New
New
Year 4

The UK's peaks

I can name and locate the UK’s highest peaks and use OS maps to identify major physical and human features of Yr Wyddfa.

New
New
Year 4

The UK's peaks

I can name and locate the UK’s highest peaks and use OS maps to identify major physical and human features of Yr Wyddfa.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The UK's highest peaks are Ben Nevis (Scotland); Yr Wyddfa (Wales); Scafell Pike (England); Slieve Donard, (N. Ireland).
  2. OS maps depict key mountain features, e.g. the height of land, gradient, footpaths and tourist attractions.

Keywords

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

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

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

Common misconception

Pupils assume that Slieve Donard is the smallest mountain in the UK.

Ensure that pupils know that Slieve Donard is not the smallest mountain in the UK, but it is the smallest out of the highest peaks in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Colour is important on maps and keys. It is vital that they are printed or photocopied in colour. For example a telephone symbol has three specific meanings depending on the colour depicted. Pupils should also use the exact definition of symbols.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does UK stand for?
Correct Answer: United Kingdom
Q2.
What continent is the UK located in?
Asia
Correct answer: Europe
Africa
South America
North America
Q3.
Which is NOT a country in the UK?
Wales
Scotland
Correct answer: The Republic of Ireland
Northern Ireland
England
Q4.
What is the peak of a mountain?
The bottom of a mountain.
A cliff edge.
Correct answer: The summit or top of a mountain.
A type of mountain.
Q5.
For a mountain to be classed as a mountain, it has to be over...
Correct Answer: 600m, 600 metres, six hundred metres
Q6.
Groups of mountains are called a....
Correct Answer: mountain range

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the highest mountain in England called?
Correct Answer: Scafell Pike
Q2.
The highest mountain in the UK is....
Yr Wyddfa /Mt Snowdon
Scafell Pike
Correct answer: Ben Nevis
Slieve Donard
Q3.
Put these mountains in order from highest to shortest...
1 - Ben Nevis
2 - Mt Snowdon
3 - Scafell Pike
4 - Slieve Donard
Q4.
When people climb a mountain over 914m in Scotland, they bag a...
Correct Answer: Munro
Q5.
A __________ pillar identifies the summit of mountains.
Correct answer: triangulation
rectangular
angulation
Q6.
What do contour lines show on a map?
footpaths
Correct answer: the height of the land
tourist attractions