Year 4 - Geography

Introduction

At Eastfield we aim for our children to develop an understanding and curiosity for the world. We use Collins Connected Geography scheme to ensure children receive a structured but ambitious curriculum. Vocabulary and talk play a central role within geography teaching and learning so our pupils' can talk like geographers.

Why are jungles so wet and deserts so dry?

Keywords we used:

Weather; Climate; Temperature; Temperate; Prevailing; Wind; Climate Drought; Desert; Carnivore; Biome; South Amazonia; Humid

Children used maps and keys to learn about the climate in UK. Children then looked at climates around the world and compared these.

Children then looked at precipitation across the UK and then compared this to other areas of the world,

add pictures of work, children, child voice.

The children really enjoyed being geographers and interpreting the data on different types of maps showing information such as the different countries, continents, average rainfall, average temperature and climate zones.

How can we live more sustainably?

Keywords we used:

Renewable, Non-Renewable, Fossil fuel, Global warming, Pollution, Sustainability, Deforestation, Greenhouse gases

Within this unit children will explore the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development. Children will explore different renewable and nonrenewable resources and the differences between these. Children will explore some challenges involved with sustainable development.

We loved learning about sustainability in Year 4. To start this unit we completed a homework activity where we read the knowledge organiser and answered questions - what a great way to start this topic!

Do you know what sustainability means?

First we thought about the way we could be sustainable in our everyday lives - recycling, walking or cycling instead of taking a car, reusable bags for carrying shopping. As a class we looked at the images and discussed them. We then thought about personal sustainability and how to keep our emotional and mental well being in check.

Re watch these videos to remind you about renewable and non renewable energy.

Renewable and non-renewable energy sources

We discussed this reasoning questions with our partners. Who do YOU agree with and why?

Challenge!

What do you know about hydroelectric power? Year 4 know lots! We love using different apps and technology to enhance our learning. We used Popplet to organise our facts and information that we found out about hydroelectric power.

Have a look at the Popplets below to see some facts and information we found out.

Erosion: Why is Jane’s house only worth one pound?

Keywords we used:

Erosion, abrasion, hydraulic action, under cutting, meander

Why are mushrooms sometimes found in hot deserts?

We started off our unit by exploring deserts and introduced the idea of 'mushrooms'.

Desert: an area that is very dry and usual receives less than 25 centimeters rainfall annually.

The mushroom rock form is creating by wind erosion.

Why are cliffs sometimes found in rivers?

A cliff is a steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea.

A river is A river transports water that the land doesn't require back to the seas and oceans. They are an important part of the water cycle!

The bend in rivers are called meanders.

Some rivers like this have cliffs in them but they are never as tall as the cliffs

As a river flows around a bend, the water on the outside of the bend flows faster. There is a lot of energy on the outer bank and the fast moving water erodes the bank.

The outer bank is being undercut by the force of the fast moving water which crashes against it. This is known as hydraulic action and this process causes a cliff to form.

The speed of the water flowing on the inside of the river bend is much slower so it has less energy to erode the bank. Because the water flow is so slow here, gravel and stones build up to create little beaches called 'slip off slopes'

Resource 12.mp4

Resource 11.mp4

How are seven million walkers a year affectng the Lake District?

The Lake District is one Britain’s most visited National Parks with seven million people coming each year to walk and enjoy its spectacular scenery. However, these visitors cause serious problems in the hills and mountains.

Copy of Resource 23.mp4

Erosion!

What is happening along the paths?

Walkers trample the vegetation along the path;
Soil is exposed along the path to the wind and rain;
Rainfall washes away the exposed soil along the path;
Paths become much deeper and waterlogged;
A large scar is formed along the route of the path which is visible for miles;
People walk to the side of waterlogged paths and trample new vegetation;
The path gets wider and wider;
Rangers and volunteers repair the eroded paths which is slow and expensive;
Walkers return to the repaired path.

Why is Jane's house only worth a pound?

Jane’s house is on the top of an eroding cliff. It hasn’t always been at the edge of the cliff. As more and more of the coastline has eroded over time (look at the differences over just nine years in the two photographs in her house has gradually ‘moved’ closer to the cliff edge as the coastline has receded inland.

Jane lives in a village called Happisburgh (pronounced Haze –bruh) which is on the coast in Norfolk. Along this coastline the cliffs are being eroded .

In Diagram 1 the energy of the waves can be seen eroding and undercutting the base of the cliffs forming a cave.

In Diagram 2 the unsupported rock face of the cliff above the cave collapses down onto the beach and into the sea below.

In Diagram 3 the cliff can be seen to be moving or receding inland as more and more of the cliff line is eroded away through undercutting and collapse.

This is why Jane and her house have eventually found themselves on the edge of the cliff.

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