Local area: where do we live?
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Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ earlier study of their school by extending their understanding of place to the wider local area. Its placement enables pupils to begin working with simple maps, using familiar locations to develop early mapping skills such as identifying features and interpreting symbols. By exploring geography at a slightly broader scale, this unit supports progression toward comparing distant places later in the curriculum and lays a foundation for more complex spatial thinking.
Prior knowledge requirements
- Some knowledge of the local area through first-hand experience.
- Some experience of using aerial photographs, maps and plans of the school grounds.
- Some experience of fieldwork and of making models and maps.
Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ earlier study of their school by extending their understanding of place to the wider local area. Its placement enables pupils to begin working with simple maps, using familiar locations to develop early mapping skills such as identifying features and interpreting symbols. By exploring geography at a slightly broader scale, this unit supports progression toward comparing distant places later in the curriculum and lays a foundation for more complex spatial thinking.
Prior knowledge requirements
- Some knowledge of the local area through first-hand experience.
- Some experience of using aerial photographs, maps and plans of the school grounds.
- Some experience of fieldwork and of making models and maps.
Local area: where do we live?
This unit investigates the area around school and home by identifying local features, exploring buildings, using simple maps, collecting data on how we travel to school, and describing familiar routes using basic geographical vocabulary.
6 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Local area: where do we live? unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our primary geography curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for primary geography programmes.