An ecosystem is a natural environment and the plants and animals live and interact within that environment

Habitat is the natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism

Pollution is anything that makes the environment dirty or unhealthy

Coastal habitats and ecosystems

Geography

The coast of the UK

Mapping the coast

Coastal erosion

The changing coastline

Protecting the land

Coasts and tourism

Coasts and the future

This unit links to 'Global trade: How do we get our stuff?' by understanding how coastal development and jobs are linked to trade and travel. 

This unit develops the idea of land use in 'Farms and factories: where does our food come from?' and revisits briefly 'Settlements: Where do people live and why?' in considering coastal settlements, and also builds on the idea of sustainable travel explored in 'Sustainable world: Does it matter how we live?'.

This unit explores how coastal landscapes form and change. Pupils learn about erosion, habitats and human activity at the coast, and investigate how coastal environments are used, protected and managed in the face of ongoing change.

Coasts: what happens where the land meets the sea?

{{}} is a natural environment and the plants and animals live and interact within that environment.

anything that makes the environment dirty or unhealthy

the natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism.

Which three of these are examples of coastal habitats?

Their roots help to prevent coastal erosion

They cannot withstand freezing temperatures.

They provide a habitat for thousands of species.

Their roots shelter young creatures like a nursery.

They are are home to approximately 25% of the ocean’s species.

Corals protect shorelines by breaking up wave action.

They are mainly found near to the Arctic Circle.

Which of these statements about coral reefs are true?

Estuaries are often called the “{{}}” because many species rely on these coastal habitats for nesting and breeding.

natural defence - can help protect from invasion

it is harder/more expensive to transport items to and from other countries

Which of these are advantages to being a maritime nation?

A coast is a strip of land made of rock, sand, mud or gravel, that meets the...

The UK is surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, Irish Sea, and the...

When the waves meet a change in direction of the coastline they lose energy.

Sometimes a spit grows across a bay joining two {{}}. This is called a bar. 

Coastal habitats and ecosystems

Lesson outcome