Geography – progression (Knowledge ‘to know’, Skills ‘to do’)

Essence – inspiring in pupils a curiosity and fascination about world and its people. Interaction between physical and human processes.

What should we see children doing? Knowledge of the location of globally significant places Understand processes give rise to physical and human geographical features and how these are interdependent Competent in geographical skills – collecting and analysing data, interpret sources of geographical information, communicate geographical information

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6Autumn Spring Paddington Bear

by Michael BondThe Great Kapok Tree

by Lynne Cherry &Where the Forest Meets

the Seaby Jeannie Baker

The Firework Maker’s Daughter by Philip Pullman

Nim’s Islandby Wendy Orr

Summer Kaspar Prince of Catsby Michael Morpurgo

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

The Other Side of Truth by Beverly Naidoo

Trashby Andy Mulligan

SKILLS

Geographical skills and fieldwork

I can find where I live on a map of the United Kingdom using a globe, computer and atlas.

I can plan a route round school using directional language, e.g. forward, backwards, behind, next to.

I can draw a map of the different areas of school and the local area.

I can use an atlas to identify the United Kingdom and the 7 continents of the world and the oceans.

I can observe, measure and record the human and physical features in the local environment using a range of methods including sketch maps, plans and maps.

I can use simple compass

I can use an atlas and aerial photographs to recognise landmarks and basic human physical features in a range of countries.

I can use atlases and aerial photographs to locate the counties of the United Kingdom and the major cities, plus other human and physical characteristics.

I can create a map of a geographical area including basic symbols, compass points and a key.

I can collect and accurately measure information (e.g. rainfall, temperature, wind speed, noise levels etc.).

I know about the geographical counties of the United Kingdom.

I can use and read grid references on a map.

I can name and locate the capital cities of neighbouring European countries.

Children can identify

I can use maps, digital technology and atlases to locate the countries in North and South America, identifying the human and physical features and describing their significance.

I can use the 6 figure grid referencing system to record and locate positions on a map.

I know how to use

I can confidently use a range of different type of maps, digital technology and atlases to locate the areas in North and South America, identifying a range of topographical features and discussing their significance on trade and climate in comparison with another area.

I know how to

directions (North, South, East and West) when describing where Trentham is in relation to the rest of the UK.

I can use phrases to describe location such as ‘near and far’ and ‘left and right.’

the position and significance of the equator and the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

I can use the 4 figure grid referencing system to record and locate positions on a map.

ordinance survey maps, symbols and keys to build knowledge of the UK and the wider world.

use ordinance survey maps, symbols and keys to build knowledge of the UK and North and South America.

Knowledge

Locational Knowledge

I know where I live and can tell someone my address.

I know the names of the four countries in the United Kingdom and I know where they are on a map.

I know names of the capital cities of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

I know the names of the 7 continents and I know how to locate them on a map.

I know the names of the world oceans.

I know the difference between the British Isles, Great Britain and the United Kingdom.

I know the names of the main islands surrounding the United Kingdom and I know how to locate them.

I know how to locate the major cities in the UK.

I know the names and locate many of the world’s most famous mountainous regions in an atlas.

I know the areas of origin of the main ethnic groups in the United Kingdom and in our school.

I can use maps to locate the countries of Europe.

I know the names of some of the countries in Europe.

I know how to plan a journey to a place in another part of the world, taking account of distance and time

I know why many cities are situated on or close to rivers.

I know the course of

I know the terms Prime/Greenwich Meridian and time zones and explain what these mean/stand for.

I know how a location fits into its wider geographical location with reference to human and economical features.

I know where North and South American are located with

I know how times zones work and calculate time differences around the world.

I know key words such as latitude, longitude, Equator, Northern Hemisphere, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic Circle.

I can locate the major cities of North and South American.

a river (water cycle). reference to Europe.

I know the names and the characteristics of the major cities of North and South America.

Place Knowledge

I know how to plan a route round school.

I know the differences between Trentham and different location. (e.g. China)

I know how to compare a geographical area in England with a contrasting place in a different non-European country. (e.g. Rainforest)

I know the similarities and differences of contrasting regions in the United Kingdom. (e.g The Potteries/ London)

I know the difference between a hamlet, village, town and city.

I know why people may be attracted to live in certain places.

I know the differences and similarities between Great Britain and a Non-European country. (e.g Egypt).

I know the differences and similarities between Great Britain and an area in North or South America including population, environment and climate.

