The huge pieces that Earth’s crust is broken into are known as tectonic plates.

Converge means two things move towards each other, such as when two tectonic plates come towards one another.

A mountain is a natural raised part of Earth’s surface that is higher than a hill.

The formation of mountains

Geography

Mountains and their features

The UK's peaks

Volcanoes and their features

Living near volcanoes

The impact of eruptions: Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland

This unit provides a foundation for 'UK region: Why is the Lake District a National Park?', which investigates the physical and human geography of the Lake District as a UK mountainous region, and 'Earthquakes: How do they change the world?', which focuses on earthquakes and their impact. 

This unit builds on 'Rivers: what's special about them?', which focuses on rivers as a key aspect of physical geography. This unit extends and deepens pupils’ understanding of physical geography processes by investigating the basic structure of Planet Earth, the location and key features of major mountain ranges and volcanoes, how they change, and their significance for people’s lives.

This unit introduces mountains and volcanoes, how they form, and what they’re like. Pupils study peaks in the UK and around the world, learn about volcanic eruptions, and explore how these features affect the lives of people who live nearby.

Mountains and volcanoes: what, where and why?

A peak is the highest point of a mountain.

An arête is a narrow ridge of rock between two valleys.

Altitude is height above sea level or ground level.

The key on a map explains what the different symbols or colours used on the map mean.

Contour lines are lines on a map that join points of equal height above or below sea level.

A trig point is a point on high ground usually marked by a pillar and used as a reference point, especially for making maps.

To erupt is to suddenly burst or break open and emit something.

Distribution is how something is spread out across a geographic area.

Magma is molten or semi-molten rock underground.

Lava is molten rock that has broken through Earth’s surface. When it is still below the surface it is known as magma.

Minerals are chemical substances that are formed naturally and are found in the ground or in rocks.

Geothermal energy comes from heat contained within Earth's crust.

A lahar is a mudflow formed when volcanic ash mixes with water (rain or melted glacier ice).

To diverge is to go in different directions from the same starting point

The economy is the way money in a particular area is made and spent

Meltwater is water from the melting of snow or ice

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Mountains and volcanoes: what, where and why?

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