Different Parts of the World
A 40-minute Kindergarten lesson on how different parts of the world look and feel different.
Different Parts of the World is a free 40-minute Kindergarten to Grade 2 social studies lesson plan for Common Core standard D2.Geo.10.K-2 — describe how different parts of the world change. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Kindergarten to Grade 2
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- D2.Geo.10.K-2
Kindergarten to Grade 2 · Geography
D2.Geo.10.K-2
Describe changes in the physical and cultural characteristics of various world regions.
Objective
Students will be able to describe two world regions and say how they differ.
Students are successful when they can
- Describes a region in two words.
- Names a difference between two regions.
- Finds one on the globe.
What you need
- A globe
- Pictures of a desert, a rainforest, an icy region, a grassland
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — hot, cold, wet, dry
5 min- Show four pictures. Put each under one of the four words.
- Two will need two words.
Teach — the same world, very different places
13 min- Find each region on the globe as you describe it.
- Describe the desert in two words, then the rainforest.
- Ask what a person would need in each.
- Say that all four are on the same planet.
- Ask why they differ — mostly heat and rain, at this level.
“Same world, and you would need completely different clothes.”
Guided practice — match and compare
12 min- Pairs match four regions to descriptions.
- They name one difference between two of them.
- They find one on the globe.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the world-regions page.
- Read each region aloud.
Close
2 min- Name a region. Take two words that describe it.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Thinks a region is a country.
Why: Both are areas on a map.
Fix: Point out a desert crossing several countries. A region is about what the land is like.
Thinks far-away regions are imaginary.
Why: They have never seen one.
Fix: Find each on the globe and name a real place in it.
Describes a region only by its animals.
Why: Animals are the memorable part.
Fix: Ask about the ground and the weather. Animals live there because of those.
If they are not there yet
- Two regions rather than four.
- Give the description and match the picture.
If they finish early
- Name a region not on the cards.
- Say what our region would look like to a visitor.
- Say why deserts and rainforests are both near the equator.
Exit ticket
Describe a desert in two words. How is it different from a rainforest?
What to look for: Dry and hot, and a rain-based difference. An animal-only answer means the ground-and-weather prompt needs repeating.
Printable practice for D2.Geo.10.K-2
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Parts of the WorldDraw a line from each place to what it is like.
Questions about Different Parts of the World
How long does the Different Parts of the World lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Different Parts of the World teach?
D2.Geo.10.K-2 — D2.Geo.10.K-2, Geography for Kindergarten to Grade 2: “Describe changes in the physical and cultural characteristics of various world regions.” In plain terms, describe how different parts of the world change.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
A globe, pictures of a desert, a rainforest, an icy region, a grassland and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: thinks a region is a country; thinks far-away regions are imaginary and describes a region only by its animals. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Describe a desert in two words. How is it different from a rainforest?.” Dry and hot, and a rain-based difference. An animal-only answer means the ground-and-weather prompt needs repeating. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Different Parts of the World?
Yes — 1 printable D2.Geo.10.K-2 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Different Parts of the World free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to D2.Geo.10.K-2 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.