Link it! Prior knowledge - Mountains - Year 4

In preparing for a Year 4 lesson on mountains, it is essential to tap into the students' prior knowledge to create a foundation for new learning. Most children will have some awareness of volcanoes, and it is likely that they have also come across the term 'earthquake', with an increasing number being familiar with tsunamis. Additionally, some may have had the opportunity to visit mountainous regions, and a handful might have experienced skiing. By allowing the children to document what they already know in the 'Prior Knowledge' section of their Knowledge Organiser, teachers can assess the starting point of each student's understanding regarding the formation of mountains and the causes of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes.

The 'LINK IT!' section of the lesson plan encourages students to make connections between their existing knowledge and the new concepts they will learn. These connections can be drawn from within the subject of geography itself, from other academic subjects, or from the children's personal experiences. By engaging with what they already know and linking it to the new material, students can create a more cohesive and meaningful understanding of the natural phenomena being studied. This approach not only reinforces learning within the context of the current topic but also helps to integrate knowledge across different areas and apply it to real-world situations.