Introducing rivers
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the key features of a river system and explain how rivers drain the land.
Key learning points
- Rivers are used by humans to fill reservoirs, do activities, create hydroelectricity and transport things.
- Rainwater that falls on the ground is drained by rivers.
- The area of land drained by rivers is called a drainage basin.
- Rivers flow from their source in the hills or mountains to their mouth where they enter the sea or lake.
Keywords
Reservoir - A reservoir is an artificial lake made by humans to store water.
Hydro-electricity - Hydro-electricity is electricity created by water flowing downhill turning a turbine.
Source - The source is the start of a river.
Mouth - The mouth of a river is where it enters the sea or a lake, the river flow slows, loses its energy and often deposition occurs.
Common misconception
Rivers start at the sea and flow across the land.
Rivers start at their source in the mountains and flow to their mouth at the sea.
Teacher tip
To explain a drainage basin you can use the analogy of a sink or bath. The water from the taps is like the rain and the plughole is like the river.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Where do rivers begin?
Q2.This river flows through London. What is it called?
Q3.How do humans often use rivers in the UK?
Q4.What do we call a small river?
Q5.What colour usually represents rivers on a map?
Q6.This is the River Seine, which city does it flow through?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A river is a of water across the land into the sea or another lake.
Q2.How do humans use rivers in the UK?
Q3.Why are rivers important for the environment?
Q4.Can you match the key word to the correct definition?
the start of a river
the part of the river that enter the sea
a smaller river that flows into a bigger river
Q5.What does the area within the dotted line on this image show?
Q6.What is the point where two rivers meet called?
To help you plan your 3 geography lesson on: Introducing rivers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 geography lesson on: Introducing rivers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 geography lessons from the Rivers: what's special about them? unit, dive into the full primary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.