Computing

Geography at Lapage

Exploring, Questioning and Discovering the World Around Us

At Lapage, we want every child to develop a curiosity about the world around them and the confidence to ask, “Where?”, “Why?” and “What is it like?”

Geography inspires children to explore the world, discover new places and develop an understanding of the people and environments that make our planet so diverse. From Nursery to Year 6, our curriculum builds geographical knowledge progressively, encouraging children to observe, question, investigate and make connections. Our youngest children begin by exploring natural materials using all their senses, discovering that there are different countries in the world and recognising environments that are different from their own. As they progress through the school, children deepen their understanding of places, people and landscapes, learning how the world is connected and how human and physical processes shape the environments in which we live.

We want our children to leave Lapage as curious, knowledgeable and confident geographers, equipped with the skills and understanding to appreciate the world’s diversity, make sense of the world around them and become informed citizens of the future.

Our Vision for Geography

Our geography curriculum develops children’s knowledge, vocabulary and understanding of the world around them.

Children learn about different places, people and environments, building their understanding as they progress through the school. From Nursery, children begin to explore natural materials using all their senses, discover that there are different countries in the world and recognise environments that are different from their own. As they move through the school, children develop their understanding of the world through maps, photographs, discussion and geographical enquiry, learning how places are similar, different and connected.

We aim for children to:

• Be curious about the world and the people who live in it
• Develop secure geographical knowledge and vocabulary
• Recognise and compare different places and environments
• Develop an understanding of countries, cultures and communities
• Use maps and photographs to explore the world
• Identify similarities and differences between locations
• Understand the physical and human features of different places
• Recognise how people and environments influence one another
• Appreciate the diversity of our world and the importance of caring for it
• Develop a positive attitude towards geography and future learning

What Will Children Learn?

Early Years – Nursery and Reception

In the Early Years, children begin to develop their understanding of the world through exploration, observation, discussion and first-hand experiences. They learn about the places they know, the people around them and the wider world, building the foundations of geographical knowledge and curiosity

Children explore:

The natural world through their senses and hands-on exploration of natural materials.

Different countries and the differences they have experienced or seen in photographs.

Environments that are different from the one in which they live.

Their immediate family and familiar people in their lives.

How people and places change over time, including looking at images from the past.

Simple maps and how they can be used to find places, including links to visits to the local library.

The world around them, using a growing range of geographical vocabulary to describe what they see, hear and feel.

Changes in the weather and across the seasons.

People in their community and the different roles they have.

Through these experiences, children begin to recognise their place in the world, develop an awareness of different places and environments, and build the geographical knowledge and vocabulary they will continue to develop throughout their time at Lapage.

Key Stage 1 – Years 1 and 2

Children explore the world around them, developing their geographical knowledge and understanding through the study of:

• Seasons and months of the year
• Weather and climate
• Continents and oceans
• Hot and cold places
• The United Kingdom
• The local area
• Mugurameno Village, Zambia

Through these topics, children develop their understanding of different places, environments and seasonal changes, discovering more about the world around them.

Lower Key Stage 2 – Years 3 and 4

Children develop their geographical knowledge and understanding through the study of:

• Rivers
• Rainforests
• Climate zones
• North America
• Rio and South-East Brazil

These topics encourage children to compare regions, explore the natural world and understand how geographical features shape different parts of the world.

Upper Key Stage 2 – Years 5 and 6

Children build on their geographical knowledge and understanding through the study of:

• Mountains
• The United Kingdom
• Local area study

Children develop their ability to identify geographical features, understand the characteristics of different landscapes and recognise the unique features of their local area and the wider United Kingdom.

Geography in Action at Lapage

Geography at Lapage is about more than learning facts about places. Children learn by exploring, questioning, observing and making connections with the world around them.

You might see our children:

• Observing seasonal changes in our school grounds
• Exploring changes in the weather throughout the year
• Using maps and globes to locate continents and oceans
• Comparing hot and cold places around the world
• Discovering what life is like in Mugurameno Village, Zambia
• Exploring rivers, rainforests and climate zones
• Comparing North America, Rio and South-East Brazil
• Learning about mountains and the geography of the United Kingdom
• Investigating the geographical features of their local area

Where possible, we make use of our school environment, maps, photographs and the wider world to help children experience geography, make meaningful connections and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Useful Websites

• BBC Bitesize – Geography 
• Google Earth  – Explore different countries, continents and landscapes.
• World Geography Games  – Practise locating continents, oceans and countries through interactive games.
• DK Find Out! – Geography  – Discover facts about the world, weather, rivers, mountains and rainforests.

BBC Teach – Geography  – Watch educational videos and explore geographical topics.

Computing-Progression-Sheet-3.pdf