New
New
Mighty rivers of the world
I can locate some of the world’s largest rivers and describe a journey down the Nile.
Lesson 8 of 8
New
New
- Year 3
Mighty rivers of the world
I can locate some of the world’s largest rivers and describe a journey down the Nile.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Nile, Amazon, Yangtze, Mississippi, Murray and Volga are the longest rivers in each continent.
- Antarctica doesn’t have any permanent long rivers.
- The Nile is the longest river in the world and has two major tributaries the White Nile and the Blue Nile.
- The Nile flows through Cairo and then the river splits into lots of different channels. We call this a delta.
Keywords
Tributary - A tributary is a smaller river or stream that joins a bigger river.
Confluence - where two rivers meet
Satellite image - a photograph taken from above using a satellite
Common misconception
There are long rivers on every continent.
There are no permanent rivers in Antarctica
Use Google maps or NASA satellite imagery to explore the Nile.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Atlases and computers if using satellite imagery.
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
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How many continents are there?
How many continents are there?
Q2.Rivers drain water from the land and take it to the seas and...
Rivers drain water from the land and take it to the seas and...
Q3.A is a smaller river or stream that joins a bigger river.
A is a smaller river or stream that joins a bigger river.
meander
waterfall
Q4.What is a river confluence?
What is a river confluence?
Where the river starts
Where the river flows into the sea
Q5.Why do we build dams?
Why do we build dams?
To provide habitats
To stop fish moving downstrea
Q6.The width and the depth of a river get larger as the river flows...
The width and the depth of a river get larger as the river flows...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which continent does not have any large rivers?
Which continent does not have any large rivers?
Africa
Asia
Q2.What is the longest river in the world?
What is the longest river in the world?
River Amazon
River Volga
Q3.How wide is the River Amazon during the dry season?
How wide is the River Amazon during the dry season?
2km
5km
Q4.What is the longest river in North America?
What is the longest river in North America?
Loire
Amazon
Q5.What are the two tributaries of the River Nile called?
What are the two tributaries of the River Nile called?
Red and Green Nile
Black and Pink Nile
Q6.Which of these cities does the River Nile flow through?
Which of these cities does the River Nile flow through?
Cape Town
Copenhagen
