Locating Kenya and its Capital NairobiActivities & Teaching Strategies
Active learning works well for this topic because Year 2 children need hands-on experiences to build accurate mental maps. Moving, touching, and comparing materials helps them move beyond distorted map representations to true understanding of scale and location.
Learning Objectives
- 1Identify the location of Kenya on a world map and globe.
- 2Compare the relative size of Kenya to the United Kingdom using geographical maps.
- 3Name Nairobi as the capital city of Kenya.
- 4Classify Kenya as a country located on the continent of Africa.
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Map Scavenger Hunt: Kenya Quest
Provide large world maps and globes. In small groups, students hunt for Kenya using clues like 'east of UK, in Africa'. They mark it with stickers and note Nairobi. Groups share findings with the class.
Prepare & details
Can you find Kenya on a world map?
Facilitation Tip: During the Capital Labelling Game, pair students so they can check each other’s labels before sharing with the group.
Setup: Tables with large paper, or wall space
Materials: Concept cards or sticky notes, Large paper, Markers, Example concept map
Size Overlay: UK vs Kenya
Print outline maps of UK and Kenya to same scale. Students cut out and overlay them on a large map, discussing size differences. They draw and label Nairobi on Kenya's map.
Prepare & details
What do you notice about the size of Kenya compared to the United Kingdom on a map?
Setup: Tables with large paper, or wall space
Materials: Concept cards or sticky notes, Large paper, Markers, Example concept map
Globe Relay: Locate and Name
Set up stations with globes. Teams relay to spin globe, locate Kenya, point to Nairobi, and shout 'Capital!'. Rotate roles for all to practise.
Prepare & details
What is the capital city of Kenya?
Setup: Tables with large paper, or wall space
Materials: Concept cards or sticky notes, Large paper, Markers, Example concept map
Capital Labelling Game
Display blank world maps. Individually or in pairs, students label Kenya and Nairobi using atlases. Check with peer review and class projection.
Prepare & details
Can you find Kenya on a world map?
Setup: Tables with large paper, or wall space
Materials: Concept cards or sticky notes, Large paper, Markers, Example concept map
Teaching This Topic
Teachers should model multiple map types to show how projections distort reality, then use concrete comparisons to build understanding. Avoid relying on a single map view, as this reinforces misconceptions. Research shows that children learn location best when they move between globes, atlases, and flat maps, so plan transitions between these resources.
What to Expect
Successful learning looks like students confidently locating Kenya on different maps, describing its position relative to the UK, and correctly identifying Nairobi as the capital. They should also articulate how real sizes compare to map sizes through discussion and comparison.
These activities are a starting point. A full mission is the experience.
- Complete facilitation script with teacher dialogue
- Printable student materials, ready for class
- Differentiation strategies for every learner
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionDuring Map Scavenger Hunt, watch for students who circle Kenya but then say it is smaller than the UK because it takes less space on the page.
What to Teach Instead
Use the Size Overlay sheets immediately after to let students physically compare the traced shapes side by side, discussing how map scale affects size perception.
Common MisconceptionDuring Capital Labelling Game, watch for students who place Nairobi near the center of Kenya.
What to Teach Instead
Have partners use the atlas to check Nairobi’s position in the south-west, then mark it on their own maps before sharing with the class.
Common MisconceptionDuring Globe Relay, watch for students who say Africa is next to Europe on every map they see.
What to Teach Instead
Turn the globe so students see Europe from above and Africa from below, then ask them to rotate it to confirm Africa’s position south of Europe.
Assessment Ideas
After Map Scavenger Hunt, give students a small world map to circle Kenya and label Nairobi, then draw an arrow from the UK to Kenya and write ‘South East’ to describe its position relative to the UK.
During Size Overlay, ask students to hold up their traced Kenya and UK sheets, then ask: ‘Which shape covers more area?’ Listen for students who correctly identify Kenya as larger.
After Globe Relay, display a world map and ask: ‘What do you notice about the shapes of Kenya and the UK?’ Encourage students to discuss how maps can make countries look different sizes than they really are.
Extensions & Scaffolding
- Challenge students to find another African country on the map and compare its size to Kenya using the overlay sheets.
- Scaffolding: Provide a labeled outline map for students to trace Kenya and Nairobi before labeling independently.
- Deeper exploration: Have students research one landmark in Nairobi and present its location to the class on a large map.
Key Vocabulary
| Continent | A very large landmass on Earth. Africa is a continent where Kenya is located. |
| Equator | An imaginary line that circles the Earth halfway between the North and South Poles. Kenya is located south of the Equator. |
| Capital City | The most important city in a country or region, usually where the government is located. Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya. |
| Atlas | A book of maps. An atlas helps us find countries and cities around the world. |
Suggested Methodologies
Planning templates for Geography
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