The Arctic Circle

The World

• Use physical models of the Earth, Moon and Sun to identify the position and significance of latitude and longitude.

• Develop an understanding of climate zones and draw conclusions about how latitude impacts climate by looking at a climate map. 

• Understand that due to the Earth’s tilt, temperatures generally become cooler as latitude increases north or south. 

• Understand how and why we experience night and day, developing an understanding of the terms solstice,  equinox, polar night and midnight sun.

• Locate the Arctic Circle and the Arctic Ocean and identify the countries within it.

• Discuss the natural resources in the Arctic Circle including oil. Develop an understanding of how oil is formed and draw conclusions as to why it is found in abundance in the Arctic Circle.

• Begin to understand how humans interact with physical geography such as natural resources in order to trade with a particular focus on Alaska.

• Identify the key physical and human geography of the Arctic Circle through the use of photographs and maps. 

• Examine the different Christmas traditions within the Arctic Circle to develop an appreciation of how a variety of cultural traditions exist in the region.

• Use a wide variety of maps to develop children’s understanding of the world including trade, climate, relief and political maps.

• Children draw their own conclusions by examining maps, understanding when to use particular maps and how to collect data by looking at them.

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