Year 3/4 Cycle A Block 2
Year 3 and 4 Mixed Age Geography – Climate Zones and Biomes
This Year 3 and 4 geography block introduces pupils to climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, helping them make sense of how environments differ across the world. The lessons come directly from our Year 3 single-age unit and have been arranged into a clear two-year rolling cycle so mixed age classes can follow the scheme without repeating content.
As part of our Glorious Geography programme, recognised as Highly Commended by the Geographical Association, the block builds pupils’ confidence with map work, enquiry skills and key concepts such as latitude, longitude and climate change. Teaching slides, differentiated tasks and vocabulary support are included to help teachers deliver the unit effectively in a mixed-age classroom.
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 3 and Year 4 blocks can be used on a two-year cycle. In the first year of the cycle, all pupils in Years 3 and 4 follow the Cycle A blocks of lessons.
In the second year, all pupils in Years 3 and 4 follow the Cycle B blocks of lessons. This prevents repetition and ensures a broad, balanced geography curriculum.
Click here to view the unit outcomes in the single-age version.
Lessons in this block
- Week 1: What are longitude and latitude?
- Week 2: What is the weather like in each climate zone?
- Week 3: What is a biome?
- Week 4: What is life like in each biome?
- Week 5: How are the climate zones changing?
- Week 6: How can we teach others about the different climate zones?
What this mixed-age block covers
This Year 3 and 4 mixed age geography block helps pupils explore how the Earth’s climates are organised and why different biomes exist. Through map work, data interpretation and enquiry activities, pupils investigate the features of tropical, temperate, arid and polar climates, and begin to understand how these regions are changing.
The planning provides flexibility for mixed age teaching, with clear tasks that allow younger pupils to grasp key ideas and older pupils to apply knowledge through comparison, explanation and simple research. Vocabulary cards, slides and practical activities help pupils describe places precisely and make links between climate, plants, animals and human activity.
Key skills developed
- Using latitude and longitude to locate places
- Describing climate zones around the world
- Understanding biomes and vegetation belts
- Exploring how climate affects living things
- Identifying changes linked to climate change
- Presenting geographical information clearly
Where this block fits in the cycle
This is the second block in the Cycle A sequence for Year 3 and 4 mixed age geography. It builds on the European region study from Block 1 and prepares pupils for further physical and human geography topics in Cycle B.
Start using this mixed-age geography block
Download this Year 3 and 4 mixed age geography block as part of our primary geography scheme of work. Access the full set of lesson packs, slides and planning with a free trial and explore world climates with your mixed age class.
