The Four Countries of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is made up of four different countries. They are all on the same group of islands but each one is special in its own way!
England
Capital City: London
Famous for its castles and the King!
Scotland
Capital City: Edinburgh
Famous for its mountains and bagpipes!
Wales
Capital City: Cardiff
Famous for its dragons and castles!
Northern Ireland
Capital City: Belfast
Famous for its green fields and Giant's Causeway!
Did You Know?
The United Kingdom is surrounded by seas! These are called the North Sea, the Irish Sea, the English Channel, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Our Local Area
Let's learn about where we live! Our local area has many different features that we can see every day.
Human Features
Human features are things that people have built:
- Houses and homes
- Schools
- Shops
- Roads
- Bridges
- Parks
Physical Features
Physical features are natural things:
- Hills
- Rivers
- Forests
- Beaches
- Mountains
- Valleys
Where Do We Live?
People in the UK live in different kinds of places:
- Villages - Small places with houses, maybe a school and a few shops
- Towns - Bigger than villages with more houses, schools, and shops
- Cities - Very big places with lots of buildings, roads, and people
Which one do you live in?
Weather & Seasons in the UK
In the United Kingdom, we have four different seasons. The weather changes throughout the year!
Spring
- Flowers start to grow
- Baby animals are born
- Weather gets warmer
- Days get longer
- March, April, May
Summer
- Warmest weather of the year
- Longest days
- We can go to the beach
- School holidays!
- June, July, August
Autumn
- Leaves change color and fall
- Weather gets cooler
- Days get shorter
- We can collect conkers
- September, October, November
Winter
- Coldest weather of the year
- Shortest days
- Sometimes it snows
- Christmas time!
- December, January, February
Weather Watchers
Keep a weather diary for a week! Each day, draw a picture of the weather and write down if it's sunny, rainy, windy, or cloudy.
Maps & Directions
Maps help us find our way around. They show us where places are and how to get from one place to another.
Compass Directions
There are four main compass directions that help us find our way:
Map Vocabulary
We use these words when talking about maps and directions:
- Near - Close to something
- Far - A long way from something
- Left - On this side ←
- Right - On this side →
- Above - Higher than something
- Below - Lower than something
Map Challenge!
Can you draw a simple map of your classroom or bedroom? Label the different objects and use arrows to show directions!
Types of Homes in the UK
People in the United Kingdom live in many different types of homes. Let's learn about them!
Detached House
A house that stands by itself and isn't attached to any other houses.
Semi-Detached House
A house that is joined to one other house on one side.
Terraced House
Houses that are joined together in a row.
Flat/Apartment
A home that is part of a larger building with other homes.
Home Sweet Home!
What type of home do you live in? Can you draw a picture of your home and write about what makes it special?