Geography

What do we do in Geography?

Aims

At Binsted School we aim to:

Geography at Binsted School is concerned with the relationship between the earth and its peoples through the study of places, environmental issues and the use of space. We aim:

• To stimulate children’s interest in their surroundings and foster their sense of wonder in the world around them
• To develop knowledge and understanding of the home area to give a sense of place
• To help children to appreciate differences between places and the people who inhabit them
• To enable children to develop a concern about the quality of their environment and foster understanding of how human activities can change the environment
• To develop skills and techniques when carrying out geographical enquiries

Structure

Geography is taught largely through first hand experience and observation, with much of the learning activity focused on the school and its immediate environment which we endeavour to use as an outside classroom as much as possible. Some of our geography topics are taught as a blocked unit of work and others as a series of weekly lessons.

Geographical elements are planned from one or more of the following aspects of study:

• where places are and how they are linked.
• links between the people and their environment.
• what it means to live in one place rather than another.
• characteristics of the earth’s physical systems i.e. weather and seasons.
• identification and exploration of major physical and human features.
• aspects of the local environment.
• types of human activity in specific areas
• how individuals and services affect a community.
• how land and buildings are used.
• seasonal changes.
• places and people beyond their direct experience.
• environmental changes.

Within these studies, there is a progression in the development of geographical language and enquiry skills and techniques. ICT plays a significant role in the children’s search for information and the Internet is available as a valuable resource in school.

School visits

We aim to give children hands-on experience wherever possible by undertaking fieldwork. Within our topic cycle children will have the opportunity to visit Southsea, Old Portsmouth and Sparsholt Agricultural College, the Gilbert White Study Centre in Selborne to name but a few.