Subject: geography
Key stage: ks2
Year: year-6
Description: This unit revisits key geographical themes through a global journey. Pupils explore news stories, regional features and environmental issues across all continents, using maps, data and fieldwork skills to reflect on what it means to think like a geographer.
Why this, why now: This unit brings together pupils’ geographical knowledge and skills through a continent-by-continent review of key concepts and themes. Its placement at the end of Year 6 provides a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the role of geography in understanding people, places and problems. Pupils apply map and data skills, revisit physical and human features, and explore contemporary issues such as climate, resources and tourism. This final unit consolidates prior learning and encourages pupils to leave primary school with curiosity, confidence and a global perspective.
Prior knowledge requirements: Knowledge of places and geographical themes covered in KS2. Experience of geographical enquiry, mapwork, fieldwork, critical thinking and use of a wide range of sources of information.
National curriculum content: Name and locate counties and cities of the United Kingdom, geographical regions and their identifying human and physical characteristics, key topographical features (including hills, mountains, coasts and rivers), and land-use patterns; and understand how some of these aspects have changed over time Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of a region of the United Kingdom, a region in a European country, and a region in North or South America Describe and understand key aspects of: physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle human geography, including: types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied Use the 8 points of a compass, 4- and 6-figure grid references, symbols and key (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world Use fieldwork to observe, measure record and present the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods, including sketch maps, plans and graphs, and digital technologies Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length
Unit lessons: