Spain and Catalonia - The Complete Series (7 lessons)

They will compare and contrast Spain with the UK, and then find out more about the physical and human geography of the country, including the climate. Children will also find out about how tourism affects Spain. Finally, they will focus on Catalonia, and discuss why some people who live there want independence from the rest of the country.

In this first lesson, children will share what they already know about the UK and Spain. As a class, children will look at a range of pictures of Spain and discuss what this tells them about the country, including how similar or different it is to the UK. In the independent activity, they sort picture and information cards into two piles depending on which country they represent.

Children begin by finding Spain on a world map. They then look in more detail at the country, and find out about the location of its autonomous communities, the bordering countries, seas and oceans, as well as the island groups that are part of Spain. Children record what they have learnt on their own maps of Spain, or they can complete a Fact File using the Map of Spain and the knowledge gained this lesson.

Children will recap on their knowledge of Spain so far, before finding out more about the physical geography of the country, including its coastlines, rivers and mountainous regions. In their independent work, they will research and create a booklet about the Pyrenees, or alternatively, write an account about a hiking trip through the mountains.

In this lesson, children will find out about the human geography of Spain. In groups, they will research and prepare a short presentation for the rest of the class on different aspects of Spanish culture; food, festivals, music and dance, famous buildings and Madrid. Alternatively, they can find out more about the Spanish cultural event of bullfighting, and hold a class debate about whether it should be banned.

Children will find out more about the autonomous community of Catalonia, and how some Catalans want independence from the rest of Spain. Children will discuss some of the reasons for and against this. In the independent activity, they will sort statement cards according to whether they are for or against Catalan independence. Children will share their own views and opinions based on what they have learnt.

Children will briefly recap on the physical and human geography of Spain, before moving on to explore the difference between weather and climate. They will learn about the three main climate zones of Spain, and map them on their own map. In the alternate activity, children will match up climate fact cards with temperature, rainfall and sunshine charts for the three different regions.

In this lesson, children will understand the terms ‘tourist’ and ‘tourism’. They will begin to discuss the advantages and disadvantages tourism can bring to a country. Children will use the knowledge they have gained about Spain so far to create a persuasive advertisement or role-play designed to entice tourists to visit.