Mountains are breathtaking and dramatic natural features, which form due to the action of tectonic plates over millions of years. They rise up higher than the land around them, and are often found as part of a mountain range.
The very highest point of a mountain is known as the summit, or the peak. Mountains are popular places to visit and take part in leisure activities, such as climbing or skiing, but they can also be very dangerous.
Teach your children about mountains using our handy topic guide!
Teaching Ideas
- Why not have a mountain themed day? December 11th is International Mountains Day, but these ideas could be used at any time!
- Challenge your children to label the Seven Summits (the highest mountain on each of the seven continents) on this sheet.
- This amazing scheme of work contains 6 weeks of lessons covering Mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, with all the resources you need.
- Compare the weather in different mountain locations around the world.
- Create a table comparing the heights of different mountains around the world.
- Research animal species that live on mountains. This WWF page is a good place to start.
- Make your own mountain painting in the style of Paul Gauguin.
- Try this simple art idea, making a mountain landscape from torn paper.
- Make a leaflet promoting a mountainous area as a site for tourism. What activities could people do there?
Resources
- Download our our Mountains Pack for lots of resources and ideas.
- These stunning images of mountains are perfect for prompting discussion and research.
- The BBC Bitesize Mountains page is a useful introduction to the topic.
- Explore the highest mountains in England on this interactive map.
Mountains Facts
- There is no globally agreed height at which a land form becomes a mountain.
- Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on land, but Mauna Kea in Hawaii is taller if measured from its base at the bottom of the ocean.
- Japanese mountaineer, Junko Tabei, was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and the first woman to climb the highest peak on every continent (known as the Seven Summits).
- The Appalachian Mountains in America, Little Atlas Mountains of Morocco and the Scottish Highlands are all part of the same ancient mountain range, the Central Pangean Mountains formation.
- About 12% of the world’s human population live in mountain areas.
Videos
Mountains, Volcanoes and Earthquakes
This video gives a thorough overview of plate tectonics.
Running time: 11:20
Make Your Own Mountains
A simple way to demonstrate how mountains are formed.
Running time: 3:31
What is a Mountain?
This video introduces the different types of mountain and how they are formed.
Running time: 1:54
Trek the mountains of Khumbu
This amazing video is a virtual visit to the people and mountains of Nepal.
Running time: 1:48
Mountains and Electricity
This programme for younger viewers includes a visit to a power station inside a mountain.
Running time: 9:44
Books
King of the Cloud Forests
A thrilling adventure set in the Himalayas, for older primary children.
Manjhi Moves a Mountain
The true story of how one man cut a path through a mountain.
Fire on the Mountain
A traditional tale from Ethiopia.
When the Mountains Roared
Set in the mountains of India, this is the story of Ruby and how she protects the endangered leopards.
Mountains of the World
This beautiful book is full of facts about mountains.
I Wonder Why Mountains Have Snow on Top
Find the answers to your mountain questions in this book.
Links
- This site is perfect for researching your mountains topic.
- Explore this guide to Sir Edmund Hillary’s ascent of Everest.
- This fun quiz will help you to learn the names of the world’s major mountain ranges.
- Learn about the Himalayas on this site.
- Explore the world’s most dramatic mountains in Google Earth.
Are you teaching your children about other topics? Explore our full collection of guides!
