Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
2nd Year Exploring Our World: Local and Global Connections
This course introduces Year 2 students to the fundamental concepts of physical and human geography through the lens of their local environment and the wider world. Students develop spatial awareness and environmental stewardship while investigating how people and places interact.
Mapping My World
Students develop foundational spatial skills by creating and interpreting maps of familiar environments. They transition from 3D models to 2D representations of their immediate surroundings.
Understanding the concept of a plan view by looking at everyday objects and rooms from above.
Navigating the school grounds to identify key landmarks and record them on a basic site map.
An introduction to directional language and the four cardinal points of the compass.
The Local Community
An investigation into the human features of the local area and the services that support the community.
Exploring the variety of housing types in the local area and the materials used to build them.
Identifying the different jobs people do in the community and how they help us.
Examining how people move around the local area and the infrastructure that supports travel.
Physical Features and Weather
Students observe and record local weather patterns and identify physical features in the Irish landscape.
Using simple instruments to observe, measure, and record weather conditions over time.
Identifying and naming major physical features of the Irish landscape.
Investigating the properties of different rocks and soils found in the local environment.
Contrasting Localities
A comparative study between the students' own locality and a contrasting area in Ireland or abroad.
Exploring how living near the sea influences daily life, work, and leisure.
Comparing the daily life of a child in a rural Kenyan village with life in Ireland.
Investigating the advantages and challenges of living in urban versus rural settings.
Caring for Our Environment
Students explore how human actions affect the environment and identify ways to protect their local area.
Following what happens to our rubbish after it leaves the bin and the importance of recycling.
Understanding where our energy and water come from and why we should use them carefully.
Identifying local plants and animals and understanding how to protect their homes.
Planet Earth and Beyond
An introduction to the Earth as a planet, its place in the solar system, and the continents and oceans.
Using globes and world maps to identify the distribution of land and water on Earth.
Exploring how the rotation and tilt of the Earth create cycles of light and temperature.
Investigating the North and South Poles and the Equator to understand temperature extremes.