I know the differences and similarities between Great Britain and a city in North or South America including trade, economics and government.

Human and physical

geography

I know that some place have a different climate – some are hot and some are cold. (In relation to the equator).

I can ask and respond to questions about key places such as the sea-side, the country side and Trentham.

I can recognise signs of the different seasons.

I know how to describe

I know that some place have a different climate – some are dry and some are wet. (Rain-forest)

I can say what the weather is like in my local area (Trentham).

I can compare the physical and human features

I know where in the world I would find volcanoes and where earthquakes are likely to occur.

I know the climate in Europe and other key places studied.

Water cycle/ rivers settlements

Land use/ food Natural resources/ economic activity energy/ trade

some physical and human features such as mountains, rivers, coasts/ busy – built up areas, crowded places – different types of buildings.

of Trentham and another contrasting area.

Vocabulary Vocabulary Street: A public road in a city

town, or village, typically with houses and buildings on one or both sides.Road signs: Road signs gives information, directions to places or warn of possible dangers.Office: A building where people work from. Some are large, tall buildings and others are very small.Supermarket: A place where you buy stamps for letters and send letters and parcels. Church: A place of worship normally found in every village, town and city. Mosques and temples are similar places for different religions. Map symbols: A small picture on a map to tell you about something. There are symbols for schools, churches, post offices and pubs.Address: Locates exactly where someone lives by having the house or flat number, street and town names. Post Code: This locates exactly where a street or a place is by using letters and numbers.Urban: A busy location which has lots of houses and usually shops and offices.Rural: It is a location in the country. It is not usually as busy as an urban place.

Continent: A continent is one of several very large landmasses on the Earth’s surface. Island: An island is a piece of land completely surrounded by water. Hill: A naturally raised area of land, not a high or craggy as a mountain.Mountain: A large natural elevation of the earth’s surface, rising abruptly from the surrounding level.Beach: an area of sand or small stones near the sea or another area of water such as a lake. Coast: The land next to or close to the sea. Forest: A large area covered chiefly with threes and undergrowth. It is larger than woods. Sea: Sea is the expanse of salt water that covers most of the Earth’s surface and surrounds its land mass. Ocean: An ocean is a very large expanse of sear, in particular each of the main areas into which the sea is divided geographically. River: A river is a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river.

Eruption: An explosion of steam or lava from volcano.Aftershock: A shaking event that follows an earthquake. Sometimes more damaging than the original earthquake.Tsunami: A long, high wave usually caused by an earthquake in the ocean. Magma: Hot fluid or semi fluid material below or within the Earth’s crust from which lava is formed. Lava: Hot, molten or semi-fluid rock erupted from a volcano, or solid rock, resulting from cooling of this. Dormant: A dormant volcano is an active volcano that has not erupted in the past 10,000 years.Fault: Fractures in the Earth’s crust where rock on either side of the crack have slid past each other. Magnitude: If you talk about magnitude of something, you are talking about its great size. Landslide: A landslide is a collapse of a mass of earth or rock from a mountain or cliff. Tectonic plates: The Earth’s outer shell is made up of huge slabs of moving rock called tectonic plates. Saturated: Holding as much water or moisture as can be absorbed; thoroughly soaked.

European Union: The EU tries to make it easier for Europeans to buy and sell things / trade with each other.Mediterranean: It is a body of water that separates the continents of Europe, Africa and Asia.Climate zones: Climate zones are areas with distinct climates, which occur in east-west direction around the Earth, and can be classified using different climatic parameters. Generally, climate zones are belt-shaped and circular around the PolesBiomes: Biomes are a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g. forest or tundra.Vegetation belts: Scientists divide the Earth's land into what are called vegetation regions. These areas have distinct types of plants, soil, and weather patterns Vegetation regions can be divided into five major types: forest, grassland, tundra, desert, and ice sheetRivers: A river is a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river.Compass: A compass is an instrument containing a magnetized pointer which

Ordnance Survey: An Ordnance Survey map is a detailed map produced by mapping agency of the United Kingdom. Time zones: Time zones give specific areas on the Earth a time of day that is earlier or later than the neighbouring time zones. Aerial photograph:Aerial photography is taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated/ direct-down position. Greenwich meridian: The prime meridian is the imaginary line that divides the Earth into two equal parts: The Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere, often called the Greenwich meridian. Arctic Circle: The arctic circle is at a latitude of 66.5 degrees north of the Equator. It is the southernmost part of the Northern Hemisphere. Antarctic circle: The Antarctic circle is at a latitude of 66.5 degrees south of the Equator. It is the northernmost latitude in the Southern hemisphere. Tropics: The tropics are regions of the Earth that lie roughly in the middle

