worlds, using different scales of enquiry to view them from different perspectives’ (the National Curriculum).
‘In primary schools where geography is taught outstandingly well and where it is promoted by subject leaders and senior managers, the subject is seen as adding valuable breadth and richness to the curriculum’ (David Bell, HMI).
What can geography do for primary school children?
Geography offers children unique opportunities for learning.
Life skills
World knowledge
People and places
Developing the ability to make sense of information
Observing and interpreting the environment
Map reading and way finding
Understanding and interpreting pictures
Communicating findings in drawings, charts and diagrams
Recording and analysing data using ICT
Discussing issues and problems with others
Critical and creative thinking
Developing an awareness and understanding of distant places and environments
Recognising how people from all over the world are linked through travel and trade
Building a framework of place knowledge
Investigating major rivers, mountains and cities
Developing an appreciation of other peoples and cultures
Recognising the need for a just and equitable society
Developing an understanding of spatial relationships at a range of scales
Undertaking fieldwork, enquiries and active exploration of the locality
Exploring landscapes, settlements and human activity
Considering environmental issues and local Agenda 21
Becoming a global citizen with multicultural understanding
And children can usually tell you what they like, which can give you a start point for classroom or fieldwork:
I know where I live
I like reading about other people and places
I like looking after plants
I enjoy playing in the role play area
I enjoy being out in the rain
I think our world is a wonderful place
I think we should try to produce less waste
I know why there’s a pelican crossing outside my school
I think we are all citizens of this world
We come to school in the walking bus
I know why there are new buildings in my street
Finding time for geography
Although there is nothing laid down in law, QCA suggests that as a ‘starting point’ foundation subjects, including geography, could each occupy 4% of curriculum time. At key stage 1 this translates to about 50 minutes a week (30 hours a year) and 55 minutes a week (33 hours a year) at key stage 2.
More advice on curriculum time can be found in the government’s strategy for primary schools ‘Excellence and Enjoyment’ which encourages teachers to take ownership of the curriculum. ‘Teachers have much more freedom than they often realise to design the timetable and decide what and how they teach’. Other ways of finding time for geography include theme days, clubs, school councils, extended projects and research.
Geography is so much fun! It takes me all over the world!
Geography is a challenging, motivating, topical and fun. In our diverse society children need - more than ever - before to understand other peoples and cultures. The Geographical Association believes that geographical knowledge, concepts and skills are essential components of a broad and balanced curriculum. Geography makes a major contribution to children’s physical, intellectual, social and emotional development. In short, geography matters! As Professor Andrew Goudie puts it, ‘What other subject tells us so much about the great issues of our age?’
Fieldwork and enquiry Practical enquiries and investigations provide children with first-hand information and direct experience of the real world.
Knowing the locality Studying the locality helps children to develop their sense of identity and self-esteem.
Maps and plans Geography helps children to locate themselves in their surroundings and find their way from one place to another.
Photographs, charts and diagrams Geographers use a great variety of visual devices to communicate findings in non-verbal ways.
Investigating issues Some of the best work in geography comes when children debate issues, appreciate uncertainties and propose solutions to problems.
ICT Interactive whiteboards, digital cameras and the internet allow children to record and interpret the world in new ways.
Cycles, patterns and processes Geographical concepts such as cycles, patterns, processes and interaction provide a unique way of describing and analysing the world.
Sustainability and the environment Sustainable development and the care of the environment are key issues for the twenty-first century and form an important part of the geography curriculum.
Critical and creative thinking The best geographical studies promote critical and creative thinking skills and long term learning across the curriculum.
Respecting diversity Geographical studies tackle mediated images which can, for example, produce negative stereotypes of other people and places
Global citizenship Geography recognises that we are all interdependent global citizens with a responsibility to the planet and to each other.
Considering the future Geography helps children to develop attitudes and form opinions about current issues, appreciate tensions and uncertainties and consider the future of the world and its peoples.
