Popular searches in the last week:

plants, 2024, science, maths, geography, 2023, instructions, english, romans, poetry
Also in this section

Key Stage 1 We Are Britain
Four Nations

Board a flying bus to learn about the 4 nations that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Take a tour of London and then visit the four nations learning about their key physical and key human features. Contribute to 4 collage posters. Participate in a St George’s Day Pageant, Highland Games, Eisteddfod and Belfast Lord Mayor’s Parade. Become a delegate at a National Conference. This rich block offers a huge selection of creative activities that will bring to life the geographical knowledge about the UK’s countries capital cities and its surrounding seas.

block outcomes

Session 1 London!

Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Name, locate and identify characteristics of the 4 countries and capital cities of the UK.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features and key human features.
  • Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the UK and its countries.
  • Use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features; devise a simple map.

Art

  • Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
  • Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.

Lesson Planning

Tour the capital driven by a lion before constructing your own models of some of the visual landmarks of London. Take aerial photographs. Listen to the National Anthem performed in Westminster Abbey and sing its first verse.

Teaching Outcomes
 To learn about London, the Capital City of UK.
To make models based on famous London buildings.

Children will:

  • Identify famous buildings and landmarks in London.
  • Learn that London is the capital city of UK, where British Parliament meets.
  • River Thames.
  • Construct buildings.
  • Take aerial photographs of their constructions; identify and match.
  • Acquire broad general knowledge and respect for UK public institutions, the Queen and other significant menbers of the royal family.

Provided Resources

This session does not need any provided resources.

You Will Need

  • Lion hand puppet (for bus driver role play)
  • Power point presentation and/or other photos of buildings in London
  • Map of the world
  • Maps of London
  • Construction kits
  • Reclaimed & recycled materials
  • Digital camera
  • Union Flag artefact
  • Union Flag to paint
  • Union Flag bunting to colour

Session 2 Visit England

Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Name, locate and identify characteristics of the 4 countries and capital cities of the UK.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features and key human features.
  • Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the UK and its countries.
  • Use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features.
  • Devise a simple map.

English

  • Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
  • Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
  • Participate in presentations and performances.
  • Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listeners.

Lesson Planning

Take a magical flying bus tour around England! Research and contribute to large class collage poster ‘England’. Add physical features to map of UK. Learn about St George. Why do the national football and rugby teams have 3 lions and a rose on their shirts?

Teaching Outcomes
 To find out about the 4 nations which make up the UK; focus – England.
To report research to peers and contribute to a large class poster/collage of information and images.

Children will:

  • Use an assortment of sources to research topic: ‘England’.
  • Contribute written information and images to large class collage poster: ‘England’.
  • Present their findings to their peers.
  • Learn about symbols of England: St George; flag; the rose; the 3 lions motif.
  • Begin to use physical geographic vocabulary: town, city, countryside, village, moor, peak, lake.

Provided Resources

  • Information sheet on research questions and starting points

You Will Need

  • Lion hand puppet for bus driver role play
  • Bus dashboard with 4 buttons
  • Rose (red), daffodil (yellow), thistle (purple) and flax flower (blue)
  • Map of UK
  • Information books, magazines, brochures, leaflets
  • Large sheet sugar paper or similar for poster with title ‘England’ and border of roses
  • Paper plates

Session 3 Celebrate England!

Download all files

Objectives

SMSC

  • Enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and a respect for public institutions and services in England.

English

  • Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
  • Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
  • Participate in presentations and performances.
  • Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listeners.

Lesson Planning

Participate in a St George’s Day Pageant; eat an English picnic, play cricket and dance around a Maypole. Make a lion mask; tell a fellow lion what you’ve learnt about England.

Teaching Outcomes
To find out something of the culture and traditions of the 4 nations which make up the UK; focus - England.
To contribute to the celebrations and explain a viewpoint to another.

Children will:

  • Acquire a broad general knowledge of traditions and customs.
  • Consolidate their learning by participating in celebration of customs and traditional activities.
  • Reflect on their learning.
  • Explain to others, engaging with their audience.

Provided Resources

This session does not need any provided resources.

You Will Need

  • Map of UK
  • St George flag
  • St George bunting
  • Lion mask
  • Paper doll
  • Role play medieval costumes
  • May pole + ribbons
  • Music to skip to (such as Floral dance)
  • Cricket equipment + tennis balls
  • Picnic food
  • Picnic blankets

Session 4 Visit Scotland

Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Name, locate and identify characteristics of the 4 countries and capital cities of the UK.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features and key human features.
  • Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the UK and its countries.
  • Use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features.
  • Devise a simple map.

English

  • Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
  • Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
  • Participate in presentations and performances.
  • Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listeners.