Ordnance Survey: An Ordnance Survey map is a detailed map produced by mapping agency of the United Kingdom. Symbol: Map symbols are used to represent real objects. Both shapes and colours can be used for symbols and maps. Latitude: The lines extending around the Earth horizontally are called lines of latitude. Longitude: The lines extended around the Earth vertically are called lines of longitudetime zones: Time zones give specific areas on the Earth a time of day that is earlier or later than the neighbouring time zones. Grid reference: Numerical grid references consist of an even number of digits. Eastings are written before Northings. Tropics: The tropics are regions of the Earth that lie roughly in the middle of the globe. Desert: A desert is a large, dry, barren region, usually having sandy or rocky soil and

Soil: Soil is the upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown materials typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay and rock particles. Vegetation: Vegetation are plants considered collectively, especially those found in a particular area or habitat. Season: Each of the four seasons of the four divisions of the year (Spring, summer, Autumn and Winter) marked by particular weather patterns and daylight hours, resulting from the Earth’s changing position with regard to the sun. Weather: Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time as regards heat, cloudiness, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain etc. Peak: A peak is the highest point of any mountain.Valley: A valley is a long depression, or ditch in the Earth’s surface and usually lies between ranges of hills or mountains.Cliff: Cliffs are tall, steep rocks that were created by erosion and have vertical faces. Ridge: A ridge is part of the steep, sloping side of a mountain.Plateau: A plateau is an area of flat ground that is much higher than surrounding area. Summit: The summit is

Mountains: A large natural elevation of the earth’s surface, rising abruptly from the surrounding level.Volcanoes:  Volcanoes are mountain or hill, typically conical, having a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapour, and gas are or have been erupted from the earth's crust.Earthquakes: Earthquakes are a sudden violent shaking of the ground, typically causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action.Compass: A compass is an instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.Grid Reference: Numerical grid references consist of an even number of digits. Eastings are written before Northings. Ordnance Survey: An Ordnance Survey map is a detailed map produced by mapping agency of the United Kingdom.

shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.Grid Reference: Numerical grid references consist of an even number of digits. Eastings are written before Northings. Ordnance Survey: An Ordnance Survey map is a detailed map produced by mapping agency of the United Kingdom.Latitude: The lines extending around the Earth horizontally are called lines of latitude. Longitude: The lines extended around the Earth vertically are called lines of longitude.Symbol: Map symbols are used to represent real objects. Both shapes and colours can be used for symbols and maps. Hemisphere: A hemisphere is formed by dividing the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the equator.

of the globe. little or no vegetation. Greek Isles: Greece has a number of islands around its main land which are famous for being holiday destinations.

the highest point of a mountain.Terrain: Terrain is used as a general term when referring to the lie of the land. Range: A mountain range is a group or chain of mountains that are close together. Compass: A compass is an instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.

Topic specific knowledgeYear 1 Map and Overview:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, also known as the UK, is a country in north-western Europe. It is made up of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK has 14 overseas territories, e.g. Bermuda, Gibraltar. The capital city of England (and the whole UK) is London, Scotland is Edinburgh, Wales is Cardiff and Northern Ireland is Belfast.

Human Geography Features: Population - The United Kingdom is quite a crowded place compared to other countries – there are 281 (in 2020) people per square kilometre. 83.2% (in

2020) of the population live in urban areas. Ethnic Groups – For centuries, people have migrated to Britain from different parts of the world. This means that there is a mix of different cultures and

traditions. The Monarchy – Britain has a Royal Family, but they do not make decisions for the country. Britain is a democracy. The current monarch is Queen

Elizabeth II, who has been queen of the country since 1952. Sports / Recreation – Several sports were started in the UK, e.g. football, rugby, cricket, netball and tennis. Football is the most watched sport in the UK.

It is home of the Premier League. Overseas Territories – Britain has 14 overseas territories, each with their own government. Most remain from the time of the British Empire.

