Introduce your class to the wilder side of the world with this pack of six Extreme Earth KS2 Geography lessons! Your class will find out all about the Earth's extremes, from raging tropical storms to violent erupting volcanoes to terrifying towering tsunamis. They can also explore how these extremes affect people, communities and landscapes through a series of informative and thought-provoking lessons.

This scheme of work is also part of our Extreme Earth Cross-Curricular Topic, which also has Art, DT, PSHE and Music lessons themed around Extreme Earth. With detailed lesson plans, engaging slides, differentiated worksheets, challenges, pictures and many other helpful resources, this Extreme Earth KS2 planning pack is a great way to get your class to look at the world in which they live in a new awe-inspiring light.

A Knowledge Organiser is available to support the learning in this scheme. It is included in the Complete Series download or can be purchased individually.

Why not take a look at our Extreme Earth Topic Enrichment Pack too? It contains Art, Music and PSHE lessons to help fully immerse your class in their Extreme Earth topic!

Extreme Climates

This Extreme Climates KS2 Geography lesson begins by defining what a climate is before looking at some of the most extreme climates of the world. Your Year 5 or Year 6 class will learn where the hottest and coldest parts of the world are in relation to the equator and poles, as well as the location of some specific climates, such as the hottest, coldest, driest and wettest places on Earth.

During their independent learning activities, they can use the data and fact cards provided to find out more about extreme climates on Earth, answer questions and consolidate their understanding.

View Lesson 1

Drought

This drought lesson plan for KS2 children starts by looking at the water cycle and how it works, before going on to explore why some parts of the world get more water than others. It then looks at what a drought is, the effects of droughts and how drought affects different parts of the world.

This drought lesson planning pack comes fully prepared and ready to teach; it includes an easy-to-follow lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input and a range of printable resources to support children in their independent learning.

View Lesson 2

Extreme Weather

This Extreme Weather KS2 Geography lesson explores a variety of the most extreme weather phenomena on Earth, including lightning, floods, tropical storms (hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons), tornadoes and hail storms. Your Year 5 or Year 6 class will find out what causes these weather phenomena and become more familiar with why they occur.

This lesson is ready to teach and contains an easy-to-follow lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable resources to support children as they learn about extreme weather for themselves.

View Lesson 3

Earthquakes

This Earthquakes KS2 Geography lesson for Year 5 & Year 6 will teach your class everything they need to know about earthquakes! As they move on from looking at natural disasters that are caused by weather, they will find out about plate tectonics and how moving plates cause earthquakes, as well as how areas around fault lines are most likely to be struck by an earthquake. They can then place various extreme earthquakes on a world map or investigate a particular earthquake and its effects on the people and landscape of the area.

This Earthquakes KS2 planning pack contains everything you need to teach this engaging lesson, including an easy-to-follow lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable resources.

View Lesson 4

Tsunamis

If you're teaching tsunamis to your Year 5 or Year 6 class then look no further! This ready-to-teach lesson explores what tsunamis are, how they are formed, and how and why the giant waves of a tsunami hot coastlines. There is also the opportunity to find out about the 2004 tsunami and why it was one of the most devastating in recent times.

With an easy-to-follow lesson plan, a slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable resources, teaching tsunamis to your KS2 class has never been easier.

View Lesson 5

Volcanoes

Download this Volcanoes lesson plan pack to teach your KS2 class what volcanoes are, how they are formed and what happens when they erupt. The included slideshow presentation for the teaching input will start by showing your class some fascinating photos of volcanoes, before going on to explain in further detail how volcanoes are formed, why they erupt and how eruptions affect the environment around the volcano.

Your Year 5 or Year 6 children can then express their understanding of volcanoes in a variety of ways, including writing a volcano poem. There is also the opportunity of creating their own erupting volcanoes using a few simple ingredients!

This Volcanoes lesson plan comes with everything you need to deliver the lesson...apart from the baking soda, vinegar and food colouring! All you need to do is download, teach and enjoy watching your class become fascinated with volcanoes.

View Lesson 6

This Year 5/6 Geography Knowledge Organiser has been created to complement our Environmental, Human and Physical Processes strand. It is designed to support your children’s understanding of key vocabulary linked to this scheme of work. Key questions and relevant geographical skills have been identified to encourage children to apply their knowledge around this topic.

View Knowledge Organiser