Look at the map of Ireland’s counties and provinces on the board.

Find our county and the province it sits in.

Our question for today is how do we name and locate places on maps of Ireland and Europe, and say where famous landmarks belong?

A geographer holds a map in their head as well as on paper. The skill is finding a place and saying where it sits next to other places.

Ireland has four provinces. Their names are Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht. Each province is made of counties. There are thirty-two counties on the island of Ireland. Every school sits in one county, and that county sits inside one province.

When the map shows a wider view, we meet Europe. Europe is one of the world’s largest blocks of land. These large blocks of land are called continents. Around Europe lie seas, and beyond them a wide stretch of salt water called an ocean. Rivers run to the sea. Mountains rise in ranges. Cities sit where people have built them.

Some places are known far beyond their own country because of a famous feature. A cliff, a tower, a wall, a statue: these are landmarks. If you can name the country and the continent a landmark belongs to, you can read that place on the world map.

This map shows the shape of Ireland’s land, but it names nothing. Pins mark rivers, lakes, mountains and cities.

1. Look at the pin shown on the board. Say what you think it is, and why.
2. When it is your turn at the board, tap the pin with the question mark so the name opens.
3. Move on round the island and name each one before it is revealed.

Now the map steps out to Europe. Countries, capitals and seas are named on it.

1. When a country, sea or ocean is called, come to the board if it is your turn. Tap Pin, tap the place, and type its name.
2. Look at the landmark source cards. For each card, say which country it belongs to and which continent that country is on. Use only what you can see and what you already know.