Pupils should develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They should understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness.
Pupils should be taught to:
Locational knowledge
- 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
Place knowledge
- 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
- 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, harbour and shop
Geographical skills and fieldwork
- 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
Suggested Topics
- Hooray Let’s Go on Holiday
- From A to B
- Our World
- Countries, Continents and Oceans
Investigating Places
Ask and answer geographical questions (such as: What is this place like? What or who will I see in this place? What do people do in this place?).
- Identify the key features of a location in order to say whether it is a city, town, village, coastal or rural area.
- Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the United Kingdom and its countries, as well as the countries, continents and oceans studied.
- Use simple fieldwork and observational skills to study the geography of the school and the key human and physical features of its surrounding environment.
- Use aerial images and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic physical features.
- Name, locate and identify characteristics of the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas.
- Name and locate the world’s continents and oceans.
Investigating Patterns
Understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the human and physical geography of a small area of the United Kingdom and of a contrasting non-European country.
- 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.
- Identify land use around the school
Communicating Geographically
Refer to key physical features, including: beach, coast, forest, hill, mountain, ocean, river, soil, valley, vegetation and weather.
- Refer to key human features, including: city, town, village, factory, farm, house, office and shop.
- Use compass directions (north, south, east and west) and locational language (e.g. near and far) to describe the location of features and routes on a map.
- Devise a simple map; and use and construct basic symbols in a key. Use simple grid references (A1, B1).