Mountains and their features
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can recognise and name the key features of a mountain landscape and describe the conditions found on Mount Everest.
Key learning points
- A mountain is classified as over 600 metres high and groups of mountains form a range.
- Mountains have common physical features: peak, ridge or arete, tree line, snow line, glacier, scree.
- Mount Everest, at 8848m, is the highest mountain on Earth and poses unique challenges for those who climb it.
Keywords
Peak - A peak is the highest point of a mountain.
Arête - An arête is a narrow ridge of rock between two valleys.
Altitude - Altitude is height above sea level or ground level.
Common misconception
Pupils assume that it is warmer at the summit of a mountain because you are 'closer to the sun'.
There is low pressure at altitude which means that air is thinner at the summit of a mountain. The thin air causes the cold temperatures.
Teacher tip
Research Hillary and Tensing’s 1953 expedition to Mount Everest. Use this research to create a storyboard of their expedition.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and what other country make up the United Kingdom?
Q2.Order the layers of Earth starting with the outermost layer
Q3.What are tectonic plates?
Q4.How are mountains formed?
Q5.The point where two tectonic plates meet is called a....
Q6.Which continent is Mt Everest located in?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The highest mountain on Earth is called...
Q2.The highest point of a mountain is called its...
Q3.Groups of mountains are called a....
Q4.Height above sea or ground level is called...
Q5.A mountain is classed as over...
Q6.Match the mountain feature to its description
a slow moving body of ice
loose rock found on the side of a mountain
a narrow ridge of rock between two valleys
the altitude on a mountain above which some snow remains on the ground
To help you plan your 4 geography lesson on: Mountains and their features, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 geography lesson on: Mountains and their features, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 geography lessons from the Mountains and volcanoes: what, where and why? unit, dive into the full primary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.