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Year 2 - Geography

Hot deserts: climate and location

Hot places: where are they and what are they like?

Unit Summary

This unit explores the world's hottest places, focusing on tropical rainforests and hot deserts. Pupils use maps and images to locate these environments, describe their climates and features, and compare contrasting hot places around the world.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe the climate of hot deserts and use maps to locate them.

Key Notes

  • The largest hot desert in the world is the Sahara, in North Africa, and it is still growing.
  • Hot deserts have extremely high temperatures during the day and very little rain; not much life can survive there.
  • Not many people live in hot desert regions because of the lack of water for everyday activities and growing crops.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • hot desert: Hot deserts are areas on Earth which are very hot and very dry, having less than 25 cm of rain per year.
  • soil: Soil is the loose upper layer of the Earth's surface where plants grow, and is formed from tiny particles of rock, dead plants and animals, air and water.
  • climate change: A long term change in the earth's climate. Overall Earth is getting warmer.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • No one is able to live in the Sahara desert.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.

The largest hot desert in the world is the Sahara, in North Africa, and it is still growing. Hot deserts have extremely high temperatures during the day and very little rain; not much life can survive there.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'hot desert'

Hot deserts are areas on Earth which are very hot and very dry, having less than 25 cm of rain per year.

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: No one is able to live in the Sahara desert. Correction: 2.5 million people live in the Sahara desert.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 2 Geography guide library.