Physical Geography Features: Natural resources – Approximately 70% of land in the UK is suitable for farming, but this is declining. Farmers across the country grow crops and rear

animals. National Parks – There are 15 National Parks across England, Scotland and Wales, which have all been created since 1951. National Parks protect areas

of beautiful countryside. Climate and Weather – The UK has a temperature climate – cool, wet winters and warm, wet summers. It is milder than other places at the same

latitude, because of warm air arriving at the country through the Gulf Stream. Loch Ness – Loch Ness is a large, deep freshwater lake in the Scottish highlands. For years, there was thought to be a monster (‘Nessie’) living in the lake,

but it was a hoax! Topography – The North and West of the UK are higher ground (including Ben Nevis and Mount Snowdon) whilst the south and east is low lying

(including the Fens).

Locational and Place Knowledge: London – London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. London stands on the south-east coast of England on the River

Thames. Famous landmarks include Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. Edinburgh – Edinburg is the capital city of Scotland. The Scottish Government and Parliament is based here. It is often thought to be an extremely

beautiful city. Famous landmarks include Edinburgh Zoo and Edinburgh Castle. Cardiff – Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales, and the 11th largest city in the UK. It is where Wales’ National Assembly is based, and is Wales’

most visited city. The Principality Stadium is one of its most famous landmarks. Belfast – Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. Belfast is a major port. It was the place where The Titanic was built. Belfast was the

scene of violence in ‘The Troubles’ of the 1980s/1990s, however it is now one of the UK’s safest cities.

Year 2 World Map and Overview:

The surface of the planet is about 29% land. There are seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. A continent is a massive area of land that is separated from other areas of land by water or natural features. Five of the continents are connected to at least one other continent by land, whilst Antarctica and Australia are cut off from others by the oceans. Each continent has a wide range of land types, climates and animal life.

How the continents are formed:

The continents haven’t always looked as they do now – they are always moving (although very slowly). This is called ‘continental drift.’ It happens because the tectonic plates under the Earth’s surface move.

Around 250 million years ago, all of the land on earth was in one giant super-continent called Pangaea.

Asia: Asia is the largest continent in the world. It is mainly located in the Eastern and Northern Hemisphere. Countries such as Russia, China and India are some of the countries in Asia.

Africa: Africa is the 2nd largest continent. The continent straddles the Equator, with more of its landmass in the northern hemisphere Countries such as Egypt, Nigeria and Chad are some of the countries in Africa.

North America: North America is the 3rd largest continent. It is mainly located in the western hemisphere. Countries such as The United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean are some countries in North America.

South America: South America is the 4th largest continent. It is located in the western hemisphere. Countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Chile are some of the countries in South America.

Europe: Europe is the 2nd smallest continent. It is located in the northern hemisphere. Countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany Italy and Spain are some of the countries in Europe.

Australia: Australia is the smallest continent in the world. It is sometimes called Oceania or Australasia. Australia and New Zealand are the countries of this continent.

Antarctica: Antarctica is the world’s southernmost continent. It is the location of the South Pole. There are no other countries in Antarctica. It is the coldest continent.

The World’s Oceans: Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Southern Ocean Arctic Ocean

Top Ten Facts: The equator passes through the continents of South America, Africa and Asia. Until 1840, Antarctica was known as ‘Terra Australis Incognita’ (‘Unknown Southern Land’). Asia has 1/3 of the land on Earth. Australia is sometimes known as an ‘island continent.’ Europe is the only continent without any deserts Russia, the world’s largest county is in both Europe and Asia. The smallest country the Vatican City is in Europe. The highest mountain system, the Himalayas is in Asia. North America has every type of climate – Tropical, Dray, Continental, Moderate and Polar. The largest rainforest, the Amazon, is in South America.

Year 3 Disaster – a disaster is a sudden accident or a naturla catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life. Disasters on Earth may be as a result of human or natural causes, although some may be caused by both.Human caused disasters – examples include pollution, deforestation and use of the Earth’s resources. Human caused disasters are the consequence of human or technological hazards. Some are more immediate, whereas others occur as a result of human activity over time. Human activity is likely to be at least partically responsible for some natural disasers.

Pollution – Pollution occurs when something is added to the environment that is harmful to living things.

Air pollution – Air pollution can be caused by burning of fossil fuels whereas water pollution may come from sewage / waste. Pollution causes diseases, global warming and acid rain.

Deforestation – Deforestation is the permanent removal of trees to make way for something besides forest, e.g. housing, agriculture. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and provide homes for millions of animals. As forest are lost, biodiversity is harmed and carbon dioxide level rise.

