Geography · Colouring and labelling worksheet
Types of Settlement Worksheet (Free KS2 Geography Printable)
This free printable worksheet helps children in Years 3 and 4 understand the four main types of settlement studied in KS2 geography: the hamlet, the village, the town and the city. Children order the settlements from smallest to largest and match each one to a short description, building the geographical vocabulary they will use throughout the human geography curriculum.
The single line illustration shows the four settlements growing in size across the page, so children can colour them in and see at a glance how a place grows from a few homes into a busy city. The whole sheet is designed to print neatly onto one A4 page, ready for the classroom or the kitchen table.
Types of Settlement
Free Geography worksheet · Ages 7 to 9
Activity 1
Colour the four settlements in the picture. They grow bigger from left to right: the smallest is on the left and the biggest is on the right.
- Colour the roofs of the lone farmhouse (the hamlet) on the left.
- Colour the church in the village green.
- Colour the row of shops in the town.
- Colour the tall buildings of the city on the right.
Activity 2
Look at the four settlements in the picture, then write the correct word from the word bank next to each description. Start with the smallest. Use each word once.
Just a few houses, often a farm, with no shops or church. This is the smallest settlement.
A cluster of homes with a church and maybe a small shop or primary school.
A larger place with many houses, several shops and services that people travel to use.
The largest settlement, with tall buildings, many thousands of people and often a cathedral.
Types of Settlementowee.worldAnswer key
- Just a few houses, often a farm, with no shops or church. This is the smallest settlement. — hamlet
- A cluster of homes with a church and maybe a small shop or primary school. — village
- A larger place with many houses, several shops and services that people travel to use. — town
- The largest settlement, with tall buildings, many thousands of people and often a cathedral. — city
What are the four main types of settlement?
A settlement is simply a place where people live, and in KS2 geography children learn to sort settlements by how many people live there and how much they grow. A hamlet is the smallest, usually just a handful of houses, often a farm or two, with no shops or church. A village is bigger, with a cluster of homes and a few key buildings such as a church, a small shop or a primary school. A town is larger again, with rows of houses, several shops, schools and services that people from nearby settlements travel to use. A city is the largest, a big built-up place with tall buildings, many thousands of people, and (in the UK, traditionally) often a cathedral. Ordering them from smallest to largest, hamlet, village, town, city, gives children a clear and memorable framework.
How this worksheet supports the KS2 curriculum
The National Curriculum asks Key Stage 2 children to describe and understand key aspects of human geography, including types of settlement and land use. This worksheet focuses on the first half of that objective: recognising and naming the main types of settlement and understanding how they differ in size and in the services they offer. The matching activity, supported by a word bank, encourages children to read each description carefully and pair it with the correct term, which reinforces the precise geographical vocabulary they will need when they go on to study land use, urban and rural areas, and how settlements change over time.
Ideas for using the sheet at home or in class
Before children begin, it can help to talk about the place where you live. Is it a hamlet, a village, a town or a city, and how do you know? Encourage children to think about clues such as the number of shops, whether there is a church or cathedral, and how busy the roads are. After completing the worksheet, you could extend the learning by looking at a local map together, finding examples of each settlement type, or sorting familiar place names into the four groups. Colouring the illustration first is a calm way in for younger or less confident children, giving them time to look closely at how each settlement looks different.
Common misconceptions to watch for
Children sometimes assume that a city must simply be "a really big town", or that any large group of houses is a town. It is worth explaining that the difference is about size, population and the range of services, rather than a single feature. In the UK, city status is actually granted by the monarch and is not only about population, so the very largest places are not always officially cities. For this age group, focusing on the broad pattern, more people and more services as you move from hamlet to city, is the most useful idea, and the formal rules can be introduced later. Also remind children that a village can still have a church even though it is smaller than a town.
Frequently asked questions
What are the four types of settlement for KS2?
The four types of settlement usually taught in KS2 are the hamlet, the village, the town and the city. They are ordered from smallest to largest, with a hamlet being just a few houses and a city being a large built-up place with many thousands of people and a wide range of services.
What is the difference between a hamlet, a village, a town and a city?
A hamlet is the smallest, often just a handful of homes with no shops or church. A village is bigger and usually has a church and perhaps a shop or school. A town is larger again with many houses and several shops and services. A city is the largest, with tall buildings, many thousands of residents and, traditionally in the UK, a cathedral.
What age group is this settlement worksheet for?
This worksheet is designed for children aged 7 to 9, which covers Years 3 and 4 in Key Stage 2. The vocabulary and matching task suit this age range, though confident Year 2 children or those needing extra practice in Year 5 may also find it useful.
Is this types of settlement worksheet free to print?
Yes. The worksheet is completely free to download and print. It is laid out to fit neatly on a single A4 page, so it is easy to use at home or photocopy for a whole class.
How can I help my child understand settlement types?
Start by discussing where you live and what makes it a hamlet, village, town or city. Look for clues such as the number of shops, the presence of a church or cathedral, and how busy it is. Looking at a local map together and sorting familiar place names into the four groups is a helpful follow-up activity.
Curriculum links
- KS2 Geography, Human and physical geography: describe and understand key aspects of human geography, including types of settlement and land use.
- KS2 Geography, Geographical skills and fieldwork: use geographical vocabulary to refer to key human features, including settlement.
- KS2 Geography: develop knowledge about diverse places, people and human environments, including the contrasts between rural and urban areas.
- KS2 Geography, Geographical skills and fieldwork: use maps, atlases and digital mapping to locate and describe features studied (extension activity).
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
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