The world is changing every day and it can impact each of our lives. It is vital that children understand the physical world around them and how their behaviours or decisions can impact their environment. Geography teaches us about different locations, diversity of species, sustainability and different cultures. It helps us to make sense of the world around us and gives us the knowledge and tools to ensure that humans and nature remain harmonious for future generations.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum supports children’s understanding of geography, people and communities through the planning and teaching of ‘Understanding the World’. Children learn about features of their immediate environment such as school, home, and their community through first-hand experiences and learn how environments may differ through the sharing of books, stories, poems, small world play, role play and visits. Children enjoy the valuable experiences gained from our regular trips to places within their local community such as the church, café and local shops. Children are given time to discuss, comment and ask questions about what they observe about the world around them and they are encouraged to be active learners and explore their interests further.
In Pre-Prep the children begin to carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom. Children will become familiar with their local area, and a contrasting area in the United Kingdom, learning about the environments and people who live there. They will also begin to learn about the wider world. In doing this, children will be asking geographical questions about people, places and environments, and using geographical skills and resources such as: atlases, maps and photographs.
In the prep department, we aim to further inspire children’s curiosity about the wider world around them, whilst encouraging them to use the full range of geographical skills more independently. Children will investigate a variety of people, places and environments in the United Kingdom and abroad, and start to make connections. They will discover how people both affect and are affected by their environments. In doing so, pupils will develop a wide range of geographical enquiry skills, including: geographical questions, collecting and recording information and identifying different views.
