Describe and understand key aspects of: physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle
Resources: The handouts, pencils and coloured pencils.
Support Handout (1): The handout provides the children with a mountain range that has already been drawn. The children can use the word bank provided to label the features of a mountain.
Core Handout (2): The handout provides space for the children to draw a mountain range. There is a word bank provided to support the children when labelling their diagrams.
Challenge Handout (4): This handout is an image of a relief map for the children to use when discussing the features of a mountain.
Begin this unit by asking what the children understand by the term ‘mountain’. They may be able to recall their learning from previous units; for instance, when learning about physical and human features or the differing landscapes in the UK. Do the children have any experiences of mountains? Are they able to name any mountainous locations?
Use the presentation slides to show the children that mountains are physical geographical features. The presentation will identify some of the world’s key mountain ranges, such as the Alps in Europe, the Rockies in North America, the Andes in South America and the Himalayas in Asia. The presentation will help the children understand the features of a mountain, such as valleys, river formations, steep sides and peaks. The children will recap their learning from Year 3 on reading relief maps.
Ask the children to draw a diagram of a mountain range and label the key features. This could include the base, valleys, peaks and treelines.
Challenge Task: Once the children have completed the Mission Assignment, ask them to apply this knowledge and discuss these features on a relief map. Are they able to point out the valleys, the peaks and the low-lying areas on the map?
In pairs, ask the children to discuss the maps they have drawn. Are there any features that they have missed? Give the children the opportunity to add in any extra elements to their maps.
Mountains are elevated landforms created through processes such as tectonic plate collisions, volcanic activity and erosion. They are characterised by their distinct features, including steep sides, peaks (the highest point), valleys (low areas between mountains) and treelines (the point above which trees do not grow due to cold temperatures and high altitude). Major mountain ranges include the Alps in Europe, the Rockies in North America, the Andes in South America, the Himalayas in Asia and the Atlas Mountains in Africa.
Relief maps, which show elevation using contour lines and shading, help to visualise the height of mountains and the depth of valleys. These maps reveal features such as peaks, valleys and river formations, with rivers often formed by snowmelt from higher altitudes. Mountains play a crucial role in shaping the environment and human activity, providing water sources, tourism opportunities and specific types of agriculture.
Mountains have diverse climates and ecosystems. Higher altitudes lead to colder temperatures and fewer plant species, with the treeline marking where trees can no longer grow. While many people think all mountains are the same, their climates, ecosystems and human use vary greatly.