Industrial Accidents – Industrial accidents are caused by industrial companies as a result of negligence or incompetence. They may include oil spills, fires or nuclear explosions. These can have a wide range of catastrophic effects on the environmen.

Nucelar Radiation – Humans have technology to trigger nuclear reactions, which can be useful, but also extremely harmful. Radiation can be deliberate (e,g, bombs) or accidental and can cause instant death, acute and long term illness.

Natural disasters – Natural Disasters are the consequence of the natural process of Earth. Natural Disasters may cause loss of life, property damage and economical / social problems. Human activity is likely to be at least partially responsible for some natural disasters.

Earthquakes – Earthquakes happen when two large pieces of the Earth’s crust (tectonic plates) slip suddenly. This causes shock waves to the surface of the Earth. When earthquakes take place underneath or near water they may trigger tsunamis (huge waves). Both can cause huge human and environmental damage.

Volcanic Eruptions – Volcanic eruptions occur when lava, rock fragments, hot vapour and gas are released through a volcano from beneath the Earth’s surface. During eruptions, damage and eath is caused by lava flows, mudslides and avalanches.

Hurricanes / Tornadoes – Hurricanes and tornadoes are both examples of adverse weather that involve extremely strong winds. Large hurricanes and tornadoes have the power to uproot trees, throw cars and even dismantle buildings They can cause huge storms which can cause flooding.

Droughts / Flooding – Droughts occur when places do not receive an adequate water supply, often as a result of decrease rainfall. Flooding is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry in addition to destroying the environments; flooding can also cause contamination and spread disease.

How earthquakes and volcanoes happen Earthquakes

The Earth’s crust is made up of many moving sheets of rocks, called tectonic plates. The places where these place meet are called fault lines. As they rub past each other, pressure can cause the plates to suddenly slip. This releases a large amount of energy and creates seismic waves that travel through the Earth. The waves are felt most strongly in close proximity to

where the event takes place – an earthquake.

Volcanoes As tectonis plates pull apart or a pushed underneath one another, magma is melted.

Melted magma rises to the surface because it is lighter than rock. If the magma rises quickly or is too thick, gas cannot easily escape. This builds pressure. Magma can therefore erupt as lava through opening of the Earth’s crust (volcanoes).

Year 4 Map and Overview:

Ei

Europe is a continent located entirely in the northern hemisphere, and mostly in the eastern hemisphere Despite being the 2nd smallest continent by area (covering 10.2 million km square) it is the 3rd most populous continent in the world, with a population of

about 743 million people (about 10% of the world’s population). Europe largely rests on the same landmass as Asia separated by the Ural Mountains and the Caspian Sea. The European climate is affected by warm Atlantic currents. There are 46 countries in Europe, although 2 are only partially in Europe. Most of Russia and Turkey are in Asia.

Human Geography Features: Eiffel Tower

o The Eiffel Tower is possibly the most well- known manmade structure in Europe. Situated in Paris, France, the structure has become a global icon of France. It is the most visited paid monument in the world, with 6.9 million visitors per year.

o The tower is 324 metres high, the same height as an 81 storey building.o The tower was originally built as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair.

Stonehenge o Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, UK. It contains a ring of stones about 4m high and weighing 25 tonnes each. It is

estimated to have been constructed sometime between 2000 and 3000 BC. o How Stonehenge was constructed has baffled archaeologists.o It is believed that some of the stones were hauled over 200 miles!

Berlin Wall o The Berlin Wall was a concrete barrier that divided Berlin, Germany. As a result of WWII and the Cold War, Germany became weakened and

divided. o The wall prevented people from moving between East and West Germany.o The wall was erected and in use between 1961 and 1989.o Around 150 – 200 people were killed trying to cross the Berlin Wall.

The Colosseum o the Colosseum is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of Rome, Italy. It is the largest amphitheatre ever built, and dates back to the Roman times.o It was built between 72-80AD).o It could hold 50,000-80,000 spectators.o The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial battles and sporting events.o The Colosseum has been partially destroyed by earthquakes and stone-robbers.

Dubrovnik – Dubrovnik is a famous walled city on the Adriatic Coast of Croatia. o It is a major tourist destination and a World Heritage Site. o It was historically a major centre of sea trade.o Dubrovnik is populated by 42,615 people.o Dubrovnik was bombed after the break-up of Yugoslavia.

