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)
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Great Barrier Reef Comprehension and Note Taking Worksheet
Learn about The Great Barrier Reef with a reading comprehension and note-taking activity.
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Labelling the Continents and Oceans Worksheets
Turn Geography into a fun and educational learning experience with our cut-and-paste worksheets!
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World Map with Countries - Black and White
Teach your students about the continents and countries of the world with this black-and-white world map.
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The Natural Environment of Australia PowerPoint
A 23 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to the climate, vegetation and animals of Australia.
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The Continent of Asia - Teaching Presentation
Familiarise your students with the physical and human geography of Asia with this comprehensive teaching presentation.
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Natural, Managed, and Constructed Environments PowerPoint
Use this Natural, Managed, and Constructed Environments PowerPoint to teach your students about the environment and how people interact with it.
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Earthquake - Tectonic Plates Worksheet and Poster
Introduce students to plate tectonics with a labelled diagram and Tectonic Plates Worksheet worksheet set featuring different types of volcanoes, layers of earth and landforms.
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Australian Landform Map
A map of Australia showing the major landforms.
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Famous Landmarks - STEM Challenge Cards
A set of 8 famous landmarks STEM challenge cards encouraging students to build famous structures.
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Natural vs. Man-Made Features - Sorting Activity
A sorting activity to help students identify the natural and human features of environments.
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World Landmarks Fact File Pack
Explore world landmarks through engaging fact files and cross‑curriculum activities that build students’ comprehension skills and global awareness.
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Free Volcano Worksheets
Download a set of free volcano worksheets to introduce your students to vocabulary and concepts related to volcanoes and volcanic disasters.
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Diagram of a Volcano - Labelling Worksheet
Label the volcano diagram with a printable worksheet.
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Map of the World's Climate Zones
Display this climate zone map in your classroom while teaching about the 6 climate types.
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Changes to the Environment – Worksheet
Learn about environmental changes and how they affect living things with this worksheet.
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World Mapping Features – Teaching Presentation
Explore the key map features of world maps with this 18-slide PowerPoint presentation.
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The Continent of Australia PowerPoint
A 20 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to the geographical features of Australia.
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Geographic Landforms Features Poster and Worksheet
Add this poster of different types of geographic features of Earth to your classroom walls to provide a visual reference for students.
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The Continent of Europe - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of Europe with this informative printable mini-book.
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The Continent of Antarctica - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of Antarctica with this informative printable mini-book.
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Our Natural and Built Environments - Poster Pack
Poster with definitions and examples of natural and built environments.
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The World's Continents and Oceans – Teaching Presentation
Explore the seven continents and five oceans of the world with this comprehensive teaching presentation.
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Continents and Oceans Worksheet
A worksheet to practise identifying the 7 continents and 5 oceans.
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The Natural Environment of South America PowerPoint
A 17 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to the climate, vegetation and animals of South America.
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Map of the World's Vegetation Zones
Locate and explore the different biomes of the world with this engaging classroom poster.
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States and Territories of Australia Posters
8 beautifully illustrated posters outlining key information about Australia's states and territories.
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Natural and Built Environments - Information Sheets
A set of information sheets for selected natural and built environments.
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Australian Climate Regions Poster and Worksheet
A poster and a worksheet outlining the climate regions in Australia.
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Natural, Managed or Constructed Features Worksheet Pack
Explore environmental features with a cut and paste Natural, Managed or Constructed Features Worksheet Pack.
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The Ring of Fire Poster and Worksheet Pack
Learn all about earthquakes and volcanoes with a printable Ring of Fire Worksheet and Poster Pack.
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Develop a Habitat - Garden Project
A project-based assessment task for students to demonstrate their understanding of how habitats can be preserved and protected in and around where people live.
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Tropical Rainforest PowerPoint
An 11 slide editable PowerPoint to use in the classroom when learning about tropical rainforests.
- Geographical Features Worksheets
- Geographical Features Posters
- Geographical Features Teaching Presentations
- 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