Sign in
Key Stage 3 1st place model made by Yuet Sum Yau from St. Michael Catholic Grammar School. The model is of Sustainable revival of Highgate Tube Station.
Geographical Model Making Competition 2026
The GA runs an annual competition for pupils to get involved and explore their creativity and geographical knowledge by creating a 3D model.
The competition is now closed, the final date for entries was 31 July 2026.
2026 Theme: Fragile environments
Design and make a 3D model to showcase a fragile environment and explain why it is vulnerable, using reused or waste cardboard as the main material, supported with other recycled materials from home or school.
A fragile environment is one that can be easily damaged by natural changes or human activity. You could choose an example close to where you live or further afield.
Examples you could choose include:
- small pond
- hedgerow
- small woodland
- sand dune
- salt marsh
- heathland
- moorland
- mountain environment
- mangroves
- coral reef
- desert
- polar region
- tropical rainforest.
Or you could choose another fragile environment of your own choice.
Your model should clearly show:
- The physical features of the environment (such as landforms, vegetation, climate conditions, wildlife)
- Why it is fragile (what makes it sensitive or vulnerable)
- At least two threats or challenges it faces (e.g. climate change, habitat loss, pollution, litter, trampling, development, farming, water extraction, wildfires, overfishing, tourism, resource extraction)
You may also show how the environment can be protected or managed.
The colours you use may come from the recycled materials themselves or from coloured pencils or paints that you already have at home or school. There is no need to buy new materials to colour your model.
You may wish to include labels on your model to help explain key features, threats and protection strategies.
Your model should be creative, informative and clearly communicate why protecting fragile environments matters.
Categories
There are three categories.
Two categories for Individual entries:
- KS2 (Years 3, 4, 5, 6)
- KS3 (Years 7, 8, 9)
One category for a group entry (any sized group from 2 students or more):
- KS2 (Years 3, 4, 5, 6)
How to enter
- Create your model and take 2 photographs of it (oblique/profile/side view and aerial/bird’s eye/view from above)
- Download the Entry form. Type (or take a photograph of handwriting) up to 300 words to:
- describe your feature and how you have represented it (for example, what is your model showing and what you have made it out of)
- explain your geographic concept/idea (for example, explaining what the concept/idea is, what is happening in your local area / feature because of this concept/idea, what your views are about it)
- Fill in parental/guardian permission form
- Fill your details in the form at the bottom of the page attaching both your entry form and parental consent forms. Submit your entry.
Entry example
We have created brief examples below to help explain how you can photograph, describe and explain your entry.
Examples of photos and written explanations can be found on our 2025 winners page here.
We would like you to use more detail in your model than we have, but it helps to show the two photograph types you will need to submit.
Photo 1: oblique/profile/side view
Photo 2: aerial/bird’s eye/view from above
Here is an example of a written explanation for this year’s theme:
This is my sustainability action in my local area design. I have chosen the entrance to my local train station and I would like to make it better for nature and people at the same time. At the moment there is mainly concrete and a patch of grass and weeds.
First, I included a special garden to help increase biodiversity by supporting different species of insects and birds. The garden has flowers that attract bees and butterflies, like buddleia and coneflowers. These plants give insects food and a safe place to visit, helping to protect important species. The colourful flowers also make the area look beautiful and lively, which makes it pleasant for local people walking past. I also added a bird box and a bird feeder to give birds food and a place to nest, which helps even more species live in the space.
I also added a tea and coffee stand. I think the people working there could include local adults who have learning differences, as a local cafe near me runs like this and we always like to go there. This is important because a sustainable community involves everyone, and there are lots of skills that can be developed working here, such as how to use equipment, speaking to people and being organised, earning money and how to save it. This all helps people to feel proud and have a sense of achievement.
There is also a free book library in my design. People can bring good quality books they don’t want anymore and swap them for different ones. This helps more people read without having to buy books, and it gets people talking and sharing. We don’t have a library where I live, so it would be very useful.
I made this design to show how we can make busy places like train stations more friendly for the environment and the people who live nearby.
Judging criteria
These are the things that the judges will be looking for in each entry:
- Geographical relevance of the place represented by the model.
- Detailed and geographically written explanation.
- Originality and creativity of the model.
- Quality and design of the model build.
The competition closed on 31 July 2026.
Announcement of winners
- The GA will send out awards to the winners and runners up.
- Awards announced on social media by the GA.
