Primary

Geography

Geography programmes of study : Key Stages 1 and 2

Grade 1 and 2 programme of study

Pupils should develop knowledge about the world, France and their locality. They should understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness.  

 

Pupils should be taught to:  

Locational knowledge +

  • Name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans
  • Know where Pau is in relation to France, where France is in relation to other countries and what continent France is in

Place knowledge +

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of Pau or France, and a contrasting city or country

Human and physical geography +

  • Identify France and the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles.
  • Recognise the negative and positive affects that humans can have on a locality
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to:
  • Key physical features, including: beach, cliff, coast, forest, hill, mountain, sea, ocean, river, soil, valley, vegetation, season and weather
  • Key human features, including: city, town, village, factory, farm, house, office, port, harbour and shop

Geographical skills and fieldwork +

  • Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify France and their home countries, as well as continents and oceans studied at this key stage
  • Use simple compass directions (North, South, East and West) and locational and directional language [for example, near and far; left and right], to describe the location of features and routes on a map
  • Use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features; devise a simple map; and use and construct basic symbols in a key
  • Use simple fieldwork and observational skills to study the geography of their school and its grounds and the key human and physical features of its surrounding environment.

Grade 3 - 6 programme of study

Pupils should extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include all 7 continents. This will include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. They should develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.  

 

Pupils should be taught to:  

Subject content+

Pupils should extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include all 7 continents. This will include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. They should develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.


Locational knowledge +

  • Locate the world’s continents, using maps, concentrating on their environmental regions, key physical and human characteristics, countries, and major cities
  • Name and locate departments and cities of France, geographical regions and their identifying human and physical characteristics, key topographical features (including hills, mountains, coasts and rivers), and land-use patterns; and understand how some of these aspects have changed over time
  • Identify the position and significance of latitude, longitude, Equator, Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the Prime/Greenwich Meridian and time zones (including day and night)

Place knowledge +

  • Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of a region of France and a region in another country

Human and physical geography +

  • Describe and understand key aspects of:
  • Physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle
  • Human geography, such as: types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water

Geographical skills and fieldwork +

  • Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied
  • Use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and key (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world
  • Use fieldwork to observe, measure, record and present the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods, including sketch maps, plans and graphs, and digital technologies.