United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 2 Geography
This curriculum develops spatial awareness and geographical literacy through the study of the United Kingdom and contrasting global regions. Students master foundational map skills while investigating the relationship between physical environments and human settlement patterns.
01The United Kingdom: Nations and Oceans
Students identify the four countries and capital cities of the UK while exploring the surrounding seas.
Locating England on a map, identifying its flag, and exploring London as its capital city.
Locating Scotland, identifying its flag, and discovering Edinburgh as its capital city.
Locating Wales, identifying its flag, and exploring Cardiff as its capital city.
Locating Northern Ireland, identifying its flag, and learning about Belfast as its capital city.
Investigating the national symbols of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and their cultural meanings.
Identifying the Atlantic Ocean bordering the British Isles and its influence on UK weather and life.
Locating the North Sea and exploring its significance for fishing, trade, and energy for the UK.
Identifying the English Channel and Irish Sea and their roles in connecting the UK to Europe and Ireland.
Exploring how the seas around the UK are used for transport and trade, linking to global connections.
Investigating how the UK's coastal waters are used for fishing and various recreational activities.
02Continents and Oceans of the World
A global overview identifying the seven continents and five oceans to establish a sense of world scale.
Naming and locating Europe and Asia on a world map, identifying key features.
Naming and locating Africa and North America, exploring their diverse landscapes and climates.
Naming and locating South America and Australia, focusing on their unique wildlife and geographical features.
Naming and locating Antarctica, understanding its extreme cold climate and unique scientific importance.
Identifying the locations and characteristics of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the two largest oceans.
Identifying the locations and characteristics of the Indian, Southern, and Arctic Oceans.
Discovering the diverse marine life in the world's oceans and understanding different ocean ecosystems.
03Weather Patterns and Hot and Cold Places
Investigating how temperature and weather change across the globe and within the UK.
Observing and recording local temperature and rainfall patterns over a short period.
Observing and recording local wind direction, strength, and hours of sunshine.
Exploring the characteristics of spring, summer, autumn, and winter in the UK, including daylight hours and temperature changes.
Exploring how humans and animals adapt to life in hot desert regions, focusing on survival strategies.
Investigating the unique environment of tropical rainforests and how plants, animals, and people adapt to hot, wet climates.
Investigating the cultures, food, and clothing of people living in hot regions around the world.
An investigation into the Arctic region and how life survives in extreme cold, focusing on animals and indigenous communities.
04Comparing Kenya and the UK
A comparative study of a small area in a contrasting non-European country.
Locating Kenya on a world map, identifying its capital city Nairobi, and understanding its position in Africa.
Studying the daily lives, homes, and schools of children in a Kenyan village.
Investigating the types of homes and community structures found in rural Kenya, and how they differ from the UK.
Examining the physical features of the Kenyan landscape, including the Savannah and Mount Kenya.
Discovering the diverse wildlife of Kenya and understanding the importance of conservation efforts.
Investigating the types of food grown in Kenya and the farming methods used, comparing them to the UK.
Tracing the journey of products like tea and coffee from Kenya to the UK, understanding the concept of trade.
05Coastal Landscapes and Processes
Exploring the physical and human features of the British seaside and how the coast changes.
Identifying cliffs and bays along the coastline and understanding their formation through natural processes.
Identifying sandy beaches, pebble beaches, and sand dunes, understanding how they are formed.
Investigating the process of erosion by waves and how it constantly changes the shape of coastlines.
Investigating the process of deposition where the sea drops sand and pebbles, building up new landforms.
Investigating ports and harbours built by people and their purposes for trade and transport.
Exploring the purpose and design of lighthouses and piers along the British coastline.
Exploring how people live and work in coastal towns, focusing on fishing and tourism industries.
06Our Local Area: Fieldwork and Maps
Applying geographical skills to the immediate school environment and local neighborhood.
Learning to use North, South, East, and West to describe the location of features in the classroom and school grounds.
Extending knowledge to include North-East, South-East, South-West, and North-West for more precise location descriptions.
Recognizing school landmarks from a bird's eye view and comparing them to ground-level perspectives.
Learning to use map keys to understand symbols representing features on a map of the local area.
Creating a simple map of the school grounds, identifying key human and physical features.
Observing and recording the human features of the local area through a guided walk (e.g., buildings, roads, shops).
Observing and recording the physical features of the local area through a guided walk (e.g., trees, rivers, hills).