Geography

Geography at Bankwood is about understanding of places and environments. Through their work in Geography, children learn about their local area and compare their life in this area with that in other regions in the United Kingdom and in the rest of the world. It can inspire them to think about their own place in the world, their values, and their rights and responsibilities to other people and the environment. They learn how to draw and interpret maps and they develop the skills of research, investigation, analysis and problem-solving. Through their growing knowledge and understanding of human geography, children gain an appreciation of life in other cultures. Learning in Geography also motivates children to find out about the physical world and enables them to recognise the importance of sustainable development for the future of mankind.

The aims of Geography are:

•to enable children to gain knowledge and understanding of places in the world;

•to increase children’s knowledge of other cultures and, in so doing, teach a respect and understanding of what it means to be a positive citizen in a multi-cultural country;

•to allow children to learn graphic skills, including how to use, draw and interpret maps;

•to enable children to know and understand environmental problems at a local, regional and global level;

•to encourage in children a commitment to sustainable development and an appreciation of what ‘global citizenship’ means;

•to develop a variety of other skills, including those of enquiry, problem solving, ICT, investigation and how to present their conclusions in the most appropriate way.

At KS1 and KS2 geography is taught thematically in line with the whole school Enrichment Curriculum.