Hot and cold places: what children learn
Some places in the world are very hot and some are very cold. Animals and plants there are suited to the weather.
Each card shows an animal or landscape. Children sort it into Hot place or Cold place.
This topic links to an early learning goal in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework for England (The Natural World). Children at the expected level of development will: “Know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class”. Reception children are usually aged 4–5.
How to play
Sort the cards into the right groups. Tap a card, then its group. You can also drag a card, or press the number on its group. Each game has 3 rounds with no timer. Every card is checked as soon as you place it: a card in the wrong group comes back with a hint, and you get a point for each card you place right first time. For a quicker go, choose Quick quiz: 8 multiple-choice questions in 240 seconds (choose Relaxed for more time).
Step by step
- Play together. Sit with your child and read the words on screen aloud. Let them do the tapping and dragging.
- Look at the picture. Name the animal or place.
- Think about the weather. Ask if you would need sun cream or a warm coat.
- Sort it. Drop it in the right group.
Worked examples
Example 1: 🐪 Camels in the desert
Working: Deserts are hot and dry.
Answer: Hot place
Example 2: 🐧 Penguins on the ice
Working: Penguins live where it is icy.
Answer: Cold place
Example 3: 🌵 Cactus plants
Working: Cactus plants grow in hot, dry places.
Answer: Hot place
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Thinking all of a country is hot Some countries have hot and cold parts.
- Thinking snow is only in cold places High mountains in hot countries can have snow.
- Mixing up polar bears and brown bears Polar bears live in very cold places.
Activities to try at home
- Look at a globe and find the hot and cold parts.
- Read a picture book about polar animals or deserts.
- Dress teddies for a hot or cold trip.
Ideas for the classroom
- Make a hot and cold small-world tray.
- Compare photos of the class's area with a desert and the Arctic.
- Sort clothes for different places.
Free printable game and worksheet
The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a colour-by-answer picture, an answer maze or a secret-code joke, followed by a worksheet. Both use the same checked questions as the online game, and the answers are on the last page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print menu.
Open the free printable game and worksheet
Frequently asked questions
Where are the cold places?
Near the North and South Poles and high mountains.
Where are the hot places?
Deserts and places near the equator.
Is there a timer?
Not in the main game: children sort at their own pace. The separate Quick quiz is optional and has a long, gentle timer; skip it with younger or less confident children.