Islands — Geography, 4–6 years
An island is land with water all around it. Islands can be tiny or huge, and they can have beaches, hills, towns, farms and many other features.
What makes an island?
An island is land surrounded by water on every side. The water may be the sea, a lake or a river. An island can hold one tree, a whole town or many different landscapes; its size does not change the main idea.
Why does being an island matter?
Knowing that a place is an island helps us think about how people, animals and things get there. They may use a bridge, a boat or an aeroplane, depending on the island. Water all around can make a journey different from one on land.
Is this an island?
Imagine a patch of land in the middle of a lake. Look at its four sides: water is north, south, east and west. Because water surrounds the land on every side, it is an island. A peninsula would have water on most sides but land joining it to the shore.
An island is not always small
Many pictures show islands as little sandy spots, so it is natural to think an island must be tiny. The important clue is the water all around, not the size. Great Britain, for example, is a large island with cities, roads, farms and mountains.
Where do islands matter?
This idea helps when reading a holiday leaflet, looking at a globe or talking about a place such as Madeira. It explains why a trip may include a ferry or flight. It also helps us notice that an island can be both a home and a place people visit.
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