Geography is the study of the Earth's physical features, environments, and human interactions with them. Geography helps students understand the world around them, including current global challenges like climate change, resource management, and geopolitical conflicts. It is an interdisciplinary subject, overlapping with science, math's and economics.
What is the purpose of learning geography at alns?
The aim of the course is to give students a better understanding about different countries, landscapes, climates, and ecosystems. It helps students understand locations, distances, and the relationship between places. It encourages analysis of real-world issues such as climate change, resource management, and migration as well as sustainable thinking to address these issues that may arise. Overall, geography at ALNS equips students with knowledge and skills that help them make informed decisions about the environment, society, and global challenges.
How do we teach geography at alns?
Geography at ALNS is carefully planned to ensure that knowledge and skills are built over time through topics being woven together. Each lesson has been planned by our teachers to suit the needs of all students. We promote analytical skills, problem solving and oracy through modelling, class discussions, assessments and independent learning.
Intent
The main goals are to:
Encourage logical thinking and the ability to explain their reasoning
Develop knowledge of the wider world and the links between different physical and human features
Improve communication using geographical terms
Create a positive and supportive learning environment where students feel confident to discuss and communicate their learning
Implementation
Our approach to teaching includes:
Focusing on understanding geography concepts deeply to further build links between topics
Encouraging students to take an active role in their learning
Teachers demonstrate and explain key ideas to clear up any confusion
Regular reviews and practice to help students remember what they learn
Using assessments and feedback to track progress and address learning gaps
Challenging and supporting students with their learning
Promoting the use of correct geographical language to strengthen understanding
Literacy and numeracy skills embedded in lessons to further confidence
Impact
The curriculum aims to ensure students can:
Think critically about the world and create solutions to issues locally and globally independently.
Build confidence in making connections between physical and human geography as well as other subjects.
Have high engagement and curiosity in geography and the topics we study
Develop a positive attitude towards geography and real-world issues
Be prepared for future education and job opportunities
Students will learn about natural features and processes:
The Earth’s structure (plate tectonics, erosion, etc
Students will also examine how humans interact with their environment
Population distribution and migration
Urbanization and city planning
Economic activities and trade
Cultural landscapes and globalization
Environmental issues and sustainability
Students are expected to bring a full set of equipment, including a scientific calculator, for each lesson. Independent Learning assignments are set weekly to reinforce learning in lessons and for revision.
At ALNS we are committed to ensuring students understand the core concepts of Geography as well as students finding the subject engaging, creating life long learners of the subject.
Geography leads on from knowledge learnt in KS2 and develops through a broad number of topics covering the national curriculum. We have built the curriculum to support students' overtime to build knowledge and link topics to one another to broaden their understanding of the interconnected world we live in.
Students who choose to take GCSE Geography will follow a curriculum which prepares them for their GCSE AQA Geography qualification. There is no higher or foundation separation of the papers. All students access and sit the same qualification. Students are prepared with an understanding of evaluating issues through written discussions which are achieved though exam style questions. Students are also prepared with a focus on geographical skills, analytical skills as well as statistics. A full overview can be found below.
