Year 1 Geography Resources and Lesson Plans
Explore ready-to-teach Year 1 Geography resources, lesson plans and schemes of work for teaching the Year 1 Geography curriculum. Our engaging Geography activities and worksheets help children explore their local area, weather and seasons, the UK and the wider world while developing early map skills, geographical vocabulary and an understanding of human and physical geography.
Popular Year 1 Geography Schemes of Work:
What should children learn in Year 1 Geography?
Year 1 Geography is about helping children make sense of the world around them. They begin to develop knowledge of places, recognise human and physical features, use simple maps and explore their local area through observation and fieldwork.
Build knowledge of places
Help children locate familiar places and begin to identify the United Kingdom, its countries and capital cities, as well as continents, oceans and other places around the world.
Recognise human and physical features
Introduce geographical vocabulary for features such as beach, hill, river, house, shop and road, and help children distinguish between natural and man-made features.
Develop early map skills
Use simple maps, plans, atlases, globes and aerial photographs to help children recognise places, follow routes and begin to understand how locations can be represented.
Explore the local area
Encourage children to observe their surroundings, identify geographical features, record what they notice and begin to use simple fieldwork skills to investigate their school and local area.
Explore our Year 1 Geography Resources
Browse our complete collection of Year 1 Geography resources, lesson plans and schemes of work. Discover engaging Geography topics for Year 1, including the local area, weather and seasons, maps and directions, the UK and the wider world, with ready-to-teach lessons designed to support the KS1 Geography curriculum.
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Planning Year 1 Geography
When planning Geography in Year 1, start with places and experiences that are familiar to children before gradually extending their understanding of the wider world. Exploring the local area, seasonal weather and simple maps gives children practical opportunities to develop early geographical knowledge and skills.
Introduce key geographical vocabulary alongside activities that help children identify human and physical features, locate places on maps and globes, use simple compass directions and compare different places. Revisiting these skills throughout the year helps children build a secure foundation for the KS1 Geography curriculum.
Planning Geography for your whole school? Explore our Geography Curriculum Packs →Frequently Asked Questions about Year 1 Geography
What should children learn in Year 1 Geography?
In Year 1 Geography, children begin to develop an understanding of their local area and the wider world. They learn about the UK and its countries, continents and oceans, weather and seasons, human and physical features, and contrasting places. They also develop early geographical skills through maps, globes, aerial photographs and simple fieldwork.
What Geography topics are taught in Year 1?
There is no fixed set of topics that every Year 1 class must study, as schools can organise the KS1 Geography curriculum in different ways. Popular Year 1 Geography topics include the local area, the UK, weather and seasons, continents and oceans, maps and directions, and comparisons between different places around the world.
What does the National Curriculum say about Year 1 Geography?
The National Curriculum sets out requirements for Geography across Key Stage 1 rather than separately for Years 1 and 2. By the end of KS1, children should have developed locational and place knowledge, an understanding of human and physical geography, and geographical and fieldwork skills. Schools decide how these objectives are divided between Year 1 and Year 2.
What map skills should Year 1 children learn?
Year 1 children can begin using simple maps, atlases and globes to locate places and recognise geographical features. They can explore aerial photographs and plans, create simple maps of familiar places and begin using basic directional language and compass directions.
What is human and physical geography in Year 1?
Children can begin to distinguish between human and physical geographical features. Physical features might include beaches, seas, rivers, hills, forests and mountains, while human features include houses, shops, roads, farms, towns and cities. Exploring the local area is a particularly useful way to introduce this distinction.
Do Year 1 children learn about continents and oceans?
Yes. Across KS1, children should learn to name and locate the seven continents and five oceans of the world. In Year 1, maps, globes, photographs, games and practical activities can help introduce these locations and develop children's understanding of the wider world.
Do Year 1 children learn about weather and seasons?
Weather is an excellent Year 1 Geography topic. Children can observe and record daily weather, recognise seasonal patterns and begin to understand how weather varies between places. The KS1 Geography curriculum also includes identifying the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles.
What does Geography fieldwork look like in Year 1?
Year 1 fieldwork can be simple and practical. Children might explore the school grounds or local area, identify human and physical features, observe the weather, follow a route, take photographs or record what they notice. These activities help children understand that Geography involves investigating real places as well as learning about them in the classroom.
How can I make Year 1 Geography engaging?
Use children's own experiences as a starting point. Local walks, maps, photographs, globes, weather observations, stories and comparisons with unfamiliar places can make Geography meaningful for younger children. Practical activities also give children opportunities to use new geographical vocabulary in context.
What do PlanBee Year 1 Geography resources include?
PlanBee's Year 1 Geography resources include ready-to-teach lesson plans and schemes of work with teaching slides, differentiated activities, worksheets and supporting resources. They are designed to make Geography engaging for Year 1 children while reducing the amount of planning and preparation required by teachers.
Are PlanBee Year 1 Geography resources aligned with the National Curriculum?
Yes. PlanBee's Year 1 Geography schemes are designed to support relevant areas of the KS1 Geography National Curriculum, including locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, geographical skills and fieldwork.
