New
New
Year 3

Introducing rivers

I can describe the key features of a river system and explain how rivers drain the land.

New
New
Year 3

Introducing rivers

I can describe the key features of a river system and explain how rivers drain the land.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Rivers are use by humans humans to fill reservoirs, do activities, create hydroelectricity and transport things.
  2. Rainwater that falls on the ground is drained by rivers.
  3. The area of land drained by rivers is called a drainage basin.
  4. 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.

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.
Teacher tip

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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6 Questions

Q1.
Where do rivers begin?
near the sea
Correct answer: in the mountains
in towns
Q2.
This river flows through London. What is it called?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: River Thames
River Nile
River Amazon
Q3.
How do humans often use rivers in the UK?
Correct answer: leisure activities
Correct answer: fishing
washing in
Q4.
What do we call a small river?
Correct answer: stream
trickle
drip
lake
Q5.
What colour usually represents rivers on a map?
green
purple
orange
Correct answer: blue
Q6.
This is the River Seine, which city does it flow through?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Paris
London
Birmingham
New York

6 Questions

Q1.
A river is a of water across the land into the sea or another lake.
Correct Answer: flow
Q2.
How do humans use rivers in the UK?
Correct answer: transport
washing clothes
Correct answer: hydroelectricity
Q3.
Why are rivers important for the environment?
Correct answer: They drain the land
Correct answer: Provide habitats for wildlife
Provide transport for people
Q4.
Can you match the key word to the correct definition?
Correct Answer:source,the start of a river

the start of a river

Correct Answer:mouth,the part of the river that enter the sea

the part of the river that enter the sea

Correct Answer:tributary,a smaller river that flows into a bigger river

a smaller river that flows into a bigger river

Q5.
What does the area within the dotted line on this image show?
An image in a quiz
source of a river
mouth of a river
Correct answer: drainage basin
Q6.
What is the point where two rivers meet called?
source
mouth
Correct answer: confluence
tributary