Geography

The National Curriculum (England) focuses on the development of geographical study skills and is an integral part of the curriculum. Our location in the American community enables us to use the local area to conduct fieldwork studies, which enriches the learning experiences of our pupils.

The geography teaching in the British Schools of America is intended to stimulate the children's interests in their surroundings and in the variety of human and physical conditions on the earth's surface. We also develop in our pupils a concern about the quality of the environment and the future of the human habitat, developing their sense of responsibility for the care of the earth and its people.

In Key Stage One we develop children's knowledge, skills and understanding relating to their own environment and the people who live there. We also develop their awareness of the wider world. The children investigate and learn about the physical and human features of their own environment, looking for similarities and differences when compared with other locations.

Our pupils focus on geographical questions such as: What/Where is it? What is it like? How did it get there?

Our pupils also develop their geographical enquiry skills, which include fieldwork, knowledge of geographical terms, making, reading maps and using photographs. Examples of the topics studied include: Weather, Waste/Environment, Contrasting US/UK Environments.

During Key Stage Three pupils investigate a wide range of people, places and environments around the world. They learn about geographical patterns and processes and how political, economic, social and environmental factors affect contemporary geographical issues. They also learn about how places and environments are interdependent. They carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom. In doing this they identify geographical questions, collect and analyse written and statistical evidence, and develop their own opinions. They use a wide range of geographical skills and resources such as maps, satellite images and ICT.

In Key Stage Four, pupils are given opportunities to acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of places, environments and geographical patterns at a range of scales from local to global, to develop understanding of the physical and human processes which affect the development of places, to develop an appreciation of the environment and an awareness of the ways in which people and environments interact, to understand the importance of sustainable development, to further their understanding of global citizenship, and to acquire and apply the skills and techniques (including map work, field work and information and communication technology) needed to conduct geographical study and enquiry.

All children study at least two geography topics each year. Lessons will sometimes be blocked together over a short period or may be spread out over the term depending on the content of the topic. The children will be encouraged to talk about their work and to present their own ideas using sustained and systematic writing. Independent learning skills will be developed through the extraction of information from a variety of sources including reference books, CD-Roms and the Internet.

Lessons will take account of previous work and this will be used to inform planning. The work that the children complete serves as a class coverage record and at the end of each unit studied each child's attainment is matched to achievement descriptors. This is recorded by the teacher and is used to inform end of year assessment. At the end of each term a written report highlights both progress made and areas for development and parent interviews provide the opportunity to discuss a child's individual rate of progress.