Mighty rivers of the world
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can locate some of the world’s largest rivers and describe a journey down the Nile.
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
Teacher tip
Use Google maps or NASA satellite imagery to explore the Nile.
Equipment
Atlases and computers if using satellite imagery.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How many continents are there?
Q2.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.
Q4.What is a river confluence?
Q5.Why do we build dams?
Q6.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?
Q2.What is the longest river in the world?
Q3.How wide is the River Amazon during the dry season?
Q4.What is the longest river in North America?
Q5.What are the two tributaries of the River Nile called?
Q6.Which of these cities does the River Nile flow through?
To help you plan your 3 geography lesson on: Mighty rivers of the world, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 geography lesson on: Mighty rivers of the world, 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.