New
New
Year 9

The climate of Russia

I can explain the different climate types across Russia.

New
New
Year 9

The climate of Russia

I can explain the different climate types across Russia.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The climate of a place is influenced by three factors: latitude, altitude and distance from the sea.
  2. Russia has a generally continental climate with cold winters and warm summers.
  3. When comparing climate between places, the factors need to be considered together as they interrelate.
  4. Russia’s temperature pattern shows the impact of latitude and altitude and distance from the sea.
  5. Russia’s precipitation pattern reflects its distance from the sea: interior regions receive less than coastal areas.

Keywords

  • Continental climate - a relatively dry climate with very hot summers and very cold winters, found in locations away from the sea

  • Latitude - imaginary lines on Earth showing position north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees

  • Altitude - height above sea level or ground level

Common misconception

Each factor can be viewed independently.

To understand the climate of a place or when comparing the climates of places, the factors need to be considered collectively and each factor may have a different level of relevance.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: The climate of Russia, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Introduce further climate graphs and get pupils to identify places in Russia they may relate to. Examples could include: Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novogorod and Kaliningrad.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to definitions:

Correct Answer:Tundra,A cold, treeless plain

A cold, treeless plain

Correct Answer:Permafrost,Ground that stays frozen all year

Ground that stays frozen all year

Correct Answer:Ural Mountains,Mountain range dividing Europe and Asia

Mountain range dividing Europe and Asia

Correct Answer:Taiga,Forest of mostly coniferous trees

Forest of mostly coniferous trees

Correct Answer:Steppe,A flat, grassy plain

A flat, grassy plain

Q2.
Which continent does most of Russia lie in?

Europe
Correct answer: Asia
Africa
North America

Q3.
What separates European and Asian Russia?

Caspian Sea
Lake Baikal
Arctic Circle
Correct answer: Ural Mountains

Q4.
Russia stretches across how many time zones?

3
5
9
Correct answer: 11

Q5.
Which biome is found in northern Russia?

Tropical rainforest
Correct answer: Tundra
Desert
Savanna

Q6.
Why is permafrost a challenge for building in Russia?

Correct answer: It melts easily and shifts the ground
It causes earthquakes
It is too hot
It floods in winter

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their correct meanings.

Correct Answer:Continental climate,A dry climate with hot summers and cold winters

A dry climate with hot summers and cold winters

Correct Answer:Latitude,How far a place is north or south of the Equator

How far a place is north or south of the Equator

Correct Answer:Altitude,Height above sea level

Height above sea level

Correct Answer:Precipitation,Rain, snow or other forms of moisture falling from the sky

Rain, snow or other forms of moisture falling from the sky

Correct Answer:Equator,An imaginary line around the centre of Earth

An imaginary line around the centre of Earth

Q2.
Which factor is linked to how far north or south a place is?

Correct answer: Latitude
Longitude
Altitude
Rainfall

Q3.
Why do coastal areas usually receive more rainfall than inland areas?

They are higher up
They are closer to the Equator
They are warmer
Correct answer: Moist air from the sea brings precipitation

Q4.
Why can't you explain climate by looking at just one factor, like latitude?

Latitude doesn’t affect climate
Correct answer: You must consider how all the factors interact
Altitude is the only important factor
Distance from the sea isn’t real