Physical Geographical Features: The Danube

o The Danube River is Europe’s second largest river.o It flows through 10 countries, more than any other river in the world.o Countries the Danube flows through include Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia.o The Danube was a major frontier of the Roman Empire.o The Danube flows through capital cities, including Budapest and Vienna

The Giant’s Causeway o The Giant’s Causeway is an area of the coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland, in which there are around 40,000 interlocking columns.o They were formed from a volcanic eruption.

o Most of the columns are hexagonal, but some have 8 sides.

Aurora Borealis (The Northern Lights o The Aurora Borealis is a natural light display in the Earth’s sky, seen over high-latitude regions, including some areas of northern Europe.o Auroras are a result in the magnetic fields caused by solar winds.o These winds move charged particles, causing a process in which bright lights become visible in the sky.o The term Aurora Borealis was coined by Galileo in 1619, using Roman and Greek vocabulary.o The auroras are so bright that they can be seen from space. o Someone looking from Mars would be able to see them.

The Black Forest o The Black Forest is a heavily-wooded area of south-west Germany. o Trees are so densely grown that it blocks light below.o The forest is where the Brother Grimm’s Fairy tales are set.

The Alps o The Alps are the highest mountain range that lies entirely within Europe.o The mountains separate Southern Europe from Western and Central Europe and stretch for about 1,200km. o The highest mountain is Mont Blanc (4,810m).o The Alps are a popular location for alpine skiing. o The mountains were formed when the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided.o The Alps have about 100 peaks that are higher than 4,000m.

Northern Europe o Northern Europe is a general term for the area of Europe that is north of the Baltic Coast. This includes Scandinavia (e.g. Norway, Sweden,

Finland and Denmark), the United Kingdom and Ireland. o At extreme northern latitudes (e.g. Iceland) the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) can be seen.o Life expectancy in Northern Europe is extremely high.

Eastern Europe o Eastern Europe is dominated by Russia and the countries formerly a part of the Soviet Union. o Further in land from the warm currents of the Atlantic Ocean, temperatures can become extremely cold in winter.o Further south are countries such as Greece and Bulgaria.o Ancient Greece is considered the birthplace of western civilisation.

Western Europe o Western Europe is used to describe the western portion of the European continent, and also the countries that are deemed to show the

characteristics of more ‘western’ culture.o Many historical events have shaped Western Europe, for example the Roman Empire and breakout of WWII.

Southern Europe o Southern Europe is generally used to describe the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea (e.g. Spain, Italy and Croatia) and island nations

(such as Cyprus).o Southern Europe has a warm and sunny climate, meaning that its countries are popular holiday destinations for those from colder climates.

Year 5 Map and Overview of North America

North America is the world’s third largest continent by area. It covers about 24.7 million km², which is about 16.5% of the Earth’s total land area.

North America is the fourth most populated continent, after Asia, Africa and Europe. Its population is about 580 million people.

North America is in the western hemisphere (apart from Hawaii and parts of Alaska) and the northern hemisphere.

Human Geography Features Population Density

o The population density for North America is about 20 people per sp. km.

o Due to big cities in some areas (e.g. New York City) and extreme weather in others (e.g. northern Canada), people are not spread evenly.

o The mostly densely populated country is North America is Bermuda.

Manhattan, New York City o Manhattan is the business and entertainment centre of New

York City, the largest city in the United States.o Manhattan is mostly on an island with many high rise buildings,

e.g. the Empire State Building, surrounding Central Park.o One World Trade Centre is the tallest building in Manhattan

and the United States at 546m.o In 2001, the original World Trade Centre towers were

destroyed by terrorists.

Colonisation / Languages

Map and Overview of South America

South America is the fourth-largest continent in the world. It covers about 17.8 million km². It lies completely in the western hemisphere.

South America is the fifth-most populated continent in the world – it has a population of around 420 million people (although over half of these people live in Brazil).

The Equator cuts through the continent. Most of South America is in the southern hemisphere.

Most of the people live on the east and west coasts; the southern coast and centre of the continent are sparsely populated.

Human Geography Features Deforestation

o The Amazon Rainforest has been rapidly destroyed over the past 50 years.

o Since 1970, nearly 800,000km² of rainforest has been lost. The main causes are agriculture, illegal logging, and human encroachment into the forest.

o About 20% of the total rainforest has now been cleared.o 150 acres of rainforest are destroyed every minute of the day.

