Learning matters

Key stage 2

At key stage 2 children are becoming aware of the world around them and have considerable experience of places and environments, whether from their home life or through television and other media. The teacher can assist children's development by extending the range of places and topics studied and by ensuring that there are opportunities to use a wide range of geographical skills and many different interesting resources, particularly maps, atlases and visual images.

As well as considering the general points about teaching and learning ask yourself:

• do I introduce the children to a wider range of countries and cultures than was possible at key stage 1?
• do I focus on the distinctively geographical skills of making, using and interpreting maps and of collecting, recording and analysing data about places and environments so that pupils have a good basis for progression in geography?
• are pupils getting lots of chances to read, write and talk about geographical topics so that their literacy skills are enhanced at the same time as their geography?
• am I ensuring that children get the opportunity to use new technologies (especially email, the internet and databases) in their geography?
• is it possible to involve children in some investigations of their own devising, as well as in work structured by the teacher?
• can I make sure that children have some opportunities in key stage 2 to consider difficult issues and conflicting viewpoints, so that they are challenged to think and feel deeply?

For some practical examples of teaching and learning approaches, choose from the menu.

The QCA website provides guidance on teaching geography to gifted and talented pupils and on planning, teaching and assessing the geography curriculum for pupils with learning difficulties.

Further examples of teaching and learning approaches in key stage 2 are currently being collected. If you have any good examples, submit them for possible inclusion.

Other information

The Teacher Resource Exchange in the Virtual Teachers' Centre provides a moderated database of key stage 2 geography resources and activities.