Geography at Excalibur

A Showcase of Geography

Reception - Maps from Tracks

Our reception children used their understanding of maps to create their own maps using train tracks. They also created their own journey sticks using the natural material they could find in the school grounds.

Year 1 - Exploring the UK

In Year 1's spring learning, they used atlases to locate where the UK is in the world. They then focussed on a map of the United Kingdom and located the foour capital cities: London, Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh. They also found north on a compass and then considered which way was east, west and south. During their learning on shadows, the children looked at how shadow size and direction changed throughout the day.

Year 2 - Our Local Area Fieldwork

Our dedicated Year 2 geographers visited Delarmere for and, as part of their residential, carried out a fieldwork study on the wildlife found in a local woodland habitat. During their work, they found a variety of species, including shrimp, waterbeetle, newts, water boatmen and larvae. In some cases, they humanely trapped the species and observed them carefully, before returning them to their habitat. On their return to school, they completed a bar chart showing the number of plants and animals they had seen. They then concluded their findings by answering the following key questions: Which creature did we find the most of? Which creature did we find the least of? Why do we need to protect these habitats?

Year 3 - Discovering Antarctica 

Year 3 used digital mapping software to explore the landscape of Antarctica. They zoomed in on various physical features, such as mountains and glaciers and even used street view to explore areas where people live in Antarctica on a temporary basis.

Year 4 - Structure of the Earth

As part of their learning on the Earth's structure, Year 4 constructed their own Earth out of modelling clay. They created each of the sections: the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust. They also took part in a fieldwork rock hunt around school.

Year 5 - Learning About the Alps

During the spring term, Year 5 learn about the Alps. They explored the location of the mountain range on a continent and world map and discovered different human and physical features in the area. They then compared the similarities and differences between the Alps and a UK region.

Year 6 - It's All About Energy

In the spring term, Year 6 learnt all about energy sources. They found about the different types of sources, including renewable and non-renewable types, and the benefits and drawbacks of each. The topic culminated with the children analysing the school site and deciding where the best place would be for solar panels to be located.