Frequently Asked Questions about Primary Geography
What is taught in primary Geography?
Primary Geography helps children develop knowledge of places, people and environments alongside practical geographical skills. Across KS1 and KS2, pupils learn about the UK and the wider world, physical and human geography, maps and geographical data, and fieldwork. Topics can include continents and countries, weather and climate, rivers, mountains, volcanoes, settlements, biomes and climate zones.
What are the main strands of the primary Geography curriculum?
The National Curriculum for Geography covers four main areas: locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, and geographical skills and fieldwork. These strands are developed throughout KS1 and KS2, with children gradually building more detailed geographical knowledge and increasingly sophisticated map, enquiry and fieldwork skills.
What is taught in KS1 Geography?
In KS1 Geography, children begin to develop their knowledge of the world by learning about the UK, the world's continents and oceans, contrasting places, seasonal and daily weather patterns, and basic human and physical geographical features. They also develop early map and fieldwork skills using maps, atlases, globes, compass directions and observations of their local area.
What is taught in KS2 Geography?
In KS2 Geography, children extend their knowledge of the UK, Europe, North and South America and significant geographical features around the world. They explore topics such as climate zones, biomes, rivers, mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes, settlements, land use and natural resources while developing more advanced map-reading, fieldwork and geographical enquiry skills.
What are popular Geography topics in primary schools?
Popular primary Geography topics include rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, rainforests, weather and climate, biomes and climate zones, continents and countries, settlements and the local area. Schools can organise much of their Geography curriculum in different ways, so the topics taught in a particular year group can vary between schools.
What Geography skills should primary children develop?
Primary pupils should learn how to use maps, atlases and globes; identify locations and geographical features; use compass directions and grid references; interpret geographical information; collect and present data; and undertake fieldwork. As children progress through primary school, they should become increasingly confident at using these skills to investigate places, patterns and processes.
What is fieldwork in primary Geography?
Geography fieldwork gives children opportunities to investigate the real world outside the classroom. Activities might include observing features of the school grounds or local area, creating maps, conducting surveys, taking measurements, recording land use, collecting data and presenting findings. Fieldwork helps children apply their geographical knowledge and skills to real places.
What do PlanBee primary Geography resources include?
PlanBee's primary Geography resources include ready-to-teach Geography lesson plans and schemes of work for KS1 and KS2, with teaching presentations, differentiated activities, printable worksheets and supporting resources. They are designed to help teachers deliver engaging, curriculum-aligned Geography while reducing planning and preparation time.
Are PlanBee Geography resources aligned with the National Curriculum?
Yes. PlanBee Geography schemes of work are designed around the requirements of the National Curriculum for Geography in England, including locational and place knowledge, human and physical geography, geographical skills and fieldwork. Individual schemes focus on different areas of geographical knowledge and skills so schools can build a broad and coherent primary Geography curriculum.