Lesson Planning

All aboard the flying bus, this time with the Loch Ness monster to Scotland! Research and contribute to large class poster ‘Scotland’. Learn about patron saint St Andrew and why the unicorn is important to Scotland.

Teaching Outcomes
 To find out about the 4 nations which make up the UK; focus – Scotland.
To report research to peers and contribute to a large class poster/collage of information and images.

Children will:

  • Use an assortment of sources to research topic: ‘Scotland’
  • Contribute written information and images to large class collage poster: ‘Scotland’
  • Present their findings to their peers.
  • Learn about symbols of Scotland: St Andrew; saltire; the thistle; unicorn.
  • Begin to use physical geography vocabulary: ocean, sea, island, mountain, loch, firth.

Provided Resources

  • Information sheet on research questions and starting points

You Will Need

  • Loch Ness Monster hand puppet
  • Bus driver role play
  • Bus dashboard with the 4 buttons
  • Map of UK and simple outline map
  • Information books, magazines, brochures, leaflets
  • Large sheet sugar paper or similar for poster with title ‘Scotland’ and border of thistles

Session 5 Celebrate Scotland!

Download all files

Objectives

SMSC

  • Enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and a respect for public institutions and services: Scotland.

English

  • Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
  • Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
  • Participate in presentations and performances.
  • Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listeners.

Lesson Planning

Participate in a homemade Highland Games with some Scottish dancing and a Scottish picnic. Make Nessie sock puppets who explain to one another what they have learnt about Scotland.

Teaching Outcomes
 To find out about the 4 nations which make up the UK: focus – Scotland.
To contribute to the celebrations and explain a viewpoint to another.

Children will:

  • Acquire a broad general knowledge of traditions and customs.
  • Consolidate their learning by participating in celebration of customs and traditional activities.
  • Reflect on their learning.
  • Explain to others, engaging with their audience.

Provided Resources

This session does not need any provided resources.

You Will Need

  • Map of UK
  • Saltire (blue card rectangle and white self-adhesive masking or duct tape
  • Bunting (triangle blue stiff paper, white paint)
  • Nessie puppet (socks, fabric, glue gun, buttons)
  • Piper wearing kilt

Weblinks

Sock puppet instructions from wikihow.com
Colouring page for Scottish piper wearing kilt from supercoloring.com
Cumberland Jig from scottish-country-dancing dictionary.com
Homemade Highland Games from visitscotland.com
Information for teachers about the Highland Games from visitscotland.com
Braemar Highland games − YouTube clip
Scottish sword dance – YouTube clip
Info for teachers on kilts from scottish-at-heart.com
Scotland saltire colouring sheet from colouring.ws
Instructions for playing ‘Captain’s coming' from teampedia.net
Scottish nursery rhymes and folk songs from projects.handsupfortrad.scot

Session 6 Visit Wales

Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Name, locate and identify characteristics of the 4 countries and capital cities of the UK.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features and key human features.
  • Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the UK and its countries.
  • Use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features.
  • Devise a simple map.

English

  • Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
  • Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
  • Participate in presentations and performances.
  • Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listeners.

Lesson Planning

All aboard the flying bus again, this time Dragon drives bus to Wales! Research and contribute to large class collage poster ‘Wales’. Learn about St David - patron saint of Wales, but what’s his name in the Welsh language?

Teaching Outcomes
 To find out about the 4 nations which make up the UK; focus – Wales.
To report research to peers and contribute to a large class collage poster of information and images.

Children will:

  • Use an assortment of sources to research topic: ‘Wales’.
  • Contribute written information and images to large class collage poster: ‘Wales’.
  • Present their findings to their peers.
  • Learn about symbols of Wales: St David; The National flag; the Daffodil and Leek; the Red Dragon.
  • Begin to use physical geography vocabulary.

Provided Resources

  • Information sheet on research questions and starting points

You Will Need

  • Welsh red dragon hand puppet
  • Bus driver role play
  • Bus dashboard with the 4 buttons
  • Map of UK and simple outline map which children can write on
  • Information books, magazines, brochures, leaflets
  • Large sheet sugar paper or similar for poster with title ‘Wales’ and border of daffodils and leeks

Session 7 Celebrate Wales!

Download all files

Objectives

SMSC

  • Enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and a respect for public institutions and services in Wales.

English

  • Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
  • Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
  • Participate in presentations and performances.
  • Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listeners.

Lesson Planning

Participate in a class Eisteddfod. Individuals/pairs/groups share their choice of poetry, sing, dance. Dragon puppets explain to one another what they have learnt about Wales.

Teaching Outcomes
 To find out about the 4 nations which make up the UK; focus – Wales.
To contribute to the celebrations and explain a viewpoint to another.

