What kind of place is this? – Topic Resource

Investigating and comparing the characteristics of different places & situations and developing descriptive language.


When ordered a link will be sent to the email address you’ve provided, which gives you unlimited access to the resource on our Digital Platform.

£25.00 + VAT (20%)

Target Group: PS1 Teachers, PS2 Teachers
Relevance: Geography / Maths / DC What Matters 1, 2, 3, 4 PS1, PS2
‘What kind of place is this?’ is not so much a discrete topic as an umbrella under which a series of smaller-scale investigations can shelter. ‘What kind of place is this?’ is a question which can be asked many times over during the early years phase and can relate to places large and small, simple or complex, nearby or far away. Ultimately, the aim of such enquiries is to help learners to develop the language and vocabulary to describe with developing accuracy and detail the following:
  • what the essential features of places are and what children feel about them
  • where they are located, both in absolute terms and in relation to other known places or features
  • if, how and why they change over time (through the day, with the seasons, with the weather, etc.)
Most of the language and vocabulary developed answering the question 'What kind of place is this?' will be ordinary, everyday descriptive language, which makes such enquiries essential to the overall development of learners’ oracy and literacy, as well as helping to reinforce issues in Maths and DC.
Teaching/Learning Resources from Don Trueman Educational These are custom-designed to support enquiry-based learning, which is rich in challenge, engagement and cross-curricular skills. Furthermore, they demonstrate how well-planned topics can link not only across Humanities but also with disciplines and issues from other AoLEs. All the T & L resources published by Don Trueman Educational feature: planning, with guidance notes for teachers; support for learner self-evaluation; detailed notes on how T & L activities naturally link with and support the 4 Purposes, Descriptions of Learning, cross-curricular skills and disciplinary skills. Where relevant, custom-made planning & teaching resources are also provided. These initial 6 resources  are the first in a long list of T & L packages planned for publication over the next 12 months, which will cover mainly History, Geography & Social Studies, with links to other AoLEs, such as Science & Technology and Health & Well-Being.

Course Presenter: Don Trueman

HISTORY and GEOGRAPHY - Don Trueman supports primary school planning for skills development in History. In more recent years he’s offered support for Geography at primary level and also runs his own consultancy, offering training, teaching sessions and planning / teaching / learning resources. Don Trueman was previously an LEA adviser. Search for courses

Course Location: Collective Learning Digital Platform

Online Resources

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Our ONLINE resources can be accessed whenever and wherever it best suits your staff and setting. Once purchased you may view, play or print them any number of times. When ordered a link will be sent to the email address you’ve provided, which gives you unlimited access to our Digital Platform.