This term in Geography, Year 2 have had so much fun learning all about food and farming in the UK! We have explored where our food comes from, how it is grown and why different regions of the UK are suited to different types of farming.
This week, we focused on seasons and weather patterns. We looked at data to find out when different fruits and vegetables are in season and discussed why the weather and climate affect what farmers can grow. We also used atlases to locate countries around the world and discovered that while the UK produces many foods, we also import foods such as coconuts from Indonesia and rice and watermelons from China because they need a warmer climate to grow.
Did you know that Highland cattle have long, shaggy hair to keep them warm in the cold Scottish Highlands? They graze on grasses, flowers and leaves growing on mountain slopes, helping them stay healthy and produce very lean beef.
Later in the week, we became map experts! We created our own maps of the UK, using the compass directions to identify regions such as the North West, South East, East of England and Scotland. We then colour-coded the different farming regions to show where you are most likely to find cattle and sheep, dairy cows, grains, potatoes and sugar beet, and wheat, barley and vegetables. We learned that the North West of England, Wales and Scotland are ideal for cattle and sheep farming because of their hills, moors and cooler climate, while the East of England has flat, fertile land that is perfect for growing wheat, barley and vegetables.
We have loved becoming geographers this term and are so proud of everything we have learned about the journey our food takes from farm to fork!