Children will:

  • Acquire a broad general knowledge of traditions and customs.
  • Consolidate their learning by participating in celebration of customs and traditional activities.
  • Reflect on their learning.
  • Explain to others, engaging with their audience.

Provided Resources

This session does not need any provided resources.

You Will Need

  • Map of UK
  • Copies of the Welsh flag to colour
  • Red, green, white card to cut into triangles to make bunting
  • Materials for daffodils in leek vase
  • Materials for dragon wooden spoon puppet
  • Reward stickers

Session 8 Visit Northern Ireland

Download all files

Objectives

Geography

  • Name, locate and identify characteristics of the 4 countries and capital cities of the UK.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features and key human features.
  • Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the UK and its countries.
  • Use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features.
  • Devise a simple map.

English

  • Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
  • Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
  • Participate in presentations and performances.
  • Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listeners.

Lesson Planning

All aboard the flying bus again to Northern Ireland! Children research contributions for large class poster ‘Northern Ireland’. Hear about Finn MacCool and how there are stories about how giants formed certain features of the country including the Giant’s Causeway.

Teaching Outcomes
 To find out about the 4 nations which make up the UK; focus – Northern Ireland.
To report research to peers and contribute to a large class poster/collage of information and images.

Children will:

  • Use an assortment of sources to research topic: ‘Northern Ireland’.
  • Contribute written information and images to large class collage poster: ‘Northern Ireland’.
  • Present their findings to their peers.
  • Learn about symbols of Northern Ireland: the flag; the Flax flower.
  • Begin to use physical geographical vocabulary.

Provided Resources

  • Information sheet on research questions and starting points

You Will Need

  • Adult in role as Finn the Giant
  • Bus dashboard with the 4 buttons
  • Map of UK and simple outline map which chn can write on
  • Information books, magazines, brochures, leaflets
  • Large sheet sugar paper or similar for poster with title ‘Northern Ireland’ and border of flax flowers

Session 9 Celebrate Northern Ireland!

Download all files

Objectives

SMSC

  • Enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and a respect for public institutions and services: Northern Ireland.

English

  • Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
  • Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
  • Participate in presentations and performances.
  • Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listeners.

Lesson Planning

Participate in a Northern Ireland Celebration; take part in a Lord Mayor’s parade, do some Irish dancing, make and eat an Irish picnic. Tell Finn the giant what you have learned about Northern Ireland.

Teaching Outcomes
 To find out something of the culture and traditions of the 4 nations which make up the UK: Northern Ireland.
To contribute to the celebrations and explain a viewpoint to another.

Children will:

  • Acquire a broad general knowledge of traditions and customs.
  • Consolidate their learning by participating in celebration of customs and traditional activities.
  • Reflect on their learning.
  • Explain to others, engaging with their audience.

You Will Need

  • Map of UK
  • Paper dolls ‘Charlie and Lola’ and playtime clothes
  • Picnic food
  • Ingredients for green ice lollies
  • Potato, cabbage, pea and paint, paper, shallow trays for printing
  • Juggling balls and hoops
  • Bean bags

Session 10 National Conference

Download all files

Objectives

SMSC

  • Enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of UK.
  • Further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures.

English

  • Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
  • Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English.
  • Participate in presentations and performances.
  • Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listeners.

Lesson Planning

Children become delegates from 4 home nations to discuss how to attract/persuade tourists arriving at airports not just to visit London. Discussion - which should be England’s national song to use at football matches, sports games and other events?

Teaching Outcomes
 Identify unique aspects of UK’s 4 nations to entice and persuade people from other cultures to visit wider area than only London.
Contribute to the debate.
Explain viewpoint to another.
Be persuasive.

Children will:

  • Consolidate their learning by participating in discussion and debate.
  • Produce information leaflet or poster or other.
  • Explain to others, engaging with their audience, hoping to persuade listeners.

Provided Resources

This session does not need any provided resources.

You Will Need

  • Completed map of UK
  • Puppets
  • Adult in role as Finn the giant
  • Masks
  • Role play items
  • The 4 collage posters, flags and bunting from previous sessions
  • Badge and badge holders

This site uses cookies to give you the most relevant information.
Learn more

Log in or sign up to get access to this resource

School Subscription

Reduce teacher workload

From £155 (+ VAT) per year. Access to all key stages for multiple users.

Sign up

Individual Subscription

For inspirational teaching

Just £45 (£37.50 + VAT) per year to get access to all resources.

Sign up

Early Career Teacher

Develop your teaching

Just £33 (£27.50 + VAT) to get access to all resources for 2 years.

Sign up

Taster Account

100s of resources

Register to access all free resources.

Sign up

Already subscribed?

Log in to get access.