KS1/KS2 Primary Geography: The United Kingdom

BBC Teach > Primary Resources > KS1/KS2 Geography > Primary Geography: This…

Explore the 4 countries of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and their capitals: London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

This video can not be played

Hello, I am the Earth.

Come and take a glance at one of my favourite places, the UK.

It consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This is England, the country of the United Kingdom.

Its capital city is London.

This is the Tower of London, where the crown jewels are located.

The north of England has many mountains and lakes, such as Windermere, the English lake.

Up here is Scotland. It has lots of lakes. They call them lochs.

The most notable is Loch Ness. Legend has it that this is where the Loch Ness monster resides.

The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh, with its castle.

The capital of Wales is Cardiff.

This is the Cardiff. Se station built to accommodate all the trains coming in and out of the city.

And this is Snowdon, Wales’s highest mountain.

Beautiful, if I do say so myself!

Across the Irish Sea is Northern Ireland.

Its capital is Belfast.

This is the Titanic Museum, which tells the story of the ship.

And it is the Giant’s Causeway.

Legend says that it was built thanks to a giant who was looking for a shortcut between Northern Ireland and Scotland, but in reality it was formed when lava from a volcano cooled and shaped those columns.

With so many amazing places, I bet you can see why the United Kingdom is so special to me.

This short film takes first school students on an adventure through the four countries that make up the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It identifies the capital cities – London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast – and also the flag and a key human and physical feature of each country.

Download/print a transcript of the video.

This short film explores the countries that make up the United Kingdom and identifies a key human and physical characteristic of each.

It also shares the flags of the countries that make up the United Kingdom.

How to use this film:

This film identifies human and physical traits in geography and some of them in the context of the United Kingdom.

This will help scholars understand that the United Kingdom is made up of four countries and those countries have their own human and physical characteristics.

Based on a map, the film will also allow scholars to perceive the shape of the country and how countries are compatible with each other.

Points for discussion:

Possible activities:

After watching the video, scholars can simply explore what human and physical characteristics are in geography and reflect on other human and physical characteristics that they are aware of.

Students can simply play a matching game to consolidate their learning about the countries of the United Kingdom and their flags.

Pupils could use a base map to develop their knowledge of coordinates, using directional vocabulary to specify location and transferring what they have learnt in the video to paper maps.

Students can simply use other types of maps to explore the UK and its geography and look for similarities and differences in the way the maps demonstrate geographical features.

Suitable for teaching geography in grades KS1 and KS2 in England and Wales, Beginning Grades and 1st and 2nd in Scotland and Foundation and KS1 in Northern Ireland.

Weather, climate and climate change. videoWeather, climate and climate change

Explore the relationship between weather and climate, climate zones around the world, and climate change.

Maps. videoMaps

Maps, cartography and navigation: map keys, symbols, compass issues and coordinates.

Cities, towns and villages. videoCities, towns and villages

Explore human settlements to identify the main geographical features of towns and cities, adding their similarities and differences.

Rivers. videoRivers

Exploring the journey of water to the sea, including source, stream, river, meander, river mouth and estuary.

The world. videoThe world

Explore part of the Earth: the continents, the oceans, the equator, the northern and southern hemispheres, and the north and south poles.

The world. videoThe world

Explore the part of the Earth: the continents, the oceans, the equator, the northern and southern hemispheres, and the north and south poles.

Earthquakes. videoEarthquakes

An animation for KS2 students on the movement of tectonic plates and measures to mitigate the effect of earthquakes.

The water cycle. videoThe water cycle

A short animation for KS2 students explaining the water cycle, adding evaporation, condensation and precipitation.

BBC Teach > Primary Resources > Geography KS1/KS2 >Primary Geography: Explain This…

© 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

Be the first to comment on "KS1/KS2 Primary Geography: The United Kingdom"

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*