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)
- 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
Amazon Rainforest Facts - Reading Passage
Read and learn about conservation with a reading passage and comprehension worksheet on the Amazon Rainforest.
- Free Plan
Labelling the Continents and Oceans Worksheets
Turn Geography into a fun and educational learning experience with our cut-and-paste worksheets!
- 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.
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Famous Landmarks - STEM Challenge Cards
A set of 8 famous landmarks STEM challenge cards encouraging students to build famous structures.
- Free Plan
Natural Resources Word Search
Review the different natural resources with a word search.
- Plus Plan
10 Fascinating Facts About Beaches – Comprehension Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a magazine article about beaches.
- Free Plan
Continents and Oceans Bingo
Turn Geography into a fun and educational learning experience by using our Continents and Oceans Bingo Game!
- Free Plan
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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Reading Fluency – The Great Barrier Reef (Year 6)
A Year 6 reading fluency assessment.
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Time Zones World Map
A poster to display in the classroom to show the different time zones of the world.
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The World's Oceans - Comprehension Worksheet
Explore the world’s five oceans with this detailed comprehension passage and related questions.
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Rivers of Australia - Teaching Presentation
Explore Australia's complex system of rivers with this 14-slide editable teaching presentation.
- Free Plan
World Continents Brochure - Template
Replace your continents worksheets with a printable continents brochure project.
- Free Plan
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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Human Features of Australia PowerPoint
A 22 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when studying the human features of Australia.
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What Makes Australia Unique Posters
A set of 6 educational posters highlighting some of the things that make Australia unique
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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.
- Free Plan
Map of the World's Climate Zones
Display this climate zone map in your classroom while teaching about the 6 climate types.
- Free Plan
Natural, Managed or Constructed? - Worksheet
A worksheet that explores natural, managed and constructed features.
- Plus Plan
The Continent of Africa PowerPoint
A 20 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to the geographical features of Africa.
- Plus Plan
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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Natural, Managed, and Human-Made Features Posters
Identify the natural, manmade, and managed features of environments with printable anchor charts.
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Natural, Managed, and Constructed Environments PowerPoint
A 17-slide teaching presentation to use when exploring some of the features of environments.
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Animals of the Amazon Rainforest Cut Out Decorations
A set of Amazon rainforest themed cut out decorations.
- Plus Plan
Australian Bush Background
A background for an Australian bush scene.
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Comprehension - The Great Wall of China
A comprehension activity about The Great Wall of China.
- Plus Plan
Australian Landform Map
A map of Australia showing the major landforms.
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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.
- Plus Plan
The Natural Environment of Africa PowerPoint
A 17 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to the climate, vegetation and animals of Africa.
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Natural Landmarks of Australia - Poster Pack
10 beautifully designed posters about some of Australia's most famous natural landscapes.
- Plus Plan
Terrestrial Ecosystem Posters
Six educational posters describing types of Terrestrial Ecosystems.
- Geographical Features Worksheets
- Geographical Features Posters
- Geographical Features Teaching Presentations
- Geographical Features Labels, Signs & Decorations
- Geographical Features Word Walls
- 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