Machu Picchu o The Inca Empire was the largest empire in pre-colonial South

America. Machu Picchu was a large Incan citadel (fortified in the central area of town).

o Incans abandoned it after the Spanish invaded.o It remained unknown until 1911.o It is located on a 2,430 metre mountain ridge in southern Peru.o It was built in 1450 in classic Inca style with dry stone walls.

o Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, European settlers (mainly from Britain, Spain and France) colonised different parts of North America.

o Many native North Americans became displaced by the colonisers.

o The United States became independent from colonisers on July 4th 1776.

o The languages spoken in North America are mainly a result of colonisation.

Sport / Recreation o North America is relatively unique in that sports, which

originated in this region (e.g. American football baseball, basketball) are more popular than the global sports that are popular elsewhere (e.g. football / soccer, rugby and cricket).

o American football is the most popular sport in the United States.

The Mexican Drug War o This is an ongoing conflict between the Mexican government

and several of the large drug cartels.o This has been in response to the excessive wealth, control, and

violence of the cartels.o Mexican cartels control 90% of the illegal drugs entering the

United States.o The Mexican government declared the war in 2006.

Physical Geography Features The Mississippi River

o The Mississippi River is the second longest river on the continent, with its basin including 32 states in the Unites States.

o North Americans have lived along the Mississippi River for thousands of years.

o The river is amongst the most fertile places in the United States.

Colonisation / Languages o Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, European settlers

(mainly from portugal and Spain, but also the French, Dutch and British) invaded and colonised South America.

o South Americans still speak European languages today.o Most countries gained independence in the 19th century.o Portugese and Spanish are the main languages on the

continent.

The Rio Carnival o The Rio Carnival is a festival held every year before Lent. o It is considered the largest carnival in the world, with over 2

million people attending daily.o It is filled with parades of revelers, dancers, floats and displays.o It takes place between Friday before Ash Wednesda to Ash

Wednesday.o The Rio Carnival has taken place since 1723.

Coffee Trade o The coffee plant is grown in abundance in South America, and

many countries from the continent are the biggest producers of coffee in the world.

o Coffee is a huge regional export.o Coffee production is mainly found mainly in Brazil, Colombia

and Peru.o Brazil produces 2.5 million tonnes of coffee per year.

Physical Geography Features The Amazon River

o The Amazon River is the longest river in South America and by some definitions, the world.

o It has a huge volume, discharging 20% of all river discharge into the Atlantic Ocean.

o The Amazon River flows through Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, Equador and Venezuela.

o The Mississippi serves as a boundary between several states.

The Great Lakes o The Great Lakes are a series of interconnected lakes across the

United States and Canadian border.o They include lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario.o By area, they are the largest lake system in the world and the

2nd by volume. o Because of their great size and their waves, they are

sometimes called inland seas.o Only Lake Baikal in Russia has a larger volume than the North

American Great Lakes.

Animals o Due to the extreme latitudes of the continent, there are a wide

variety of animals adapted to different climates in North America.

o The brown bear is one of the largest and most powerful carnivores, whilst the American alligator is a feared predator in the South-Eastern United States.

o North America has 457 mammals, 662 reptiles and 300 amphibians.

o American Alligators an attain lengths of longer than 4m. They are a serious threat to people.

Death Valley o Death Valley is located in eastern California. o It is one of the hottest places in the world.o Its Badwater Basin is 86m below sea level, the lowest point on

the continent. o It has an area of 7,800 sp. km. o In 1918, the heat reached 56.7 ˚C; the hottest ever recorded.

Hawaiian Islands o The Hawaiian Islands consist of 8 major islands, and many

other smaller islands in the North Pacific Ocean.

o The Amazon River is fed by hundreds of tributories.

The Amazon Rainforest o The Amazon Rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world.o The Rainforest is about 5.5. million km² across nine different

nations.o There are 16,000 tree species.o The Amazon Rainforest contains around 390 billion trees.

Animals o The Amazon rainforest is so bio-diverse that it houses 1 in

every 10 known species of animals. o There are around 2.5 million insect species, 2,000 birds and

mammals, 428 amphibians, and 378 reptile species.o One in 5 of all fish species live in the Amazon River and its

tributaries.o Animals include the jaguar, caiman and anaconda. o Many creatures are dangerous to humans, e.g. snakes, piranha

fish, poison dart frogs and electric eels.o An unknown amount of Amazon animals have become extinct

since the 1970s because of deforestation.

