Geographical Features Teaching Resources
Teach about geographical features in your HASS classes with printable worksheets, interactive activities, instructional slide decks and more Australian curriculum-aligned and teacher-created resources.
This teaching resource collection includes editable options so you can easily make the edits you need to fit your lesson planning needs. You'll also find resources that have already been differentiated for your students.
Best of all? Each printable and digital resource has been reviewed by the teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure it's classroom-ready, so you can download and begin using it in the classroom right away.
New to teaching about the planet's different geographical features, or looking for some fresh ideas to explore mountains, lakes and more? The teachers of Teach Starter have put together this handy primer.
What Is a Geographic Feature? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Are you trying to explain geographical features to your students? Here's a simple definition for kids:
A geographical feature is a natural or human-made characteristic of the Earth's surface.
What Are Examples of Geographic Features?
OK, so that's what it is. But what, exactly are we talking about? Let's look at some examples of major geographic features to make the concept of features of geography more concrete for your students!
Examples of Natural Geographic Features for Kids
The physical and environmental characteristics of the Earth's surface that are created by natural processes — such as plate tectonics, erosion, weathering, and volcanic activity — are natural geographical features.
They're important because they shape our entire environment, determining everything from the distribution of plant and animal species to influencing climate patterns, and they provide natural resources for human societies. They also tend to become landmarks and tourist attractions.
Examples of major physical features of our Earth include:
- Mountains (e.g., the Rocky Mountains, the Andes, the Himalayas)
- Rivers (e.g., the Amazon River, the Nile, the Finke River)
- Lakes (e.g., Lake Albina, Lake Victoria, Avoca Lake)
- Oceans (e.g., the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean)
- Deserts (e.g., the Sahara, the Mojave Desert, the Gobi Desert)
- Islands (e.g., Heard Island, Madagascar, the Galapagos Islands)
- Plains (e.g., Bogong High Plains,Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains)
- Valleys (e.g., Hunter Valley, Clare Valley, Jamison Valley)
- Volcanoes (e.g., Mount Fuji, Mount Vesuvius, Mount Schank)
- Caves (e.g., Jenolan Caves, Careys Cave, Wellington Caves)
Examples of Human-Made Geographical Features for Kids
The other major type of feature of geography is the human-made kind. These physical and environmental characteristics of the Earth's surface are created or modified by human activities. These features are usually built to serve a specific purpose, such as transportation or communication.
These features also have cultural and historical significance, and they can be tourist attractions.
Examples of this type of feature include:
- Cities (e.g., Brisbane, Tokyo, Mumbai)
- Roads (e.g., the Great Ocean Road, the Trans-Amazonian Highway)
- Bridges (e.g., the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Tower Bridge)
- Canals (e.g., the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, the Alexandra Canal)
- Dams (e.g., the Bendora Dam, the Three Gorges Dam, the Aswan High Dam)
- Airports (e.g., Alice Springs Airport, Heathrow Airport, Changi Airport)
- Railroads (e.g., the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Orient Express, the Eurostar)
- Harbours (e.g., Sydney Harbour, the Port of Shanghai, the Port of Singapore)
- Parks (e.g., Purnululu National Park, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Tomaree National Park)
- Plus Plan
Reading Fluency – The Great Barrier Reef (Year 6)
A Year 6 reading fluency assessment.
- Free Plan
Diagram of a Volcano - Labelling Worksheet
Label the volcano diagram with a printable worksheet.
- Free Plan
Desert Word Wall Vocabulary
Spark discussion and build academic vocabulary with a desert related vocabulary word wall.
- Plus Plan
Ocean Food Chain - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Create an ocean food chain to show how energy flows between organisms with this cut-and-paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
The Continent of Asia - Teaching Presentation
Familiarise your students with the physical and human geography of Asia with this comprehensive teaching presentation.
- Plus Plan
The New Seven Wonders of the World — Mini-Book
Teach about the new Seven Wonders of the World with this informative mini-book for year 5 and year 6 students.
- Free Plan
The Continent of Europe - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of Europe with this informative printable mini-book.
- Plus Plan
The Continent of Africa - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of Africa with this informative printable mini-book.
- Plus Plan
The Continent of South America - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of South America with this informative printable mini-book.
- Plus Plan
The Continent of Australia - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of Australia with this informative printable mini-book.
- Plus Plan
The Continent of Asia - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of Asia with this informative printable mini-book.
- Plus Plan
The Continent of Antarctica - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of Antarctica with this informative printable mini-book.
- Plus Plan
The Continent of North America - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of North America with this informative printable mini-book.
- Free Plan
Natural Disasters - Illustrated Vocabulary Display
Reinforce science vocabulary in your classroom with this set of illustrated and annotated natural disaster word wall cards.
- Free Plan
Map of the World's Climate Zones
Display this climate zone map in your classroom while teaching about the 6 climate types.
- Plus Plan
Climate Zones of the World – Poster Pack
Learn about different climate types with this set of 6 printable posters.
- Plus Plan
The World's Oceans - Compare and Contrast Activity
Compare and contrast the world’s five oceans with this set of information cards and Venn diagram template.
- Plus Plan
Natural, Managed, and Human-Made Features Posters
Identify the natural, manmade, and managed features of environments with printable anchor charts.
- Plus Plan
The World's Oceans - Comprehension Worksheet
Explore the world’s five oceans with this detailed comprehension passage and related questions.
- Free Plan
National Tree Day Activity Pack
Celebrating National Tree Day with a pack of exciting activities!
- Plus Plan
The World's Five Oceans - Teaching Presentation
Explore the world’s five oceans with this comprehensive teaching presentation.
- Free Plan
Great Barrier Reef Comprehension and Note Taking Worksheet
Learn about The Great Barrier Reef with a reading comprehension and note-taking activity.
- Plus Plan
Oceans of the World - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Explore some key facts about the world’s five oceans with this cut-and-paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Changes to the Environment – Worksheet
Learn about environmental changes and how they affect living things with this worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Amazon Rainforest Facts - Reading Passage
Read and learn about conservation with a reading passage and comprehension worksheet on the Amazon Rainforest.
- Plus Plan
Built Environments Page Borders
8 built environments themed page borders.
- Plus Plan
Natural and Built Environments - Display Elements
Build a Natural vs. Manmade Environment bulletin board with a set of decorative elements.
- Plus Plan
Our Natural and Built Environments - Poster Pack
Poster with definitions and examples of natural and built environments.
- Plus Plan
Continents and Oceans - Exit Tickets
Determine your students' mastery of Geography concepts with a set of twenty continents and oceans exit tickets.
- Plus Plan
Continents and Oceans - Cover It! Game
Locate the continents and oceans of the world on a map with this engaging, hands-on Geography game.
- Plus Plan
Continents and Oceans - SCOOT! Task Cards
Learn to locate and identify the continents and oceans on Earth with a game of SCOOT!
- Plus Plan
Continents and Oceans - Roll and Colour Game
Learn to identify the continents and oceans of the world with an engaging partner game.
- Geographical Features Worksheets
- Geographical Features Posters
- Geographical Features Teaching Presentations
- Geographical Features Labels, Signs & Decorations
- Geographical Features for Foundation Year
- Geographical Features for Year 1
- Geographical Features for Year 2
- Geographical Features for Year 3
- Geographical Features for Year 4
- Geographical Features for Year 5
- Geographical Features for Year 6
- Geographical Features for Year 7