LKS2 Topic: Modern Europe Block A: Introduction
Understand the amazing physical and human geography of Modern Europe. Create a map of Europe and
personalise a passport recording your achievements. Investigate key European physical features.
Research a European capital city for a display and examine the weather from each of Europe’s climate
zones before deciding what to pack for your travels!
Block A: Modern Europe
Introduction
[7 sessions]
Main outcome: Geography
Other outcomes: Computing, English and D&T
By the end of this block you
will have achieved the
following outcomes:

Session 1 Geography and
Computing
My Europe: Take to the rails!
Create a class display of a map of
Europe; begin to research locations
in further detail; personalise a
passport that will record your
achievements during this block.
Session 2 Geography
River deep, mountain high…
Investigate key European rivers and
mountains and create your own
Snakes and Ladders style game
that shows your knowledge.
Locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on Europe (including the
location of Russia).
 Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography including … rivers
and mountains.
 Locate the world’s countries, concentrating on major cities.
 Use maps, atlases, globes and digital mapping.
 Describe & understand key aspects of physical geography including climate
zones, rivers & mountains.
 Describe and understand human geography including types of settlement and
land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of
natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water.
 Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of
human and physical geography of a region in a European country.
 Describe and understand key aspects of physical and human geography.
 Use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and
ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content.
 Use presentation software to communicate ideas or information (optional).
 Retrieve, record and present information from non-fiction.
 Plan, draft, edit and write a concise report. Be clear about an appropriate
standard of handwriting, e.g. an unjoined style for labelling a diagram.
 Design innovative, functional and appealing products that are fit for purpose,
aimed at particular individuals or groups. Select tools, equipment and
materials to perform practical tasks accurately and aesthetically.
Children will:
 Contribute to a class display of a map of Europe
 Personalise a Passport for the journey
 Research locations to explore in further detail for the following 3 sessions
Children will:

Investigate the key European rivers and mountains, sharing findings using
the ‘jigsaw’ learning technique

Create a Snakes and Ladders-style game to represent and apply knowledge
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
LKS2 Topic: Modern Europe Block A: Introduction
Session 3 Geography and
Computing
Cracking capitals!
Research a European capital city
and prepare information text to
accompany a photograph to be
mounted on the class display.
Session 4 Geography
Pack your bags
Research the weather from each of
Europe’s climate zones; decide
what to pack for your travels by
painting or drawing appropriate
clothing onto outline people.
Session 5 & 6 Geography and
D&T
Representing geographical
features
Design and build a model to
represent the human and/or
physical features of a European
location; annotate your model with
geography questions.
Session 7 English
Information writing to
annotate model
Children will:
 Research a given capital city
 Prepare information text to accompany a photograph to be mounted on class
display
Or
 Research a given capital city
 Use photographs from internet research, along with written or spoken text to
create a video using an iPad app, (e.g. Explain Everything or Tellagami Edu).
Mount screenshots from the video on class display
Children will:
 Research the weather in a country from each of Europe’s climate zones by
interpreting data in web-based tables.
 Decide what to pack by painting or drawing appropriate clothing on each of 5
outline people
 Fill a bag with souvenirs from any of the countries visited, to represent the
natural resources and famous exports of those countries
Children will:

Design, build and finish a model to represent the human and/ or physical
features of one European location

Annotate the model with geography questions to engage the viewer, e.g.
‘Which climate zone do you think this country is in? Explain your ideas…’
Children will:

Each write a high quality piece of information text to accompany the model,
demonstrating an understanding of the themes covered in previous weeks
Write a high quality piece of
information text to accompany
your model that demonstrates all
the geography knowledge you have
mastered in this block.
Resources
Session 1
Provided: Information sheet on Map of Europe jigsaw; PowerPoint presentation on Map of Europe;
Information sheet on Country labels for Map of Europe jigsaw; Presentation on Template for my Europe
Passport; PowerPoint presentation on Europe’s Best-sellers!
You will need: Access to the Internet; Real passport; Atlas; A2/A3 poster paper/card for enlarged Map
of Europe jigsaw pieces and passport pages (printed double-sided, flipped on short edge, stapled in
middle to form a booklet).
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
LKS2 Topic: Modern Europe Block A: Introduction
Session 2
Provided: Information sheets covering: Rivers deep, Mountains high; Mountains & Rivers master list;
Play the Mountains and Rivers game!
You will need: Access to the Internet; Dice; Card, sticky-back film.
Session 3
Provided: Information sheet on Master list of capital cities; Powerpoint presentation on Cracking
Capitals: Landmarks; Information sheet on Images of Europe’s capital cities; Information sheet entitled
About Budapest.
You will need: Access to the Internet; Paper/draft books for note-taking; Computer/laptop/tablet/iPads
(optional).
Session 4
Provided: PowerPoint presentation on Europe’s climate zones; Information sheet on What clothes
would you pack? PowerPoint presentation on Europe’s best sellers! Information sheet on Pack your
bags! Information sheet on Links between climate and country specialities.
You will need: Access to the Internet; Atlases.
Session 5 & 6
Provided: Information sheets covering: Suggested examples for model building & Modroc modelling
guide;
You will need: Access to the Internet; Junk modelling materials, PVA glue; Masking tape; Modroc;
Shallow trays; Water; Poster or acrylic paint; Sand and small stones.
Session 7
Provided: Information sheet on Success criteria and writing prompts for report writing.
You will need: Access to the Internet; Plain paper; Line guides; Card for mounting.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.