Exploring Our Environment

Lesson Overview

Subject: Social Studies
Year Group: Year 5
Unit: Exploring Our Environment (Lesson 1 of 3)
Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 11 students
Curriculum Link:
This lesson aligns with the KS2 National Curriculum for Geography, specifically:

• Human and Physical Geography: Understanding key aspects of physical geography (e.g., climate, rivers, mountains) and human geography (e.g., settlements, land use).
• Geographical Skills and Fieldwork: Observing, recording, and discussing local environments.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Define 'environment' and distinguish between natural and built environments.
2. Identify and describe key elements of their local environment.
3. Discuss how different environmental components interact with each other.

Lesson Structure

Starter Activity (10 min) – Think-Pair-Share

• Opening Hook: Ask students, "What words come to mind when you think of the word ‘environment’?"
• Write down 3 words on post-it notes and stick them to the board. Group similar ideas together.
• Pair up students and let them discuss their ideas briefly before sharing them with the class.
• Introduce the terms natural environment (e.g., rivers, forests, weather) and built environment (e.g., roads, buildings, farms).

Main Activity (20 min) – Local Environment Mapping

1. Teacher Input (5 min)

   • Show a map or an aerial image of the local area, pointing out key features.
   • Ask, "What natural features do we see? What built features can we identify?"
   • Introduce key concepts: land use, human impact, adaptation.

2. Group Work (15 min)

   • Split students into small groups (2-3 per group). Provide them with a large sheet of paper and colouring materials.
   • Each group will draw a "Local Environment Map", labelling aspects of both the natural and built environments.
   • Give prompts such as:
     • Where do people live?
     • Where do we find nature?
     • How do these different areas interact?

Discussion and Reflection (15 min) – Environmental Connections

• Invite each group to do a 1-minute walkthrough of their map.
• Lead a discussion with open-ended questions:
  • How do the natural and built environments depend on each other?
  • What might happen if part of our local environment changed?
  • How does human activity affect the natural environment?

Plenary (10 min) – Personal Environmental Connection

• Ask students to think of a place in their local environment that is important to them.
• Use the question: "Why do you think this place matters?"
• Students will write 2-3 sentences on a mini whiteboard and share with a partner. A few can share with the class.
• End with a 'One Thing I Learned' exit ticket where students write down one key takeaway from the lesson.

Resources Needed

• Post-it notes and markers
• Large sheets of paper and colouring materials
• A local area map (physical copy or displayed digitally)
• Mini whiteboards and pens

Assessment Opportunities

• Formative Assessment: Observing student discussions to gauge understanding of environment types.
• Peer Assessment: Groups providing feedback on each other's maps.
• Exit Ticket: ‘One Thing I Learned’ responses demonstrating individual learning points.

Homework (Optional)

• Students take a short 'environment walk' around their home or school area and write a short paragraph on what they notice about the interaction between natural and built environments.

Teacher Reflection

• Did students clearly understand natural vs. built environments?
• Were they able to make connections between different aspects of their local environment?
• What adjustments might be needed for Lesson 2?

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Next Lesson Teaser (Lesson 2 Preview)

In the next lesson, students will explore environmental change, looking at how environments have changed over time and how humans influence these changes.

This lesson plan provides interactive, thought-provoking, and engaging activities to ensure students build a deep understanding of their environment. 🚀