In order to be able to make change within spaces we must understand the experiences of the people who use them. In this session we reflect on two projects using visual methods: one exploring sustainability, the other the experiences of non-verbal learners. We bring together an interdisciplinary team of geographers, education, planning and architectural experts and reflect on how visual methodologies with children (5-11 years) and their teachers can help us make a difference. We will reflect on the successes and challenges of using this interdisciplinary and multi-tool mechanism to provide insights that a single disciplinary approach could not achieve. We will share our approach to visual methods in order to examine lived experiences of the school environment (through photography) combined with educational evaluation practices (focus groups and creative collage).
Associate Professor, University of the West of England
Verity is an Associate Professor in Education at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Her long standing research focus has been on routes to sustainable futures (both social and environmental). At present Verity is working in partnership with Global Goals Centre to develop... Read More →
Senior Lecturer, University of the West of England
Fay Lewis is a Senior Lectrer at UWE: Bristol. Her research interests lie in primary STEM and sustainability education. Her research draws on a range of creative research methodologies in order to better understand lived experiences.
Have you ever seen a great idea in Primary Geography but aren't sure how to implement it in your school? This session will talk through how Simon put one such idea into practice in his school, complete with advice on what to do - and what not to do! There will be time to gather inspiration and plan how you might implement ideas in your own setting. This session is ideal for new subject leaders, curriculum leads or geography enthusiasts!
Member of the Editorial Board, GA Primary Geography journal
Simon is an Assistant Headteacher at Emmaus Catholic and Church of England Primary School in Sheffield. He is also part of the Editorial Board for the GA's Primary Geography Journal.
This session will look closely at the primary geography curriculum and explore how to select content and implement a well-sequenced, coherent curriculum for long-term learning. It will also consider progression and include opportunities for reflecting on what a pupil’s geography experience looks like as they journey from their early years through primary education. Importantly, we will consider geography's role in developing a child’s identity. Geography is not just about maps and locations; it's about connecting children to their world, fostering a sense of belonging and developing agency to impact the world around them. Geography can make a difference for all children, and in this session we will think about how we can be agents of this change.
Author, ITT teacher, Primary Curriculum Advisor, Independent Curriculum Consultant
I am a curriculum consultant with a passion for helping schools design ambitious, knowledge-rich content that enables all children to thrive, and gives teachers the clarity, tools and confidence to deliver. As co-founder of the Primary Knowledge Curriculum, now used by 400+ schools... Read More →
Geography binds children's understanding of our complex, interconnected world. This workshop will explore how primary educators can embed climate, nature and sustainability into geography teaching using the free Ministry of Eco Education framework. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, learn practical strategies for transformative sustainability education and leave with the confidence to amplify education for sustainability in their own teaching contexts.
Regional Lead - North East, Ministry of Eco Education
With a background in secondary science education Meryl Batchelder is now a Communicator for Climate, Nature and Sustainability Education. She has many roles including Education Lead for TerraLigo, Regional Coordinator for the Ministry of Eco Education and North East Lead for the Young... Read More →
Regional Lead - Midlands, Ministry of Eco Education
Hannah Tombling is a regional coordinator for the MEE and an experienced EYFS teacher at Diamond Wood Community Academy in Dewsbury. Hannah leads Science, Outdoor learning and Eco education. Hannah was the TES Environmental Champion 2021 and is passionate about connecting children... Read More →
This workshop will explore how children’s understanding of their local area can support enquiry into new places. Delegates will learn how to plan meaningful and comparative place studies, tailor them to their cohort, and use strategies that develop key geographical knowledge through lenses and scales. The workshop will also explore how place studies can be sequenced effectively within the curriculum.
I am a geography adviser for Hampshire County Council and support schools in curriculum deveopment, working closely with subject leaders and running CPD events. I also support schools and governing bodies in Hampshire with sustainability education by creating resources and running... Read More →
In this interactive workshop, we will identify opportunities for nurturing children's development as active young citizens through the primary geography curriculum. We will explore strategies for empowering them to take meaningful action for sustainability. The workshop will include collaborative activity, school case studies and resource recommendations.
Find out more about the new GIS tool for primary geographers: National Geographic’s MapMaker. Created to allow teachers to integrate maps, satellite imagery, simulated weather and historical maps into their lessons, alongside stories and data from real National Geographic Explorers. Students can explore topics from climate and wildlife to culture and society, using intuitive tools that encourage curiosity and a sense of place. Hear from our pilot cohort of teachers about a range of uses, from EYFS to KS2.
Developed by Esri, ArcGIS Online is a complete, cloud-based mapping platform that makes teaching with GIS easy. There is no install, you just need a browser to get started. ArcGIS Online works on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. Visit their stand to find out more.
Join this lively practical workshop to reimagine fieldwork through play, story and sensory exploration. Together we’ll wander landscapes, weave tales and conjure enchantment with words, images and making. Blending geography, imagination and wonder, we’ll spark curiosity, compassion and joy, sharing lyrical, creative field practices to deepen connections with more-than-human worlds.
Spark curiosity by connecting geography and science in the primary classroom. This interactive workshop explores where the (English) primary geography curriculum naturally overlaps with science: energy, climate and sustainability. Discover a dynamic (free) renewable energy resource that brings cross-curricular teaching to life, helping pupils make real-world links, think critically and get excited about the planet’s future.
I'm an experienced primary teacher and education consultant, with a specialism in science, an interest in cross curricular links, a love for geography and a passion for the natural world.
This session will introduce a teaching framework for primary teachers to integrate outdoor learning into their teaching of geography. It will demonstrate how the concepts taught in geography can make a difference in their own local environment and how their interaction with the processes taught within geography can make a difference. This hands-on approach can also make a difference to learners who struggle in the classroom and bring learning to life for those who can't understand the real-life application of geography. Teachers will come away with a practical guide to using outdoor spaces to bring geographical concepts to life.
Dawn runs Nature Days a field studies consultancy. She has over 25 years of teaching experience, miserly outdoors.She plans and leads geographical field work for primary and secondary students. She also creates resources for integrating outdoor learning into the teaching of geography... Read More →
This workshop will provide clear workable examples of how geography subject leaders can help geography to have a high profile and make a difference in a crowded curriculum by influencing their SLT and head teacher, and thereby the school, through whole-school approaches, which, with geography at their core, tick the boxes of skills and cross-curricular development.
EYPCC member. Headteacher, EYPCC + oatham CE Primary School
I have been a member of the EYPCC for around 20 years, and a Primary Geography co-ordinator for a smiliar time. I have been Headteacher and SENDco at Coatham CE Primary School for 14 years; we serve a severely deprived area of Redcar in the North-East of England. My particular interests... Read More →
