New
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Glacial landforms resulting from erosion and deposition
I can explain the characteristics and formation of glacial landforms.
Lesson 2 of 7
New
New
- Year 10
- AQA
Glacial landforms resulting from erosion and deposition
I can explain the characteristics and formation of glacial landforms.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Glacial landscapes exhibit several distinctive landforms.
- Distinctive landforms formed due to erosion including corries, aretes, pyramidal peaks, truncated spurs, glacial troughs
- Distinctive landforms formed due to processes of transportation and deposition include erratics, drumlins and moraine.
Keywords
Plucking - when a glacier pulls chunks of rock from the bedrock as it moves over it
Abrasion - when rocks and debris carried by a glacier scrape and wear away the surface beneath it
Glacial trough - a valley reshaped by glacial erosion into a U-shape
Moraine - accumulation of unsorted debris, such as soil and rock, deposited by a glacier
Common misconception
Glacial erosion is the only process that creates new landscapes.
Glacial erosion does create new landforms, but as glaciers transport and then deposit the eroded material, this also creates new landscapes.
It is important to understand the role of erosional processes - abrasion and plucking - in creating the glacial landforms. Previous knowledge of erosion, transportation and deposition (e.g. rivers, coasts) may help students in this lesson.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the processes to their definition.
Match the processes to their definition.
Q2.What is a glacier?
What is a glacier?
A large body of water that flows over land
A type of rock formed by volcanic activity
A landform created by wind erosion
Q3.What is freeze-thaw weathering?
What is freeze-thaw weathering?
The movement of rock from one place to another
A large mass of ice that moves slowly over land
Q4.The last in the UK took place around 18 000 years ago. During this time, temperatures remained low throughout the year and ice sheets and glaciers covered the north of the UK.
The last in the UK took place around 18 000 years ago. During this time, temperatures remained low throughout the year and ice sheets and glaciers covered the north of the UK.
Q5.Glacial erosion is very powerful and has a range of effects, including:
Glacial erosion is very powerful and has a range of effects, including:
Creating wave cut platforms
Q6.Glaciers move slowly, transporting material called glacial in different ways depending on its position within the ice.
Glaciers move slowly, transporting material called glacial in different ways depending on its position within the ice.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the key words to their definitions.
Match the key words to their definitions.
Q2.A is a bowl-shaped hollow found on the upper slopes of glaciated valleys, often containing a small lake (tarn/cwm) after glaciation.
A is a bowl-shaped hollow found on the upper slopes of glaciated valleys, often containing a small lake (tarn/cwm) after glaciation.
Q3.How does a corrie form?
How does a corrie form?
Q4.Which of the following are glacial landforms created by deposition?
Which of the following are glacial landforms created by deposition?
hanging valleys
arête
