Human and Physical Features

Human and physical features are one of the first geography concepts children learn in primary school. Understanding the difference between features that occur naturally and those created by people helps children make sense of the world around them. From mountains and rivers to roads, bridges and towns, identifying human and physical features forms an important part of both KS1 and KS2 Geography.

The features of human and physical geography are revisited regularly throughout the KS1 and KS2 Geography curriculum. In KS1, children begin by using simple geographical vocabulary to describe the world around them. In KS2, they build on this by exploring land use, topographical features, settlements, fieldwork and maps in more detail.

Photos showing both human and physical features

What do human and physical features mean in geography?

In Geography, human features and physical features are the terms used to describe the different things we can see in places, landscapes and environments.

A human feature is something that has been made, built or changed by people. A physical feature is something that occurs naturally in the environment and would usually be there even if there were no people around.

What are human features?

Human features are things made, built or influenced by humans. These can include cities, houses, roads, bridges, ports, farms, factories, shops, schools, railways, harbours and airports. Human features can also include aspects of a place such as language, religion, population and political systems.

Examples of human features

  • Houses and other buildings
  • Schools, shops and hospitals
  • Roads, bridges and railway lines
  • Ports, harbours and airports
  • Farms, factories and warehouses
  • Canals, reservoirs and wind farms
  • Towns, cities and villages

What are physical features?

Physical features are natural features of the Earth. They include things such as seas, mountains, hills, valleys, rivers, cliffs, beaches, forests and lakes. Physical features are part of the natural landscape.

Examples of physical features

  • Rivers and streams
  • Mountains and hills
  • Valleys and plains
  • Beaches, cliffs and coastlines
  • Forests and woodlands
  • Lakes, seas and oceans
  • Deserts and glaciers

Human features vs physical features

The easiest way for children to remember the difference is to ask: Was it made by people, or is it natural?

Human Features Physical Features
School River
Road Mountain
Bridge Valley
Harbour Coastline
Factory Forest
Town Beach

Examples of human and physical features in geography

Human and physical features KS1

In KS1 Geography, children learn to use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key human and physical features. They might identify features in photographs, sort pictures into human and physical groups, describe their school grounds or local area, or compare a small area of the UK with a small area in a contrasting non-European country.

Common KS1 activities include local area walks, using aerial photographs, drawing simple maps, labelling features and talking about the places children know well.

Teach human and physical features in KS1 with People and Places

PlanBee’s People and Places KS1 Geography scheme introduces children to natural and man-made features, human features, physical features, aerial photographs, maps and comparing cities. It is a strong fit for teaching this concept in Key Stage 1.

KS1 People and Places scheme of work preview

👉 View People and Places KS1 Geography lessons

Human and physical features KS2

In KS2 Geography, children build on their KS1 understanding by using more precise geographical language. They learn about land use, settlements, counties, cities, rivers, mountains, coasts and other topographical features. They also use maps, atlases and fieldwork to observe, record and explain human and physical features in different places.

Children may explore how human and physical features are connected. For example, towns are often built near rivers, ports are found on coasts, and roads and railways are created to connect settlements.

Explore local human and physical geography in LKS2

PlanBee’s Investigating Our Local Area scheme helps lower KS2 pupils apply their understanding of human and physical geography through local area studies, map work and fieldwork activities.

KS2 Local Area Geography scheme of work

👉 View Investigating Our Local Area lessons

Human and physical features of the UK

The UK has a wide range of human and physical features. Children may study these when learning about the countries, counties, cities, rivers, mountains, seas and coasts of the United Kingdom.

What are some human features of the UK?

Human features in the UK include:

  • Utility services, such as power stations, wind farms, solar farms, power cables and water pipes
  • Leisure facilities, such as swimming pools, hotels, theatres and restaurants
  • Retail facilities, such as shops and shopping centres
  • Transport features, such as footpaths, roads, motorways, railway lines, train stations and bridges
  • Industrial features, such as ports, warehouses and factories
  • Towns, cities and villages
  • Language, religion and population

The Port of Dover is an example of a human feature of the UK. It has been built and developed by people and plays an important role in transport and trade.

What are some physical features of the UK?

Physical features in the UK include hills, mountains, valleys, rivers, cliffs, beaches, forests, lakes, seas and coastlines.

The longest river in the UK is the River Severn. It is 354 km long and flows through England and Wales. The highest mountain in the UK is Ben Nevis in Scotland, which is 1,345 m high. Other well-known physical features include the Pennines, the Lake District, Snowdonia, the Scottish Highlands and the River Thames.

Teach UK human and physical features in UKS2

PlanBee’s The United Kingdom KS2 Geography scheme includes lessons on human and physical features, counties, towns and cities, UK mountains, seas and coasts, and UK rivers.

United Kingdom KS2 scheme of work preview

👉 View The United Kingdom KS2 Geography lessons

Human and physical features around the world

Children can also explore human and physical features in different countries around the world. This helps them compare places and understand how landscapes, climate, settlement and human activity can vary from one location to another.

Examples of human and physical features in Kenya

Physical features of Kenya include Mount Kenya, the Great Rift Valley, lakes, savannahs and parts of the Indian Ocean coastline. Human features include Nairobi, roads, farms, villages, railways, ports and tourist facilities.

Examples of human and physical features in Russia

Physical features of Russia include the Ural Mountains, Lake Baikal, forests, rivers and tundra landscapes. Human features include Moscow, St Petersburg, railways, roads, factories, farms and settlements.

Teaching ideas for human and physical features

Here are some simple ways to help children understand the difference between human and physical features:

  • Sort photographs into human and physical features.
  • Go on a local area walk and record features children can see.
  • Use aerial photographs to spot roads, rivers, fields, buildings and coastlines.
  • Ask children to label human and physical features on a map.
  • Compare two places and discuss what is similar and different.
  • Create a simple table of human and physical features in the school grounds or local area.

More Geography schemes for teaching human and physical geography

These PlanBee Geography schemes also support teaching about human and physical features, places, environments and landscapes:

Human and physical features FAQs

What are human features in geography?

Human features are things that have been made, built or changed by people. Examples include houses, roads, bridges, schools, shops, farms, factories, ports, towns and cities.

What are physical features in geography?

Physical features are natural features of the Earth. Examples include rivers, mountains, hills, valleys, beaches, cliffs, forests, lakes, seas and oceans.

What is the difference between human and physical features?

The difference is that human features are made or changed by people, while physical features occur naturally. A bridge is a human feature because people built it. A river is a physical feature because it is part of the natural landscape.

What are examples of human features?

Examples of human features include roads, railways, houses, schools, bridges, farms, factories, harbours, airports, villages, towns and cities.

What are examples of physical features?

Examples of physical features include rivers, mountains, hills, valleys, cliffs, beaches, forests, lakes, seas and coastlines.

What human and physical features do children learn in KS1?

In KS1, children learn simple vocabulary for human and physical features. They may identify features such as houses, shops, roads, rivers, beaches, hills, forests and seas, often through photographs, maps and local area work.

What human and physical features do children learn in KS2?

In KS2, children build on their KS1 knowledge by studying land use, settlements, rivers, mountains, coasts, counties, cities and topographical features. They also use maps, atlases and fieldwork to describe and compare places in more detail.