The River Thames
I can explain the importance of the River Thames to London.
The River Thames
I can explain the importance of the River Thames to London.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- People settled by the River Thames for navigation, trade and a water supply. Today, many bridges connect both banks.
- Today, Londoners use the most water in the country; much of this comes from the River Thames.
- Waste water is also pumped into the River Thames, which is why a new super sewer is being built.
- The Thames’ Barrier is a special piece of engineering that is designed to protect London from flooding.
Keywords
Navigation - Navigation is finding a way from one place to another
Banks - Banks are the edges of the land beside a river or waterway
Bridges - Bridges are structures that enable people and vehicles to travel over another space, such as a river or road
Sewer - A sewer is an underground pipe that takes dirty water, such as from baths and toilets, to the sewage works to be cleaned
Flood - A flood is when there is too much water in a waterway, such as a river, and it overflows onto land that is normally dry
Common misconception
Pupils may think the banks of a river actually "burst" in an explosive way when there is a flood.
During a flood, the water level of a river is higher than the banks, so the water 'bursts' out of the river, over the banks onto the surrounding land.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), 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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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
A natural stream of flowing water.
The part of the river that enters the sea.
The land alongside the river.
When a river channel overflows.