Download Year 4 Background knowledge Fieldwork

Year 4 Background knowledge
Fieldwork
Children observe, measure and record the human and physical features in the local
area using a range of methods, including sketch maps, plans and graphs, and digital
technologies.
Map work
Scale on a map shows the relationship between measurements on a map and the real-life
measurements on the ground. A large-scale map covers a small area in detail; a small-scale
map covers a larger area with less detail. Ordnance Survey maps, the most common type of
map in the UK, come in several scales.
Latitude tells you how far north or south of the Equator a place is located. It is measured in
degrees ranging from 0° at the Equator to 90° at the North and South Poles.
Lines of latitude are imaginary lines which run east to west around the globe, parallel to
the Equator, and are marked every 20˚ north and south of the Equator.
The Equator is an imaginary line that circles the middle of the Earth; it is a line of latitude
and is at 0°. The Equator divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Lines of longitude are imaginary lines which run north to south, from pole to pole, every
20° east or west of the Prime Meridian. Longitude is measured in degrees ranging from 0° at
the Prime Meridian to 180° at the International Date Line.
The Prime Meridian, an imaginary line at 0˚of longitude, divides the Earth into the Eastern
and Western Hemispheres. The Prime Meridian, passing through Greenwich, London, joins the
North and South Poles.
The International Date Line, an imaginary line of longitude, is at approximately 180˚.
Crossing the line from east to west means the date advances one day. Crossing from the
west to the east means the date goes back one day.
What on Earth? (Autumn 1)
Night and day: the Earth spins on its axis, taking 24 hours to make one complete turn.
At any time, half of the Earth faces the sun, so having daytime; the other half of the Earth
faces away from the sun, so having night-time.
Why different weather? Weather around the world
(Autumn 2)
Weather is the day-to-day state of the atmosphere, including temperature, wind, cloud and
precipitation (rainfall).
Climate is the average weather for a region over a long period of time (30 years), which
allows for seasonal patterns and expected weather.
Climatic zones are zones determined by long-term weather patterns.
A biome is a specific geographic area notable for the plant and animal species living there.
Climate, soil and the amount of water determine what life exists in a biome.
Who are the global caretakers? We are! (Spring 1)
Global warming describes the current rise in the average temperature of Earth’s air and
oceans.
Renewable energy is energy obtained from sources that are virtually inexhaustible and
replenish naturally over small timescales relative to the human life span.
Sustainable energy is the ability to provide energy to meet the needs of today, without
compromising the ability of future generations.
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100 GEOGRAPHY LESSONS PLANNING GUIDE
YEAR 4
What can we discover about our local area? (A framed
enquiry) (Spring 2)
This unit supports children in developing an enquiry approach to studying the local area.
They are encouraged to ask their own questions within a theme. They make choices and
discuss the merits and drawbacks of different methods. They are encouraged to question
data collected.
A global positioning system (GPS) is a network of satellites that transmit signals to
receiving devices, which allow the exact position of something on Earth to be calculated.
GPS has become a part of daily life, for example in satellite navigation systems in cars.
A global information system (GIS) is a set of computer tools that allows users to capture,
store, process and display data-linked locations. GIS can use any information that includes
location, including latitude and longitude, grid references, postal codes, and so on. GIS can
show many different kinds of data on one map. This enables people to see, analyse and
understand patterns and relationships more easily.
How do I impact on children and families far away?
(Summer 1)
Trade is the process of buying, selling or exchanging commodities, either wholesale or
retail, within a country or between countries.
Fairtrade is a way of buying and selling products that makes certain the workers who
produce the goods receive a fair, sustainable price for the goods and have reasonable
working and living conditions.
Catalonia here we come! (Summer 2)
The continent of Europe is surrounded to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the west by the
Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Sea, and to the south-east by the Black
Sea. The eastern border of Europe is demarcated by the Ural Mountains, Caspian Sea and
Caucasus Mountains.
The European Union (EU) initially consisted of six countries: Belgium, Germany, France,
Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Today, the EU is a political and economic
community of 27 countries.
Spain, in south-western Europe, is located on the Iberian Peninsula. To the south and east,
Spain is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, with a small land boundary with Gibraltar; to
the north and north-east by France, Andorra and the Bay of Biscay; and to the west and
north-west by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean.
Catalonia, in the far north-east corner of Spain, is Spain’s richest and most highly
industrialised region. Catalonia has its own language, and its own unique culture and
traditions.
Barcelona, located on the Mediterranean Sea, 90 miles (150km) south of the French
border, is the capital of the region of Catalonia. It is Spain’s major Mediterranean port, its
commercial centre and a popular tourist destination.
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100 GEOGRAPHY LESSONS PLANNING GUIDE