The Atacama Desert o The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places in the world.o There are some place where there has been no recorded

rainfall.o The Atacama Desert is in Chile.o The desert is so dry due to its position in a ‘two-way’ rain

shadow.

The Andes o The Andes are the tallest mountains in South America, and in

the world after the mountain ranges in Asia.o The range is about 7,000km long, extending north to south. o The world’s highest volcanoes are in the Andes.o The Andes are located through 7 different South American

o They are spread out over 2,400km.o The islands are the exposed peaks of a massive underwater

mountain chain. o The islands are about 3,000km from the nearest continent.o Mount Kea is the ‘tallest’ mountain in the world – 10,000m

from base to tip (6,000m are below the sea).

Countries of North America The United States

o The Unites States is a large country made up of 50 states – including 48 on the United States mainland, plus Alaska and Hawaii.

o It has the largest population of any country in North America, and the third largest population in the world.

o The Unites States is considered the richest and most powerful country in the world, at the forefront of world politics and economy.

Canada o Canada is the largest country by area in North America, and the

second largest in the world (after Russia).o As a whole, Canada is very sparsely populated.o Most of its population lives along the US border in the south.o Very few people live in the central and northern areas of the

country. o Most of its land is dominated by forest and tundra.

Central America o Central America is the region found on the southern tip of

North America.o It has smaller nations: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador,

Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.o The countries have many cultural similarities.o Spanish is the main language in the region.o The area is sometimes considered as its own microcontinent.

countries.o The peak of Mound Chimborazo is the furthest point from the

centre of the Earth.

Countries of South America Brazil

o Brazil is by far the largest and most populated country in South America.

o It is the 5th largest country in the world, by both area and population.

o The official language is Portuguese.o The most populated city is Sao Paulo.o Rio de Janeiro harbour is its most famous landmark.o Brazilians are known for samba dancing and a love of football.

Argentina o Argentina is a country located in the southern half of South

America. o Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world by area and the

largest Spanish speaking country.o Argentina endured a long fight for indepenence with Spanish

invaders in the 19th century, followed by a painful civil war.o The climate in Argentina varies hugely from north to south.

Columbia o Colombia is a country in the north west of South America. o Colombia has been inhabited by indigenous people since at

least 12,000 BCE.o The Spanish arriveed in 1499 and conquered much of the

region. As a result, the national language is Spanish.o Much of the population live in the highlands.

Peru o Peru is a country on the western side of South America.o It has a diiverse landscape, ranging from arid plains to the

Andes mountains.

The Caribbean Islands o The Caribbean Islands are a number of tropical islands based in

the Caribbean Sea off North America.o The sea is considered a part of the Atlantic Ocean.o It has borders with Mexico and Central America.o Cuba is by far the largest Caribbean Island, with an area of

105,806km².o The Caribbean Islands are sometimes referred to as the West

Indies.

o Peru is known for being the centre of the Inca Empire.o The Inca ruins of Machu Picchu remain a major tourist

attraction. o The national language in Peru is Spanish.

Year 6 Map and Overview

Greece is a country in south-eastern Europe. It borders with a number of countries, including Albania, Turkey, Bulgaria and Macedonia. It has a large coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. Greece covers an area of 131,957 sq. km. It is the 15th largest European country by area. About 10.8 million people live in Greece. The capital city is Athens. Greece has around 6,000 islands, although only around 227 of these are inhabited.

Human GeographyGreece has a long and rich history, and a culture which has developed over thousands of years from the time of the Ancient Greeks. Its warm climate makes it a popular holiday destination for people from across the world.

Population o The population of Greece is around 10.8 million people. This makes it the fourteenth most populated country in Europe.o The population density is 82 people per square kilometre.

Settlements o The most populated and capital city of Greece is Athens.o It has a population of over 3 million people.o Other large settlements include Thessaloniki, Patra Piraeus and Larisa.o Most settlements were founded around the coast as Greeks historically were seafaring people.

Economic Activity o Greece is part of the European Union and its currency is the Euro.o Greece has suffered many financial problems, and have had to be helped by other countries.o Tourism is a large source of income for Greece.

Resources / Trade o Greece has many natural resources, and is a large trader of petroleum products.o In terms of food, Greece exports high quantities of fresh fish, olive oil, tomato-based products and wine.