United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 4 Geography
This course investigates the physical and human processes that shape our world, focusing on the United Kingdom and the Americas. Students develop advanced spatial awareness through digital mapping and field studies while examining the critical relationship between natural environments and human settlements.
The UK Landscape: Counties and Cities
An exploration of the administrative and geographical divisions of the United Kingdom, focusing on naming and locating counties and cities.
Identifying the major counties of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland using digital and paper maps.
Studying the location and characteristics of major UK cities and their historical development.
Analyzing how land use in specific UK regions has shifted from industrial to service-based economies.
European Neighbors: The Mediterranean
A comparative study of the physical and human geography of a Mediterranean region compared to the UK.
Investigating the Mediterranean climate and how it dictates the types of agriculture and ecosystems found there.
Examining how the physical environment of Southern Europe has driven the growth of the tourism industry.
Using map skills to compare the coastline of the UK with that of Italy or Greece.
Rivers and the Water Cycle
Understanding the journey of a river from source to mouth and the physical processes involved in the water cycle.
Learning the terminology of river systems including tributaries, meanders, and estuaries.
Exploring evaporation, condensation, and precipitation as part of a continuous global system.
Investigating why rivers flood and how engineers attempt to control water flow.
The Americas: A Study of Contrast
A broad look at North and South America, focusing on major environmental regions and human landmarks.
Studying the layers of the rainforest and the reasons for its current rate of deforestation.
Comparing the diverse environments of North America, from the Arctic tundra to the Great Plains.
Analyzing the location and significance of major cities like New York, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City.
Map Skills and Fieldwork
Developing practical skills in using four and six figure grid references, symbols, and keys.
Learning to read standard OS symbols and use grid references to locate specific features.
Observing, measuring, and recording the human and physical features of the local school environment.
Using Google Earth and other digital tools to view the world at different scales.
Resources and the Environment
Examining where our food and energy come from and the impact of our consumption on the planet.
Tracking the journey of everyday food items from around the world to the UK.
Investigating different ways of generating electricity and their impact on the landscape.
Exploring the lifecycle of plastic and the geographical impact of waste on the oceans.