Extreme Environments

This fully resourced 11-lesson scheme of work explores some of the most fascinating and challenging environments on Earth. Designed for KS3 Geography but easily adaptable for KS4, the pack includes high-quality, ready-to-teach PowerPoints with activities, visuals, and assessments that build knowledge and skills progressively.

Lesson Breakdown

Introduction to Extreme Environments – What makes an environment “extreme”? Explore examples around the world.

Why Is It So Cold? – Investigating polar climates, temperature patterns, and the science behind extreme cold.

Glaciers – How glaciers form, move, and shape the landscape.

The Coldest Place on Earth – A case study on Antarctica and its unique challenges.

Hot Deserts – Characteristics, climate, and adaptations in some of the hottest places on Earth.

Desert Adaptations – How plants, animals, and people survive in desert climates.

Desertification – Understanding the causes and consequences of desertification.

Desertification Fact File – Guided research and consolidation task to apply learning.

Desertification Fill-in-the-Blanks Task – Literacy and retrieval practice for reinforcement.

Glacier Features Tasks – Activities and diagrams to explore glacial landforms.

The Sahara Desert – A detailed case study of the largest hot desert in the world.

Features of the Pack

Engaging starter and plenary tasks in every lesson.

Case studies (Antarctica, Sahara Desert) to bring topics to life.

Fully differentiated with scaffolds and extension tasks.

Variety of activities: retrieval practice, literacy support, diagram annotation, research, and exam-style questions.

Designed with assessment for learning (AfL) opportunities throughout.

Who Is It For?

Perfect for KS3 Geography classes (Years 7–9), with clear links to GCSE/IGCSE topics such as cold environments, hot deserts, and global climate systems.