At Thames View, Geography helps pupils understand the world around them, their place within it and their responsibility towards it. Pupils learn about local places, the wider UK and the wider world, developing knowledge of place, environment, sustainability and how communities are connected. Our Geography curriculum follows the National Curriculum and is shaped around the needs, context and experiences of pupils at Thames View.
How Geography develops Global Citizens
Geography helps pupils understand how people, places and environments are connected. Through local, national and global studies, pupils learn about sustainability, human impact, climate, resources and their responsibility to care for the planet.
Our Geography Narrative Threads
Our Geography curriculum is organised around three narrative threads. These help pupils revisit important geographical ideas over time, moving from familiar places and first-hand experiences to a wider understanding of the UK and the world.
Thread 1: Place, Identity and Belonging
Pupils learn that places are more than locations on a map. They shape people’s lives, identities, communities and sense of belonging. Learning begins with home, school and the local area before broadening to Kent, the UK and the wider world. Pupils compare places, explore what makes them special, and consider how people’s lives are influenced by where they live.
Thread 2: Environment, Impact and Sustainability
Pupils learn about the natural world and the responsibility people have to protect it. They begin by caring for animals, habitats and school grounds, before exploring woodlands, climate change, rainforests, food production, carbon footprints and plastic pollution. Pupils learn that human choices affect the planet and that responsible citizens can help care for the world around them.
Thread 3: Connection, Movement and Interconnection
Pupils learn that communities are connected to the wider world through journeys, transport, trade, migration, tourism, rivers, food and culture. They explore how people and places rely on one another, how goods and ideas move, and how local choices can have wider national and global effects.
How we teach Geography
In Geography, pupils revisit prior learning before being introduced to new place, locational, human and physical knowledge. They use maps, globes, atlases, photographs, fieldwork, data and digital tools to investigate places and patterns. Pupils are taught to think like geographers by asking questions, comparing places, identifying connections and considering human impact. Pupils also take part in local studies and fieldwork, helping them connect classroom learning to real places and real issues.
Vocabulary and subject talk
Vocabulary is taught explicitly in every unit. Pupils learn and revisit important vocabulary such as place, region, climate, settlement, erosion, migration and sustainability. This helps them explain their thinking and make links to prior learning. Teachers model high-quality talk and provide sentence stems where needed so that all pupils can take part in discussion.
Inclusion and Removing Barriers
Pupils may have limited experience of places beyond Rainham and Medway, so we use maps, photographs, videos, fieldwork, stories and first-hand experiences to make unfamiliar places meaningful. Teachers also use clear explanations, explicit vocabulary teaching, visual support, sentence stems and practical experiences so that all pupils, including pupils with SEND, can access the same ambitious Geography curriculum.
Progression in Geography
Our Geography progression map shows how pupils build knowledge, vocabulary and geographical skills from Nursery to Year 6. This will be added to the page once finalised.
Useful Websites
At Thames View Primary, we subscribe to Oddizzi and Digimaps to support children's learning.