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What do you need to cover in the KS2 geography national curriculum? A teacher’s guide

Key Stage 2 Geography takes children on a journey from their local area to the far corners of the globe, exploring landscapes, cultures, environments, and the ways in which people interact with the planet.

By the end of KS2, children should have a broad knowledge of the world and be able to think like geographers: asking questions, analysing evidence and making connections.

Here’s a breakdown of the KS2 geography national curriculum, some ideas to help bring it to life, and the Cornerstones Curriculum projects that include lessons covering each of the required programmes of study.

The main aims of KS2 geography

The curriculum encourages children to:

  • Extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the UK, Europe, North and South America.
  • Understand the location and characteristics of a wide range of the world’s most significant human and physical features.
  • Use geographical skills and knowledge, including fieldwork, to collect and present information.

The key areas you must cover

1. Locational knowledge

    By the end of KS2, children should be able to:

    • Locate the world’s countries, using maps to focus on Europe (including the location of Russia) and North and South America, concentrating on their environmental regions, key physical and human characteristics, countries and major cities.
    • Name and locate counties and cities of the United Kingdom, geographical regions and their identifying human and physical characteristics, key topographical features (including hills, mountains, coasts and rivers) and land-use patterns; and understand how some of these aspects have changed over time.
    • Identify the position and significance of latitude, longitude, the Equator, the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, the Prime/Greenwich Meridian and time zones (including day and night).

    Tip: Use atlases and globes regularly – repetition builds confidence in map skills.

    Cornerstones Curriculum projects that cover this programme of study:

    2. Place knowledge

    Children should understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of the human and physical geography of:

    • A region of the UK.
    • A region in a European country.
    • A region in North or South America.

    Tip: Choose contrasting examples – for instance, a mountainous area in Europe and a tropical rainforest in South America – so children can clearly see physical and human differences.

    Cornerstones Curriculum projects that cover this programme of study:

    3. Human and physical geography

    Teach children to describe and understand key aspects of:

    Physical geography:

    • Climate zones
    • Biomes and vegetation belts
    • Rivers
    • Mountains
    • Volcanoes and earthquakes
    • The water cycle

    Human geography:

    • Types of settlement and land use
    • Economic activity (including trade links)
    • The distribution of natural resources (including energy, food, minerals and water)

    Tip: Link physical geography to real-world events – such as studying volcanoes alongside news reports of eruptions.

    Cornerstones Curriculum projects that cover this programme of study:

    4. Geographical skills and fieldwork

      Children should learn to:

      • Use maps, atlases, globes and digital mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.
      • Use the eight points of a compass, four-figure and six-figure grid references, symbols and keys.
      • Interpret a range of sources – including aerial photographs and OS maps.
      • Design and carry out fieldwork to observe, measure, record, and present the human and physical features of the local area (using methods like sketch maps, plans, graphs and digital technology).

      Tip: Make fieldwork purposeful – e.g. investigate how land is used in the local high street or measure river depth at different points.

      Cornerstones Curriculum projects that cover this programme of study:

      How to bring KS2 geography to life

      • Use enquiry-based learning – encourage children to ask geographical questions, such as “Why is this place like it is?” and “How is it changing?”
      • Make cross-curricular links with history, science and art.
      • Incorporate current events – geography is happening right now in the news.
      • Utilise visual and interactive tools, such as GIS, Google Earth, VR tours and weather maps.
      • Build cultural understanding by including stories, music and traditions from the regions you are studying.

      Final thoughts

      KS2 geography is about much more than learning place names – it’s about understanding how the world works and how people live within it. By giving children the tools to explore the connections between people, places and environments, you’re helping them become thoughtful, informed global citizens.

      Keep it hands-on, relevant and connected to real life, and you’ll inspire a lifelong curiosity about our planet.

      Get high-quality lessons and resources

      Looking for inspiring lessons and resources to bring your Key Stage 2 geography curriculum to life? Creating your own can be time-consuming and requires in-depth knowledge of the subject. Then there’s the question of how to find the best quality supporting resources that enable your children to get the most out of their learning experience.

      The Cornerstones Curriculum offers everything you need – a carefully sequenced collection of projects designed by subject experts backed by high-quality resources to support teachers at every level of subject knowledge and confidence. Housed on Maestro, our online platform, which will allow you to plan, manage, lead and assess your geography curriculum all in one place.

      Learn more about the Cornerstones Geography Curriculum
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