Describing landscapes using maps
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe a landscape from a map.
Key learning points
- Landscapes can be described through their relief and drainage.
- Landscapes can be described through their vegetation cover and land use.
- Landscapes can be described through the shape and situation of their settlements.
Keywords
Linear - a description for a feature (such as a settlement) that resembles a line
Sinuosity - how straight or curvy (sinuous) a river is
Nucleated - a description for a feature (such as a settlement) that is wrapped around a central point
Common misconception
White space on a map means there is nothing there.
White space means that the land cover there is grassland or farmland.
Teacher tip
Maps can be used alongside photographs of landscapes. Students can evaluate which source gives the most accurate information and which allows the viewer to make the most informed description.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Relief is defined as the of the land.
Q2.A ridge is ...
Q3.The three courses of a river are known as the ...
Q4.How large is a hectare?
Q5.OS maps are covered in a series of vertical and horizontal lines. This means the map is divided into ...
Q6.A settlement is ...
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of the following on a map would indicate a river in its lower course?
Q2.What does white space on an OS map show?
Q3.A settlement is one that is made up of single buildings that are spread out from one another.
Q4.A map that shows a settlement with straight black lines separating the white areas into smaller squares is likely to have what type of function?
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Describing landscapes using maps, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Describing landscapes using maps, 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 4 geography lessons from the Geographical and statistics skills unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.