Year 4 Geography Block 1

Year 4 Geography – Drop, Cover, Hold! (Volcanoes and Earthquakes)

Take your pupils on an unforgettable journey into the world of volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis with our Year 4 geography unit. Fully aligned with the National Curriculum, this block develops pupils’ understanding of physical geography and how natural disasters affect people and places.

Part of our Glorious Geography scheme of work, recognised as Highly Commended by the Geographical Association, this unit includes lesson plans, differentiated worksheets, interactive slides and knowledge organisers.

Lessons in this unit
  • Week 1: What is happening beneath our feet?
  • Week 2: What is an earthquake?
  • Week 3: What is a volcano?
  • Week 4: How do people live near volcanoes and earthquakes?
  • Week 5: What is a tsunami?
  • Week 6: How can we prepare for natural disasters?
Unit outcomes
  • Understand the layers of the Earth and how tectonic plates move.
  • Explain what earthquakes are and where they occur globally.
  • Understand how volcanoes form and identify key volcanic regions.
  • Describe how people adapt to living in earthquake and volcano-prone areas.
  • Understand how a tsunami forms and its impact on communities.

Engage Year 4 pupils with our volcanoes and earthquakes geography unit

This Year 4 geography unit on volcanoes and earthquakes helps pupils explore the forces that shape our planet. From the structure of the Earth to the impact of natural disasters, pupils build knowledge and enquiry skills through practical tasks, case studies and discussions.

What’s included in this unit?

  • Fully planned lesson packs with worksheets, slides and vocabulary cards.
  • Opportunities to investigate volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis with real-world case studies.
  • Activities that develop map and atlas skills by locating key tectonic regions.
  • Assessment opportunities to track progress and understanding.

Why choose this unit?

Our KS2 geography scheme of work is written by subject specialists and recognised as Highly Commended by the Geographical Association. Each lesson is clear, engaging and age-appropriate, giving teachers confidence to deliver high-quality geography in the classroom.

Discover more KS2 geography units covering mountains, rivers, settlements and trade, or explore the full Primary Geography Scheme of Work from EYFS to Year 6.

Explore Geography Scheme