Year 1 and 2 Mixed Age Geography – UK Cities and Local Areas
Help your mixed age class explore the United Kingdom with this Year 1 and 2 geography block focused on UK cities and local areas. This block forms part of our mixed age geography scheme for KS1 and uses the same lessons found in our single-age units, reorganised into a two-year rolling cycle so children do not repeat content across Year 1 and Year 2.
As part of our Glorious Geography scheme, recognised as Highly Commended by the Geographical Association, this block helps children understand what cities are, locate places within the UK and compare their own locality with Cardiff. With planning, differentiated tasks and interactive slides included, teachers can confidently deliver this sequence to combined Year 1 and 2 classes.
How to use our mixed-age Geography scheme of work
For schools with mixed age classes, we have adapted the scheme so that the Year 1 and Year 2 blocks can be used on a two-year cycle. In the first year of the cycle, all pupils in Year 1 and 2 will follow the Cycle A blocks of lessons.
In the second year, all pupils in Year 1 and 2 will follow the Cycle B blocks of lessons. This ensures that children do not repeat any of the blocks during KS1.
Click here to get an overview of the unit outcomes.
Lessons in this block
- Week 1: Where am I?
- Week 2: What is a city?
- Week 3: What do you know about Cardiff?
- Week 4: What is it like to live in Cardiff?
- Week 5: How similar/different is Cardiff to where we live?
- Week 6: Can you plan a trip to Cardiff?
What this mixed-age block covers
This Year 1 and 2 mixed age geography block introduces children to UK cities, capital cities, and contrasting localities. Pupils explore what makes a city, find the four UK countries on maps and atlases, and investigate what it is like to live in Cardiff compared with their own area.
The planning supports both year groups with clear explanations, structured tasks and vocabulary building. Younger children gain confidence with early map skills, while older children develop comparison skills and a stronger understanding of human and physical features.
Key skills developed
- Identifying the four countries of the UK and their capital cities
- Understanding what makes a city and how it differs from other places
- Using maps and atlases to locate places in the UK
- Comparing Cardiff with pupils’ own locality
- Planning a simple trip using landmarks and routes
Where this block fits in the cycle
This is the third block in the Cycle A sequence for Year 1 and 2 mixed age geography. It is paired with a different place-based block in Cycle B, ensuring children experience a broad range of UK geography topics during KS1.
Start using this mixed-age geography block
Download this Year 1 and 2 mixed age geography block as part of our primary geography scheme of work. Access all lesson packs, slides and planning with a free trial and explore UK cities with your mixed age class.
