Primary School Geography

Published in 1994, this book is the result of the collaborative work undertaken at the Liverpool-based Geography INSET Primary Project (GIPP) over three years. It presents a series of chapters for primary teachers seeking to implement the Statutory Orders for Geography in the National Curriculum. Steering a middle course between the sophistications of a theoretical/methodological text and the over-simplifications of a ‘tips-for-teachers’ approach, the authors highlight the positive opportunities offered by the National Curriculum. At the same time they are critical of many aspects of the Statutory Orders, without losing sight of their objective to help teachers to improve the quality of primary geography teaching. The book is especially useful for INSET work for teachers who have already grappled with National Curriculum Geography and who will be adjusting to the post-Dearing rearrangements.

Learning Primary Geography: Ideas and inspiration from classrooms celebrates children’s learning in primary geography. It is a book for all student and practising teachers who would like children to learn about their world in an enjoyable and stimulating way. Every page presents inspiring examples of children’s learning, and explains how and why creative approaches such as enquiry learning, learning outside the classroom, and using imaginative resources work so well in primary geography. Using illustrated case studies from a range of schools and classrooms, each chapter showcases the fantastic work all children can do in primary geography. The book explores a wide variety of geographical learning, with chapters focusing on key aspects of the subject, including: primary geography through the school grounds topical geography through issues and events learning about places in primary geography children’s agency and action through primary geography Throughout the chapters, the role of primary geography in helping children develop all types of literacies, including spatial, critical and digital literacies, is explored. Written by a highly experienced teacher and lecturer in education, Learning Primary Geography is underpinned and illustrated by examples from a wide range of primary classrooms. It will be a source of support, guidance and inspiration for all those teaching geography in the primary school.

This book outlines how good teaching of primary geography can extend children′s world awareness and help them make connections between their environmental and geographical experiences. Chapters offer guidance on important learning and teaching issues as well as the use and creation of resources from the school environment to the global context. It covers all the key topics in primary geography including: understanding places physical and human geography environmental sustainability learning outside the classroom global issues citizenship and social justice. Summaries, classroom examples and practical and reflective tasks are included throughout to foster understanding and support the effective teaching of primary geography.

First published in 1987, this title provides primary school teachers with ideas by which geographical skills and ideas can be introduced in the primary school. John Bale shows how teachers can build on children’s ‘private geographies’ with practical learning strategies, examining approaches to the teaching of map skills, the ways in which the locality can be used and how information about distant places can best be relayed. An interesting, useful and relevant guide, this title will be of particular value for teachers and teachers in training, as well as those studying primary Education more generally.

Specifically designed for busy teachers who have responsibility for co-ordinating a subject area within their primary school. Each volume in the series provides a wealth of tips, case studies and photocopiable material.

This little book is confined to very simple “reading lessons upon the Form and Motions of the Earth, the Points of the Compass, the Meaning of a Map: Definitions.” The shape and motions of the earth are fundamental ideas—however difficult to grasp. Geography should be learned chiefly from maps, and the child should begin the study by learning “the meaning of map,” and how to use it. These subjects are well fitted to form an attractive introduction to the study of Geography: some of them should awaken the delightful interest which attaches in a child’s mind to that which is wonderful—incomprehensible. The Map lessons should lead to mechanical efforts, equally delightful. It is only when presented to the child for the first time in the form of stale knowledge and foregone conclusions that the facts taught in these lessons appear dry and repulsive to him. An effort is made in the following pages to treat the subject with the sort of sympathetic interest and freshness which attracts children to a new study. A short summary of the chief points in each reading lesson is given in the form of questions and answers. Easy verses, illustrative of the various subjects, are introduced, in order that the children may connect pleasant poetic fancies with the phenomena upon which “Geography” so much depends. It is hoped that these reading lessons may afford intelligent teaching, even in the hands of a young teacher. The first ideas of Geography—the lessons on “Place”—which should make the child observant of local geography, of the features of his own neighbourhood, its heights and hollows and level lands, its streams and ponds—should be conveyed viva voce. At this stage, a class-book cannot take the place of an intelligent teacher. Children should go through the book twice, and should, after the second reading, be able to answer any of the questions from memory. Charlotte M. Mason

Written with reference to the 2007 Professional Standards for the Award of QTS and initiatives such as the Primary National Strategy, each chapter offers practical guidance on topics such as planning, assessment and the creation of resources. It provides summaries of key topics in primary geography, including the study of places, environmental sustainability, learning beyond the classroom, global issues, citizenship and cross-curricular approaches to promote children′s subject knowledge, well-being and learning within primary geography. With research summaries, practical and reflective tasks, and classroom examples, this book helps trainees and NQTs teach primary geography confidently and creatively throughout the primary school.

Specifically designed for busy teachers who have responsibility for co-ordinating a subject area within their primary school. Each volume in the series conforms to a concise style, while providing a wealth of tips, case studies and photocopiable material that teachers can use immediately.; There are special volumes dedicated to dealing with OFSTED, creating whole school policy and the demands of co-ordinating several subjects within a small school.; The entire set of 16 volumes is available.