back to Page 1

Introduction - Page 2

What is Geographical Enquiry?

"An enquiry approach to geographical study may be defined as one in which the teacher assists pupils to develop the abilities to ask questions and seek to answer them through investigative work leading to sound knowledge, understanding and skill development."

The best process for learning geography is that of geographical enquiry. This process, explicit in the National Curriculum Geography 2000 programmes of study, can be likened to the process of scientific or mathematical enquiry or investigation in Attainment Target 1 of those subjects, or the process of enquiry in history. Active or interactive learning is its key, developing the skills in programme of study 2.

Geographical enquiry usually focuses principally on one of the two following methods of data collection and analysis.

l. First hand enquiry, of which fieldwork is an indispensable part, even though second hand resources may be used in the preparation for fieldwork and/or follow up after it.

2. Second hand enquiry, in which the use of data collected from secondary resources is the principal methodology. This data may include photographs, video, maps, graphs, artifacts and written resources from books, CD ROM or the Internet, for example.

Geographical enquiry and skills

KS1
POS1

In undertaking geographical enquiry, pupils should be taught to:

ask geographical questions
observe and record
express their own views about people,
places and environments
communicate in different ways

KS2
POS1

In undertaking geographical enquiry, pupils should be taught to:

ask geographical questions
collect and record evidence
analyse the evidence and draw
conclusions
Identify and explain different
views that people, including
themselves, hold about
topical geographical issues
communicate in ways
appropriate to the task and audience
       

Table l.

This framework has been adapted to provide a standard format for the majority of the trialled enquiries in this publication.

Furthermore, geographical enquiry requires some form of problem solving or the taking of a focus for the enquiry which prompts the need to ask and answer questions. (POS 1a National Curriculum Geography 2000) Thus the use of particular questions which can be shared with children during sections of a unit of work or a lesson are important. There is a fairly standard set of overreaching questions used in geography teaching.

These are:

Where is this place?
What is it like?
How did it get like this?
How is it changing?
Why is it changing?
How is this place linked to other places?
What might it feel like to be in this place?

Teachers and/or pupils can develop their own more focused questions from these wide questions as necessary.

Marcia Foley,
Adviser for Geography
Kent Advisory Service

 | Published: 21-1-09  | TOP