Photos, Diagrams & Maps

Graphicacy

(Gra fee sa see), (Gra fick ca kay) or (Gra fick a see)

“The skill of interpreting pictorial forms of spatial information.”

Graphicacy involves identifying, interpreting and decoding symbols. You can do this through signs, symbols, photographs and diagrams. Encourage opportunities to use these resources in combination.

Key stage one Graphicacy:

Photographs and introducing maps

Throughout KS1 and KS2 Graphicacy:

Maps of different sorts become increasingly important

Pictures & Photographs

• Illustrations are a powerful tool in Geography teaching and they’re essential for learning

• Children tend to see a picture as a series of unconnected images rather than a whole

Ideas for reading photographs

• Ensure that you use geographical vocabulary (graphicacy etc)• Always give the picture a title• See the picture as a whole, make references to all parts of it

(foreground, background etc)• Annotate a b&w copy against a coloured picture• Label field sketches or drawings they have made of the photograph• Ask questions to develop their geographical inquiry• Encourage them to take their own geographical photographs• Understand perspectives eg. Aerial Photographs

How to read maps

• Use them in context eg. Using them to gather information and wayfind

• Discuss how a map works

• Locate and gather information on places they are studying

• Sequence maps of varying age

• Link photographs to maps (eg. Google maps)

How can children use globes

• Play with an inflatable globe

• Accept that it models their world

• Link the globe with atlas maps

• Locate specific countries, oceans, both poles etc.

• Recognise the common features of places with similar latitudes eg. climateScheme of work