Year 3 - Geography
Location and growth of settlements
Settlements: where do people live and why?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores different types of settlements, from villages to cities. Pupils learn about settlement features, growth and location, and use their local area to understand how places change. They apply what they've learned by designing a new settlement.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe and explain some of the reasons why settlement are established and grow.
Key Notes
- Many settlements have long histories, on sites chosen for resource access, for example: water, fertile land and wood.
- Physical geography can influence why settlements start, grow and change.
- Human geography can influence why settlements start, grow and change.
Vocabulary To Learn
- settlers: Settlers are people who move with a group of others to live in a new location.
- natural resources: Natural resources are those that come from Earth without human influence and can be used for human needs.
- crossroads: A crossroads is the point at which two roads meet and cross each other.
- bridging point: A bridging point is the location on a river where it is possible to make a bridge to connect the two sides.
- site: A site is the exact location of a place in relation to other nearby places or features.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Some children may struggle to understand the concept of countour lines.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
Many settlements have long histories, on sites chosen for resource access, for example: water, fertile land and wood. Physical geography can influence why settlements start, grow and change.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'settlers'
Settlers are people who move with a group of others to live in a new location.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: Some children may struggle to understand the concept of countour lines. Correction: Showing animations and models of land in 3D with contour lines marked on can help.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 3 Geography guide library.