Geography in EYFs 

 Understanding geography: 

Three and four years old:

Through Maths :

   • Understand position through words alone. For example, “The bag is under the table,” – with no pointing.

  • Describe a familiar route.

  • Discuss routes and locations, using words like ‘in front of’ and ‘behind’.

 Understanding of the World:

• Use all their senses in hands-on exploration of natural materials.

• Begin to understand the need to respect and care for the natural environment and all living things.

• Know that there are different countries in the world and talk about the differences they have experienced or seen in photos.

 Reception:

 Understanding of the World 

• Draw information from a simple map.

• Recognise some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries.

• Explore the natural world around them.

• Recognise some environments that are different to the one in which they live.

 ELG:

 People, Culture and Communities:

• Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps.

• Explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries, drawing on knowledge from stories, non-fiction texts and (when appropriate) maps.

 The Natural World

• Know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.

• Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons.

Geography in Ks1 

Locational Knowledge

Pupils should be taught to:

• name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans;
• name, locate and identify characteristics of the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas.
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Place Knowledge

Pupils should be taught to:

• understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of a small area of the United Kingdom, and of a small area in a contrasting non-European country.
•  

Human and Physical Geography

Pupils should be taught to:

• identify seasonal and daily weather patterns in the United Kingdom and the location of   hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles;
• use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to:

-  key physical features, including: beach, cliff, coast, forest, hill, mountain, sea, ocean,
  river, soil, valley, vegetation, season and weather;

-  key human features, including: city, town, village, factory, farm, house, office, port,
 

Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

Pupils should be taught to:

• use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the United Kingdom and its countries, as well as the countries, continents and oceans studied at this key stage;
• use simple compass directions (North, South, East and West) and locational and directional language [for example, near and far; left and right], to describe the location of features and routes on a map;
• use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features; devise a simple map; and use and construct basic symbols in a key;

use simple fieldwork and observational skills to study the geography of their school and its grounds and the key human and physical features of its surrounding environment.