Learning how to interpret Scotland’s landscapes enables the pupils to analyse their environment - to understand how it is organised, and the natural processes and human activities that have shaped it.

Very simply, a landscape is "an area of space which we look at".

Landscapes are places where people live, work, travel around and find essential resources such as water and soil in which to grow crops. Different landscapes can be described as 'urban', 'rural', 'agricultural' and so on.

The diversity of landscape character within the relatively small land area of Scotland reflects the underlying diversity of its rocks and structures, the active surface processes, its maritime position on the edge of the continental mass, and the effect of human activity.

The changing weather and tidal conditions of the North Atlantic seaboard provide variation in air, water and light qualities which contribute to the character and beauty of Scottish landscapes.

Useful downloads and resources

SNH has recently completed a study developing a series of Landscape Character Assessment reports for Scotland. SNH’s publications section.

BBC Scotland Education On line

Landscapes (7-9 years)

Find out about the landscapes of the Highlands and Islands, Central Lowlands, and Southern Uplands of Scotland. Learn geographical terms and map skills with your friendly guide, Goggs. Choose the area you live in and get to grips with compass skills, grid references, symbols and keys, and scale.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/sysm/landscapes/

BBC Education Scotland – teachers notes 14+

Physical Environments River Landscapes programme notes.

Programme One looks at how the river processes of erosion,transportation and deposition have shaped the river landscapes of the River Devon in Clackmannanshire and the River Cuckmere in East Sussex. Programme Two focuses on the hydrological cycle within the river basins of the River Devon and the River Cuckmere. Click here to view PDF

BBC Education Scotland – teachers notes 14+

Physical Environments Coastal Landscapes programme notes.

The Case Study area is the North East coast of Scotland, one of the named areas pupils require for Intermediate assessments. Programme 2 covers the same case study area, but is useful for the Physical Environments Unit, Point 3 at Intermediate, and the Environmental Interactions Unit, Points 3, 4, and 5 at Higher. Opportunities, problems, conflict, solutions and their effectiveness are all covered through the four locations studied. Click here to view PDF

BBC Education Scotland (9-14 years)

Rivers and Coasts

What happens when rivers meet the coast? Discover what makes the water cycle go round in this virtual field trip. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/

Drawing Attractions resource pack – a comprehensive store of ideas, reports, explanations and strategies for using drawing as a means of engaging people with heritage and can be used by educators in a wide range of environments and cultural settings. A pack may be available from your local heritage setting. See Drawing Power www.drawingpower.org.uk and its education programme section. 

Our changing landscape - explore the seasons, phenolgy, and climate change. See The Woodland Trust Nature Detectives site http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/

National Trust for Scotland education website http://www.ntseducation.org.uk/

SNH Education and Teachers Resources: Education Advances Poster Series

An innovative series of A2 posters which brings teachers up to date with the latest advances in a range of natural heritage research areas in Scotland. Free teachers notes are available on request to accompany most of the posters. Standard/Higher Grade.