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The UK's coastline
I can explain what the coast is and describe how we use the UK's coastline.
Lesson 1 of 12
New
New
- Year 7
The UK's coastline
I can explain what the coast is and describe how we use the UK's coastline.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The coastline is where the land meets the sea.
- The United Kingdom is a range of islands, each with their own coastline.
- Some parts of the coastline have a beach whereas other parts have cliffs.
- The coastline has many uses, for example for fishing and tourism.
Keywords
Coastline - the boundary between the land and the sea or ocean
Beach - area of land between low and storm tide marks made up of beach materials like sand, mud and stones
Cliff - a tall, vertical rock face
Tourism - people travelling to a different place from where they live for a visit or holiday
Common misconception
That all coastlines are sandy beaches.
Not all coastlines are sandy beaches. Some coastlines have beaches of stones called shingle, and some coastlines only have cliffs without any beach.
Ask students if they have ever visited the coast before and if so can they share their experiences. What was it like? What did they do there? Alternatively, if you live at the coast, ask students to talk about what your local area is like. Does it have a sand or shingle beach, or cliffs?
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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.Which of these landscapes is a coastline?
Which of these landscapes is a coastline?
A woodland area with trees and ferns.
A desert showing sandy soils and patchy vegetation.
Q2.What can beaches be made from?
What can beaches be made from?
concrete
wood
Q3.Some coastlines have cliffs instead of beaches. What is a cliff?
Some coastlines have cliffs instead of beaches. What is a cliff?
another name for a rocky shoreline
part of a slope on a mountain
a physical feature only found at the coast
Q4.What sort of industries are often based at the coast?
What sort of industries are often based at the coast?
fashion
manufacturing
Q5.Sea level in coastal areas regularly rises and falls each day. What is this known as?
Sea level in coastal areas regularly rises and falls each day. What is this known as?
Q6.Match the coastal processes to the descriptions.
Match the coastal processes to the descriptions.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these coastal areas has cliffs?
Which of these coastal areas has cliffs?
A palm tree on a beach near the sea
A boat moored on a river near a harbour
Q2.What is shingle?
What is shingle?
sand found on beaches
a path along a beach
a section of a harbour
Q3.Why does the UK have such a long coastline?
Why does the UK have such a long coastline?
it is bigger than other countries
it has lots of long beaches
it does a lot of fishing
Q4.What are some reasons why people are attracted to live in coastal areas?
What are some reasons why people are attracted to live in coastal areas?
the houses are cheaper
to learn to do watersports
Q5.Which of these are part of the tourism industry?
Which of these are part of the tourism industry?
schools
hospitals
Q6.What human features might attract tourists to a coastal resort?
What human features might attract tourists to a coastal resort?
beautiful relaxing views
calm clear waters
