India! Sacred rivers, towering mountains, ever-changing climate, rich culture, beautiful temples and bustling cities. This 'Investigating India' scheme of work for KS2 children will have your class mesmerised by the true essence of India.

Give your class the opportunity to investigate India’s climate and physical geography with the detailed maps and resources provided in this scheme of work. Your children will explore the major mountains and rivers that dictate India's population and climate patterns, locate major cities in India and investigate the human and physical features found there. The children will also compare and contrast India to the United Kingdom with the use of detailed image cards and clear maps and photos.

You may also like our Incredible India Topic Bundle – choose schemes from different subjects to create your own India-themed cross-curricular topic! 

What and where is India?

The first lesson in this scheme of work introduces your class to India. They will locate the country on a map and look at the major seas and countries that surround it. Your class will learn some interesting facts about India including its population, official name and capital city. The children are shown physical and population density maps of India to help them begin to understand what these maps mean. They will also find out about the six different climate regions in India and the types of weather patterns India experiences.

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India's Mountain Ranges

The second lesson in this scheme of work gives your class the opportunity to investigate how mountains are formed. Your children will briefly learn about the five ways mountains are formed and view pictures that help explain the different types. They can then explore six major mountain ranges in India, how they were formed and how tall they are, as well as some other interesting facts about them.

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India's Rivers

Explore the extensive river system in India as your class view maps of India’s rivers and begin to understand how many streams and tributaries there are in the country. Children will learn how rivers work and what they are used for across the land. They will also investigate the Ganges and the Narmada river in detail and learn some interesting facts about each one, as well as having the chance to find out about the famous Indus river and its ancient civilisation.

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India's Cities

Take your class into India’s urban areas and help your class explore some of India’s major cities. They will start by identifying the difference between human and physical features before using photos of Indian cities to identify these features for themselves. They will start to compare the cities and describe their different features using appropriate vocabulary.

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India's Culture

The fifth lesson in this scheme of work looks at some aspects of India’s culture. Your class will be amazed at the variety of traditions and customs Indian people adhere to. You will explore India's art, architecture, clothing, religion and cuisine with your class and discuss the things your children know about the Indian culture. This lesson has opportunities to discuss how the Indian culture influences other countries and communities.

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Comparing India to the United Kingdom

Give your class the opportunity to consolidate all their knowledge of India as they compare it to the United Kingdom. Your class will look at different features of India and the United Kingdom and find similarities and differences. The geography, climate, physical features, human features and farms are discussed in this lesson for both countries. Your children will look at images, maps and information. Then they discuss what is similar and different about the two areas. There is even an opportunity to act out an interview between a travel agent and a tourist.

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