Year 3 Geography Block 2
Year 3 Geography – From the North Pole to the South Pole: Climate Zones
Explore the world’s climates with our Year 3 geography unit on climate zones, part of the KS2 Geography Scheme of Work. Fully aligned with the National Curriculum, this block introduces pupils to longitude, latitude, biomes, vegetation belts and climate change through enquiry-based, interactive lessons.
Recognised as Highly Commended by the Geographical Association, our Glorious Geography scheme provides engaging resources designed for real classrooms. Each lesson includes teaching slides, worksheets, vocabulary support and assessment opportunities, making it easier for teachers to deliver high-quality geography lessons while supporting pupil progress.
Lessons in this unit
- 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?
Unit outcomes
- Identify lines of latitude and longitude with confidence.
- Describe the weather patterns in each climate zone.
- Recognise and describe biomes and vegetation belts linked to climate zones.
- Understand how climate change is impacting different regions of the world.
- Communicate geographical learning to others clearly and effectively.
Teach Climate Zones and Biomes with Our Year 3 Geography Scheme
This Year 3 geography scheme of work on climate zones helps pupils make sense of the Earth’s diverse environments, from the frozen polar regions to the hot and humid tropics. Pupils will discover how longitude and latitude influence climate, explore different biomes and vegetation belts, and consider the impact of climate change on people, plants and animals.
What pupils will learn
- How lines of latitude and longitude form a grid system for locating places on Earth.
- The characteristics of the main climate zones: tropical, temperate, arid and polar.
- What a biome is, and how climate influences the plants and animals found in different regions.
- Examples of vegetation belts around the world, and how they support ecosystems.
- The effects of climate change on weather patterns, habitats and human life.
Why choose this unit?
Each lesson is supported with interactive teaching slides, differentiated worksheets and enquiry questions, helping pupils to develop key geography skills while keeping learning engaging. The unit encourages children to ask questions, make comparisons, and explain their thinking — essential for building geographical enquiry skills at KS2.
Designed for both single year groups and mixed-age classes, this scheme provides full coverage of the Year 3 geography National Curriculum and supports whole-school progression in geography. It also offers teachers the reassurance of using resources that are Geographical Association Highly Commended.
Explore more KS2 geography
This climate zones block forms part of our complete KS2 Geography Scheme of Work, which covers topics including European regions, world trade, settlements, and physical and human geography. Start your free trial today and access the full range of KS2 geography lessons and resources.
