LKS2 Topic Overview: Mountains, Rivers and Coasts

LKS2 Topic Overview: Mountains, Rivers and Coasts

In this fascinating topic, you will learn what mountains, rivers and coasts actually are, some of the forces that help create and shape these important features, and the effects they have on the world around them. You will learn about the climates, human interactions, and lifestyles shaped by the mountains, rivers and coasts of the world.

Block / Key NC Objectives / Final Creative Outcomes
Block A
The Journey of a river
(10 sessions) / Geography, Art, Music, D&T, Science,PEand PSHE

Understand and describe the key aspects of physical geography including: rivers, mountains and the water cycle.
Use maps, atlases, globes and digital computer mapping to locate countries and describe the features studied.
Use atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features.
Extend knowledge to include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical characteristics.
Develop their techniques including their control and their use of materials (collage) with creativity and experimentation.
Appreciate and understand a wide range of high quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians.
Identify the role played by evaporation and condensation in the water cycle and associate the rate of evaporation with temperature.
Perform dances using a range of movement patterns.
Select from and use a wide range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [forexample, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately.
Select and use a wider range of materials and components, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities.
Consider and discuss the qualities needed to survive a long treacherous journey.
Share ideas, agree and write a message for the finder of their boat.
To examine and discuss their own feelings following the launch of their boat on its journey.

/ Learn about the formation and features of a river. Follow its journey to the sea and discover the role of the water cycle. Play a definition game, illustrate a glossary, create a collage, make an estuary nature reserve leaflet, learn about the 10 major world rivers and devise a dance capturing the moods of a river. Finally build and test your own boat to launch!
Block B
Rivers for people
(5 sessions) / Geography, Science andD&T

Describe and understand key aspects of human and physical geography including land use and rivers.
Use maps and atlases to locate and describe features studied.
Describe and understand key aspects of human geography including, settlement, land use and the distribution of water.
Describe and understand key aspects of: physical geography including rivers and vegetation belts.
Set up simple, practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests.
Use results to draw simple conclusions.
Make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions.
To explore the requirements of a plant for life and growth.
Shaping, joining and finishing], accurately; select and use a wider range of materials and components … according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities.

/ Rivers have always been extremely important for people. Find out about the importance of rivers in settlements, travel and farming. Investigate bridges, irrigation, and the industrial use of rivers too. Design and make your own water wheel!
Block C
River art inspired by Monet
(4 sessions) / Art

Use sketch books to record observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
Improve mastery of art and design techniques (painting)
Learn about the life and work of a great artist (Claude Monet)

/ Rivers have long been are a source of inspiration for artists.Consider light and colour in Monet’s River Thames series work and how his new style gave rise to the term “Impressionism”.Learn about the life and work of this great artist and create your own river artworks.
Block D
Mountains – What Are They?
(6 sessions) / Geography, Science,History,D&T,English andComputing

Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including mountains and volcanoes.
Locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on Europe, North America and South America, concentrating on their environmental regions, key physical and human characteristics, countries and major cities.
Identify the position and significance of latitude, longitude, the Equator, the northern and southern hemispheres, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles.
Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of physical geography of a region in Europe and a region within North or South America.
Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe the features studied.
Name and locate the world’s 7 continents (KS1).
Find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (air) (KS1).
Explore the requirements of plants for life and growth (air, light, water, nutrients from soil, and room to grow).
Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks.
Select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities.
Apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures.
Study an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066.
Write for a range of real purposes and audiences as part of their work across the curriculum.
Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.
Use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked and be discerning in evaluating digital content.

/ Become an enthusiastic mountain expert! Locate the highest peaks, identify mountain ranges, and research key facts about these. Create 3D mountain models and create presentations to share expertise!
Block E
Living in the mountains
(10 sessions) / Geography, D&T, Computing, Science, EnglishandRE

Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of a region of the United Kingdom and another region.
Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including mountains.
Understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time.
Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate and describe features studied.
Locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on their environmental regions, key physical and human characteristics and major cities.
Describe and understand key aspects of 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.
Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography including climate zones.
Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.
Use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content.
Observe changes across the four seasons. (Year 1).
Observe and describe weather associated with the seasons and how day length varies. (Year 1).
Find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air). (Year 2).
To describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene. (Year 2).
To write for a range of real purposes and audiences as part of their work across the curriculum.
To understand and apply the principals of a healthy and varied diet.
To prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques.
To understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.
To develop a critical understanding of the impact of design and technology on daily life and the wider world.
Children investigate and consider the impact of religion and belief locally, nationally and globally.
To make connections between different aspects of religion and belief and consider different forms of religious expression.
To consider the beliefs, teachings, practices and ways of life central to religion.
To extend the range and use of specialist vocabulary. (Check your locally agreed or school RE syllabus).

/ Journey to the Kumaon region of India and learn about the life of a Kumaon child. Find out about the fascinating Kumaon region and the tallest peaks of the Himalayas. Compare this region to your own as you develop learning.
Block F
Coasts– Where the land meets the sea
(7 sessions) / Science, Geography, ComputingandEnglish

To construct and interpret a variety of food chains, including producers, predators, and prey
To begin to identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution.
To describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including coasts, cliffs and beaches.
To understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time.
To 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.
To select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
Use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content.
To write for a range of real purposes and audiences as part of their work across the curriculum.

/ Investigate coastlines and the animals and plants that live there. Carry out research in the classroom and, if you are lucky, on a field trip to the beach; use your research to deepen your knowledge of coastal food chains and webs. Use IT to create your own nature movie!
Block G
Mountain Views
(5 sessions) / Art andGeography

An understanding of the historical and cultural development of their art forms
An understanding of how art and design reflect history
To evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.
To create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.
To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing and printing.
To describe and understand key aspects of physical geography including mountains.
To interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

/ Develop your analysis of art, improve your sketching skills and learnhow to make a collagraph print. Learn about artists who choose to paint mountain landscapes and in particular, the Japanese artist Hakusai. Create your own prints of Mount Snowden.
Block H
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside
(5 sessions) / Geography, History, PSHE,English,Computingand Art

Understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time.
Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate and describe features studied
Locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on their environmental regions, key physical and human characteristics and major cities.
Describe and understand key aspects of 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.
To 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.
To select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.
To use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content.
To use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly.
To write for a range of real purposes and audiences as part of their work across the curriculum.
To know how art and design reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
To improve their mastery of art and design techniques including painting.
To (begin to) equip pupils with the skills and knowledge to explore political and social issues critically, to weigh evidence, debate and make reasoned arguments (KS3 Citizenship).
To study an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066, for example; a significant turning point in British history such as the first railways.
To address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference and significance.
To construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information.
To understand that our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.

/ Understand the effect of the first railways on coastal communities and learn about the great changes that happened during the Victorian Age that changed British leisure time.

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