Our place in the wider world

Pupil resources | GROW Humanities Summer 1 Week 1

Locate my place the UK and the wider world on maps.

Use this labelled reference for the activities. Give your own response in the blank spaces. Point, speak, draw, type or write.

The world view locates our area approximately. Your teacher supplies a checked local map and UK atlas page for the closer views.

Evidence cards

Read with a partner or adult then use a named detail

A Our locality

Middlesbrough is on the River Tees, in Teesside in north-east England. These labels identify our locality within the UK. A local map shows more nearby detail than this world map.

Source: Locality facts from the task brief; teacher-checked local map

Limit: The world marker is approximate. It cannot show street positions.

B The UK and its neighbours

The UK is in Europe. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west and the North Sea to the east. Use the UK marker and the named water labels.

Source: Natural Earth outlines and named geographical labels

Limit: Country outlines and labels are simplified at this scale.

C Choosing a map scale

Fictional task: a visitor needs to find our school entrance. A detailed local map is useful. A world map shows how the UK relates to continents and oceans, but cannot show the entrance.

Source: Authored classroom comparison of map purposes

Limit: Choose a map for the question. A world view does not show a safe walking route.

D A map comparison routine

Locate Teesside, then the UK, then Europe on the world view. Compare a teacher-selected local map, UK atlas page and world page. Name one detail that appears or disappears as the area shown changes.

Source: Teacher-selected atlas and local map; supplied world view

Limit: No map shows every feature. The local source must be checked before teaching.

Arrival task

Supported

Revisit earlier map work. You can start from these reminders: a continent is a large land region; an ocean is salt water; a key explains symbols. Use the labelled map and cards if this is new.

Begin with questions 1 and 2. Try 3 and 4 when ready. Use the reference map and cards.

1 Point to the UK marker.

Help: Use the labelled world map.

My response

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2 Is Europe a continent or an ocean?

Help: A continent is land.

My response

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3 Find the Atlantic Ocean label.

Help: Look west of the UK.

My response

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4 Would you use a local map or world map for a school entrance?

Help: Think about how much detail you need.

My response

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Arrival task

Standard

Revisit earlier map work. You can start from these reminders: a continent is a large land region; an ocean is salt water; a key explains symbols. Use the labelled map and cards if this is new.

Begin with questions 1 and 2. Try 3 and 4 when ready. Use the reference map and cards.

1 What does a map key explain?

Help: Think about symbols.

My response

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2 Which continent contains the UK?

Help: Use the map labels or card B.

My response

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3 Which ocean is west of the UK?

Help: Read the water label.

My response

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4 What happens to local detail as a map covers more of the world?

Help: Compare the teacher’s local and world views.

My response

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Arrival task

Stretch

Revisit earlier map work. You can start from these reminders: a continent is a large land region; an ocean is salt water; a key explains symbols. Use the labelled map and cards if this is new.

Begin with questions 1 and 2. Try 3 and 4 when ready. Use the reference map and cards.

1 How can a key help a reader locate a feature?

Help: Connect a symbol with its meaning.

My response

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2 Describe the UK using its continent and a neighbouring ocean.

Help: Use labels and a compass direction.

My response

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3 Which sea is east of the UK?

Help: Use card B and the map.

My response

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4 Why is a world map unsuitable for a school entrance?

Help: Explain the effect of scale.

My response

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Shared map investigation

One person locates and the other checks then swap

1. Locate Teesside, the UK and Europe together. Compare the teacher’s local map, UK atlas page and world page; say how the detail changes.

2. Swap locator and checker roles. Find the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea. Give their directions from the UK and explain one map choice.

Map view	One useful detail	What it cannot show
Local
UK
World

One location statement using direction

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My partner challenge and how we checked

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Independent task

Supported

Locate my place the UK and the wider world on maps.

1. Locate the UK and Europe with the labelled map. Find Teesside using card A.

2. Choose Atlantic Ocean or North Sea to complete one direction statement about the UK.

3. Independently choose local or world map for the school entrance and give one reason.

Help: Read card B together. Use the sentence frame and two map choices. An adult may read or scribe your own words.

Places located and evidence used

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Direction from the UK

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A relationship on the map

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Map choice and reason

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Further challenge: Locate the other named water area and give its direction.

Independent task

Standard

Locate my place the UK and the wider world on maps.

1. Locate Teesside, the UK and Europe using the supplied labels and checked atlas pages.

2. Describe the UK using the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea.

3. Independently choose a map for a school-entrance question and explain why.

Help: ___ is in ___. ___ lies to its ___. I would use a ___ map because ___.

Places located and evidence used

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Direction from the UK

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A relationship on the map

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Map choice and reason

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Further challenge: Explain why the UK-area marker cannot show a precise street position.

Independent task

Stretch

Locate my place the UK and the wider world on maps.

1. Locate Middlesbrough, Teesside, the UK and Europe using the labels and checked local/atlas maps.

2. Describe two relationships using direction, continent and neighbouring water.

3. Compare a local, UK and world view. Explain one useful detail at each scale.

4. Independently justify which map answers the school-entrance question and one wider-location question.

Help: Select the evidence yourself. Use the same locality in all views and state a limit of the world map.

Places located and evidence used

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Direction from the UK

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A relationship on the map

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Map choice and reason

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Further challenge: Explain why a smaller-scale world map shows less local detail than a larger-scale local map.

Exit tickets

Use your chosen route and give your own response

Supported

1. Name the UK’s continent and one neighbouring ocean. Use the labels, then give your own response.

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2. Choose a map for the school entrance and give one reason. Local or world map?

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Standard

1. Locate the UK and describe it using a continent and a neighbouring sea or ocean. Use a compass direction.

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2. Why does your map choice suit a school-entrance question? Explain the detail needed.

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Stretch

1. Describe Teesside’s place within the UK and the wider world. Use the labelled local, UK and world views.

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2. Explain how scale changes the detail available for two different questions. Use the school entrance and a continent-location question.

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