1. What is a Settlement Hierarchy? Hierarchy is just fancy name Don’t be put off by fancy names Geographers love them, it brings identity to their subject

2. You’ve done feudalism in History? Of course you have, you remember: King on top then beastly Barons next the brave fighting Knights last and least, those poor old peasants What shape does that make?

3. Brilliant, of course it’s a triangle. But WHY is it a triangle? Here are two reasons, you probably have more: Most important at the top, least at the bottom The higher up the triangle, less of them there are

4. OK – now it’s time to make a settlement hierarchy Think of the different types of settlement you know TownVillageHamlet CityMegalopolisFarm And put them into a triangle with the largest at the top and smallest at bottom...

5. City Town Village Village Village Hamlet Hamlet Hamlet Hamlet Hamlet Farm Farm Farm Farm Farm Farm Farm Farm Farm So there you are – its as simple as that. But you can make yours more interesting by adding colour and pictures Then write a sentence underneath to explain what it is to an alien Don’t ever let anyone ever tell you that Geography is hard!

6. City Town Village Questions How many cities / larger towns / smaller towns / villages are there? Why are there no farms on the map? What pattern is starting to show? The Hierarchy in real life – on a map