Lesson Planning
Upper Key Stage 2 Earth Matters - NEW LOOK
Mountains - NEW LOOK
Study the physical geography of mountains and mountain ranges, their formation, some famous expeditions and also mountain biodiversity.
Session 1 Mountain formation
Objectives
Geography
- Describe and understand key aspects of mountains.
- Understand how different types of mountains are formed.
Enquiry question
What is a mountain? How are mountains formed?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Understand how different types of mountains are formed.
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Large sheets of paper and 2 different coloured pens
Dictionary game resources: bread; blocks of chocolate crispy cake; tissues; fabric; balloons; tin foil; bag of red icing; camera
Weblinks
Video clip (<2mins long) about four types of mountain, with examples of each from www.youtube.com
Session 2 Mountains around the world
Objectives
Geography
- Describe and understand key aspects of mountains.
- Use maps and atlases to locate mountains and mountain ranges.
Enquiry question
Where in the world are the main mountains and mountain ranges?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Identify and name some of the main mountains and mountain ranges in the world.
- Locate mountains and mountain ranges across the world on a map.
- Use a range of sources to research the mountains in a given continent.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Pens/pencils
Large blue display paper
Books/atlases/internet to research mountains/ranges
Access to Google Earth
Access to a colour printer
Weblinks
Three major ranges outlined; summit heights compared to Mt. Snowdon in Wales: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0113yr9
Earth’s highest mountains by continent: https://www.britannica.com/list/7-or-8-summits-the-worlds-highest-mountains-by-continent
Major ranges described: https://www.pmfias.com/major-mountain-ranges-world-highest-mountain-peaks/
Five major ranges: https://travel.earth/five-major-mountain-ranges-of-the-world/
https://www.google.com/earth/
Session 3 Mountain expeditions
Objectives
Geography
- Describe and understand key aspects of mountains.
- Understand why people climb mountains.
- Research and take notes about a famous mountain expedition.
Enquiry question
Why do people climb mountains?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Try to explain why people choose to climb mountains.
- Research and make notes from a range of sources on an historic mountain expedition.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Post-it notes
Pens/pencils
Books and access to the internet
Notebooks/paper for note taking
Highlighter pens
Weblinks
Ram Sharan Upreti’s vlog from summit of Everest https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=c0tXn8-Pqw8
Role of the Sherpas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK7x00mr54w
Session 4 Endangered animals in mountain environments
Objectives
Geography
- Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit living in the mountains.
- Find out why some mountain animals are endangered.
- Work together to present information.
Enquiry question
Why are some mountain animals endangered?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Explain how some plants are adapted to a mountain environment.
- Identify a range of mountain animals that are endangered and explain why.
- Create a factual PowerPoint presentation about a chosen endangered mountain animal, which includes all the information requested.
- Peer-assess each other’s work.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Books and internet access
Access to PowerPoint for each pair/trio
Post-it notes
Weblinks
WWF endangered mountain animals: http://www.worldwildlife.org/habitats/mountains
Search online for info on endangered animals: Kiddle
Session 5 Climate change and the impact of human activity on the mountain environment
Objectives
Geography
- Understand that climate change may impact mountain environments.
- Understand some potential humans’ effects on environments, including the impact of tourism.
Enquiry question
What factors cause negative impacts on mountain environments?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Explain how climate change and global warming impact on the mountain environment.
- Find out how tourists pose a threat to the mountain environment.
- Create a poster that explains how eco-tourism can limit the impact on the environment.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
3 or 4 sheets of large paper
Marker pens
Coloured pens/pencils
Access to the internet
Paper for Eco-tourism posters plus poster templates
Weblinks
National Geographic: Causes and Effects of Climate Change https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4H1N_yXBiA
Some websites with information on the effects of tourism in mountain areas:
http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/mountains/tourism.htm
https://www.unwto.org/mountain-tourism
https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org
Also search for effects of tourism in mountain areas on BBC Bitesize and Kiddle
Session 6 Beauty in the mountains
Objectives
Geography
- Describe and understand key aspects of mountains.
- Choose from a range of materials to produce a piece of mountain art that will motivate people to care for them.
Enquiry question
Can you produce a piece of art to help people appreciate the beauty of the mountains?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Produce a piece of art to convey the beauty of the mountains to motivate people to care for them.
- Choose materials to create a piece of art.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
No resources are required for this session.
You Will Also Need
Weblinks
Use websites such as World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Kiddle, National geographic for kids, and BBC bitesize to look for pictures of endangered mountain animals.