Our European Neighbours

Use this ready prepared Europe KS2 scheme of work to take your Year 3 or Year 4 class on a trip across the English Channel to discover the continent of Europe! Not only will your class discover some fascinating facts about Europe, but they will also find out the names, locations and features of European countries and capitals.

With lesson plans, informative slides, differentiated worksheets, activities and much more, these Europe lesson plans for KS2 provide all you need to help your class become more familiar with our European neighbours!

A Knowledge Organiser is available to support the learning in this scheme. It is included in the Complete Series download or can be purchased individually.

Facts About Europe

Facts About Europe is the first lesson in 'Our European Neighbours' – a complete Geography scheme of work for Years 3/4. In it, your class will be challenged to identify the continent of Europe on a world map (along with the other six continents) before taking a closer look at Europe as a whole, including its size, population and smallest and largest countries. The included slides and differentiated activities are packed with fascinating facts about Europe, as well as engaging tasks where pupils can show what they have learned about the continent of Europe.

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Countries of Europe

In this Countries of Europe lesson, your class will discover how the continent of Europe is split into around fifty different countries. Through a variety of fun activities, your class will be able to name some European countries and identify where they are on the map. As with all of the other lessons in the 'Our European Neighbours' KS2 Geography scheme of work, this lesson includes a choice of differentiated learning activities, during either of which your pupils will learn – and – show what they have learned – about Europe and European countries.

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Features of European Countries

Learn not only about features such as the flags of European countries, but also a whole host of other key Geographic features such as the famous landmarks of major countries in Europe, their currencies and their languages. In this, the third lesson in Our European Neighbours – a complete KS2 Geography scheme of work – children will build on their broader knowledge about Europe by focusing on key features of specific countries. With your class, take a closer look at what makes the countries of Europe distinct and unique.

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Capital Cities of Europe

Building on your KS2 class's growing knowledge of features of European countries, this lesson plan pack focuses on the capital Cities of Europe. Challenge your class to identify and name major European capitals, then locate them on a map of Europe. They'll learn all about major capitals of Europe, from Paris to Prague and from Madrid to Moscow. There's even the option of doing a fun European capitals quiz!

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London vs Paris

In this London vs Paris Geography lesson, your Year 3/4 class will learn all about similarities and differences between these two great cities. How do the key features of London and Paris compare? During the teaching input, and either of the differentiated learning activities, your pupils will compare and contrast features of these two European capitals such as their size, population, language, currency and culture.

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A Country Study

This final 'end of unit' lesson (part of 'Our European Neighbours') allows your class to consolidate what they have found out about Europe and its countries as they choose one European country to explore in detail. After going through the differences between human and physical geography and what each includes, your class will then put their research skills to the test as they find out as much as they can about their chosen European country – key facts and features, its culture, places and people.

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This Year 3/4 Geography Knowledge Organiser has been created to complement our Locational Knowledge strand. It is designed to support your children’s understanding of key vocabulary linked to this scheme of work. Key questions and relevant geographical skills have been identified to encourage children to apply their knowledge around this topic.