Support mixed-age geography teaching with this Year 3 and 4 mixed age geography block exploring volcanoes, earthquakes and natural disasters. Designed for combined Year 3 and Year 4 classes, this unit forms part of our wider mixed-age geography scheme of work for Lower KS2.
Pupils investigate the structure of the Earth, discover how tectonic movement causes natural hazards and explore how communities respond to life in hazardous environments. The lessons combine physical geography knowledge with geographical enquiry and real-world case study discussion.
Recognised as Highly Commended by the Geographical Association, our Glorious Geography scheme helps teachers deliver ambitious geography lessons with clear progression across mixed-age classrooms.
This geography block forms part of our wider two-year geography cycle for mixed-age primary classes.
For schools teaching mixed-age Lower KS2 classes, the Year 3 and Year 4 geography units are organised into a two-year cycle.
In the first year of the cycle, pupils complete the Cycle B geography units. In the second year, pupils move onto the Cycle A blocks. This structure prevents repetition while ensuring pupils experience the full Lower KS2 geography curriculum.
The units can be delivered through weekly geography lessons or through blocked geography teaching across alternate half terms, depending on how geography is organised within your curriculum.
This mixed-age geography block is adapted from our single-age Year 4 geography unit. You can also explore the standard Year 4 volcanoes and earthquakes geography block to view the original unit outcomes and progression.
This Year 3 and 4 mixed age geography block helps pupils explore how the Earth’s layers and tectonic plates create natural disasters. Pupils investigate earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis, discover where these events are most likely to occur and examine how people adapt to life in high-risk regions.
The planning has been adapted for mixed-age Lower KS2 classes through structured support, scaffolded activities and opportunities for deeper geographical thinking. Younger pupils develop secure understanding of key physical geography concepts, while older pupils explain processes and consider the impact natural hazards have on communities and environments.
This is the first block in the Cycle B sequence for Year 3 and 4 mixed age geography. It introduces important physical geography concepts that support later learning about rivers, mountains, settlements and environmental change throughout the Lower KS2 geography cycle.
The unit can be taught flexibly within different curriculum structures. Many schools choose to teach geography through blocked units across alternate half terms, while others deliver shorter weekly geography lessons throughout the term.
Created by subject specialists and recognised as Highly Commended by the Geographical Association, our Glorious Geography scheme supports progression from EYFS geography through to KS2 geography.
