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Year 3 - Geography

Villages, towns and cities in the UK

Settlements: where do people live and why?

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 can locate and identify villages, towns and cities in atlases and on OS maps.

Key Notes

  • Villages, towns and cities have different features.
  • Atlas maps of the UK often use different symbols or text size to indicate the size of a settlement.
  • Atlas maps can be used to investigate the location and distribution of the UK's significant cities.
  • Any settlement can be located on an OS map, and its features investigated using the key.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • atlas map: Atlas maps show the location of places and features at global or national scale.
  • symbol: A symbol is used to show an important landmark, place, feature or area of a map, diagram or drawing.
  • location: A location is the particular position of something on Earth.
  • distribution: Distribution is how something is spread out across a geographic area.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils often read four figure grid references the wrong way round.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Villages, towns and cities have different features. Atlas maps of the UK often use different symbols or text size to indicate the size of a settlement.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'atlas map'

Atlas maps show the location of places and features at global or national scale.

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils often read four figure grid references the wrong way round. Correction: Remind pupils that they find the easting first by reading along the corridor, then read the northing by going up the stairs.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 3 Geography guide library.