A lesson on mapwork for Y3/4 in which pupils locate and name the major rivers of the UK and some of the major towns and cities that lie along their courses. 4 river/waterway maps are included but it is highly recommended you put out a class set of good quality atlases with detailed mapping of the UK in them. Pupils will need to use their skills of comparing features across different maps in order to label the major UK rivers and answer the questions below. The activity is differentiated three ways.

A geography lesson for Y2/3 in which pupils make some basic comparisons between the UK and a neighbouring European country (France), relating to both environmental, physical and human aspects of their geographies. Main activity involves a venn diagram, differentiated two ways plus an added extension.

A lesson for Y2 or Y3 on the key locations on Earth (North Pole, South Pole, Equator, Northern and Southern Hemispheres) plus the directions of a four-point compass. Activity comprises three smaller tasks and is differentiated three ways. Includes a world map with the key countries (for the questions) highlighted. However, you may prefer to use a photocopied atlas (perhaps enlarging to A3) for greater readability.

This is a topic introduction day (‘wow’ day/‘launch’ day) for a Y3 or 4 pupils who are about to start a topic on rivers and the water cycle. The morning involves lots of new learning - including an introduction to the key content of the topic. There are two practical experiments (obviously you will need to source the items for these beforehand) - one a simple evaporation/condensation demonstration and the other is the well-known ‘shaving foam cloud’ experiment! The afternoon is more art/music based, featuring a look at the inspiration French impressionists took from rivers/water and the inspiration many classical composers took from this topic. Finally, if you have a copy of Wind in the Willows to hand, this is an ideal topic-themed way to round the day off. Alternatively, show them the 1983 screen adaptation (available on various online platforms).

A complete lesson for Y3/4 to help teach atlas skills and develop pupils’ knowledge of the larger countries of Europe and their capital cities. You will need a class set of atlases to teach this lesson, though there is a simple political map of Europe included with all of the key information as well. The main task is differentiated three ways, with a challenge for fast finishers.

This is a Y3/4 topic (geography) lesson on polar environments. The lesson teaches pupils how we measure temperature, how the celcius scale works and what temperatures you would typically expect to record in given scenarios. If your school has access to a class set of thermometers, you could add an extra section where pupils measure temperatures around the classroom/school premises. The main activity involves researching the winter and summer average highs/lows in different parts of the world, including one location each in the Arctic and Antarctic. It is intended that pupils work in mixed ability pairs and they will need an ipad and an atlas in each pair.

A debate lesson for Y5 English at the beginning of a unit on writing balanced arguments, to complement a geography topic on Global Trade. The motion is ‘globalisation is a force for good in the world’, with eight fictional characters who stand on different sides of the argument. Through hot-seating and diamond four activities, this should help get some in-depth discussion going in your classrooms about the hidden costs of our cheap and plentiful consumer goods in the West, whilst acknowledging that standards of living would probably be worse across the board without worldwide commerce. Happy teaching and please do leave your feedback.