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Guru Nanak Sikh Academy
Key Stage 2 Curriculum Overview


Key Stage 2 Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2
Year 3

History

United Kingdom
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The children will develop their understanding of the UK. They will learn about the counties in the UK (including their locations and features), key cities and features. The children will be able to focus on a particular area and look at the human and physical geography as well as the changes over time. They will look at land use in the UK and how it has changed over time. The topic will provide a lot of opportunities to develop map skills.

History

Climate and Weather
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Children will look at the world and think about the location of different climates and biomes. They will discover why the weather is different depending on what area you are in and will link this to key lines of latitude. The children will have the opportunity to discuss extreme weather and its effects as well as understand and compare biomes thinking about how weather affects life there.

History

What is life like in the Amazon Rainforest?
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Children learn about the location of therainforest and its different features. They think about the climate, the animals that live there and the layers. The children will have the chance to discuss how people use the rainforest as part of their lifestyles before using maps to uncover how it is being destroyed, why and what effect that has.
Year 4 Our European Neighbours
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Children will be able to locate Europe and discuss its features such as environmental regions (climates and biomes). They will
look at the location of key countries and capital cities in Europe. The children will then focus on one European country and draw comparisons between it and the UK
thinking about the human and physical features of that country. The topic will provide a lot of opportunities to develop map skills
Extreme Earth
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Children will focus on earthquakes and volcanoes and learn, through maps, the location of them. They will look at the role of fault lines in natural disasters and discover what the ring of fire is. They will learn what happens during an earthquake and a volcanic eruption, what the aftermath of them are for the people who live there and why people still live in those areas.
Where do our things come from?
Children will have the chance to learn about jobs in different sectors and how their parents earn money. They will think about the different industries in the UK with a focus on land use over time. They will learn how different areas specialise in different produce depending on the land. They will then think about how the goods are exported and where they go. The children will learn about importation as well as what a supply chain is. They will be able to discuss fair trade, what it is and why it is important. Finally, they will also look at the distribution of natural resources.
Year 5 Let’s go on a Great North America Road Trip
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In this topic the children will learn about the North America continent. They will begin by locating it on a world map and learning about the different time zones. They will then identify the different countries located in it before focusing on the USA. Children will study the different physical and human features. The topic will provide a lot of opportunities to develop map skills as well as the chance to compare North America with the UK when looking at each feature or area.
Rivers and the Water Cycle
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Children will learn about the water cycle and also the formation of rivers. They will be introduced to key terminology (e.g. tributary, oxbow, source, mouth) and think about the different uses of rivers over time. The children will also have the chance to learn about two significant rivers and compare the two. The children can think about pollution and global warming and how they are affecting the rivers.
How do we read different maps?
Children will develop their core map skills in this unit from the Hamilton Trust. They will learn about map symbols, keys and grid references before applying them to different studies. They will have the chance to do an in-depth study of the school grounds, thinking about the land use within and around the buildings and creating their own maps before applying those skills to identify the wider features of the UK.
Year 6 South America versus the United Kingdom
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Children will identify the two focus areas on a map. They will learn the features of South America, including the countries and climate before focusing on one country looking at the features, sights and lifestyles before comparing it to the United Kingdom. This will involve them thinking about mountain ranges, biomes,cities, traditional food, traded goods, extreme weather, cultures and religions among others. The children could also have the opportunity to look at the Olympics in
Are we damaging our world?/Topical Issue
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This topic is structured around geographical issues at the time. It could cover climate change and how it is damaging the world or other recent issues like the spread of Covid-19 across the world or the Australian wildfires. The topic will focus on one issue. Children will learn about how it started, spread and what its effects are on people, flora and fauna and develop their map and fieldwork skills through its study. The children should be able to make conclusions on how the issue can be resolved.
Our Local Area: Migration
Children will re-familiarise themselves with the area around the school focusing on Hayes and Southall. They will be able to look at land use, thinking about different businesses and sites around them with a focus on how the settlement of people from India have developed the businesses and industries in the area. The children will be able to do lots of fieldwork and research by visiting and mapping out the local area in different ways. They will use all of the map skills required in KS2 to complete the study. They will also be able to look at the human and physical features of Hayes and Southall.