Scheme of Work: Climate Zones

Subject: Geography | Year: 6

Class/Set: ____________ Date/Term: ____________

Intent: Students will develop a sophisticated understanding of the Earth’s major climate zones, using latitude and longitude to explain global weather patterns and the impact of climate on human and physical environments.

Timeframe / Lesson	Lesson Title	Learning Objective (LO)	Key Activities / Assessment
Lesson 1	The Global Grid	To locate and explain the significance of the Equator, Tropics, and Circles.	Locate: Use atlases to identify the Equator, Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the Arctic/Antarctic Circles. Define: Explain the relationship between latitude and the intensity of solar radiation.
Lesson 2	Tropical Zones	To describe the characteristics of a tropical climate.	Analyse: Interpret climate graphs for Manaus, Brazil. Identify: List the key features of the 'wet and dry' seasons. Compare: Contrast tropical climates with the UK’s temperate climate.
Lesson 3	Arid and Semi-Arid	To understand the causes of desert climates.	Examine: Map the global distribution of major hot deserts. Explain: Describe how high pressure and rain shadows create arid conditions. Label: Identify flora and fauna adaptations.
Lesson 4	Mid-Unit Check	To apply knowledge of climate distribution.	Review: Complete a mid-unit knowledge retrieval task (see Task A). Categorise: Sort images of biomes into their respective climate zones. Assess: Teacher-led feedback on latitude misconceptions.
Lesson 5	Temperate & Med.	To compare the UK climate with the Mediterranean.	Contrast: Use weather data to compare London and Athens. Describe: Explain the concept of 'maritime' versus 'continental' climates. Discuss: How climate influences agriculture and tourism.
Lesson 6	Polar and Tundra	To investigate the extremes of the Polar zones.	Research: Investigate the differences between the Arctic and Antarctic. Model: Create a diagram showing the impact of the Earth’s tilt on polar seasons. Evaluate: The difficulty of human survival in the Tundra.
Lesson 7	Climate Shifting	To evaluate the impact of global warming on climate zones.	Discuss: Predict how rising temperatures might expand the tropical belt. Examine: Case study on the shrinking Arctic sea ice. Propose: Strategies for climate adaptation in vulnerable zones.
Lesson 8	Summative Assessment	To demonstrate comprehensive understanding of global climate.	Execute: Complete the end-of-unit assessment (see Task B). Review: Peer-mark using the provided success criteria. Reflect: Identify the most significant impact of climate on human life.

Resources Needed:

• Standard school atlases and wall maps of the world.
• Climate graph templates and protractors.
• Access to secondary data for rainfall and temperature statistics.
• Geography exercise books and highlighters.

Task A: Mid-Unit Knowledge Retrieval Which climate zone is located between the Tropics? a) ☐ Polar b) ☐ Temperate c) ☐ Arid d) ☐ Tropical

Task B: Summative Assessment Prompts

1. Explain: How does the distance from the Equator affect the temperature of a region?
2. Contrast: Provide two differences between the Arid zone and the Temperate zone.
3. Analyze: Why do Polar regions experience six months of darkness?

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⚠ TEACHER’S GUIDANCE

🌟 Pedagogical Opportunity: "Climate vs. Weather"

• Clarify: Ensure students understand that 'weather' is a short-term state, while 'climate' is an average over a long period (typically 30 years).
• Misconception Alert: Many Year 6 students believe deserts must be hot. Correct: Remind them that 'Arid' refers to rainfall, not temperature, and that Antarctica is technically the world’s largest desert.
• Oracy Tip: Use 'Think-Pair-Share' when discussing Lesson 7 to allow students to process the ethical implications of climate change without feeling overwhelmed.

✅ Answer Key & Mirror-Labeling

Task A Answer: Mid-Unit Knowledge Retrieval

• The correct selection is d) ☐ Tropical.

Task B Answer: Summative Assessment Prompts

• 1. Explain Answer: As you move away from the Equator (higher latitudes), the sun's rays are spread over a larger surface area due to the Earth's curve, making it cooler. At the Equator, the sun is more direct and concentrated.
• 2. Contrast Answer: Arid zones have very low precipitation (less than 250mm per year) and can have extreme temperature fluctuations, whereas Temperate zones have moderate rainfall and four distinct seasons with milder temperatures.
• 3. Analyze Answer: This is due to the 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth's axis. When one pole is tilted away from the sun during its winter orbit, it remains in the Earth's shadow, resulting in continuous darkness.

📋 Delivery Advice (Year 6)

• WAGOLL: When teaching climate graphs in Lesson 2, provide a 'What A Good One Looks Like' example. Ensure students use a ruler for the x-axis and clear colour coding (blue bars for rain, red line for temperature).
• Scaffolding: For SEND students, provide a pre-drawn global grid with the lines of latitude already labelled to allow them to focus on the 'Climate Zone' shading task.