New
New
Year 9

Fieldwork: Planning a river enquiry and collecting data

I can collect river characteristics data as part of a fieldwork enquiry.

New
New
Year 9

Fieldwork: Planning a river enquiry and collecting data

I can collect river characteristics data as part of a fieldwork enquiry.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Bradshaw model shows theoretically how the physical characteristics of a typical river change from source to mouth.
  2. Many physical characteristics of a river can be measured during fieldwork.
  3. Geographers can carry out fieldwork to see if their local river behaves like a theoretical one.

Keywords

  • Bradshaw model - a theory that describes how the physical characteristics of a typical river change from source to mouth

  • Bedload - geological material that is eroded, transported and deposited by a river such as stones boulders and sand

  • (flow) velocity - the speed at which water passes along a channel

Common misconception

Field sketches are artistic impressions of a geographical scene.

Field sketches are about clearly representing the geographical features of a place, not about the artistic skills of the geographer.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: Fieldwork: Planning a river enquiry and collecting data, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Field sketches can be practised in the classroom through the projection of photographs onto an interactive whiteboard.
Teacher tip

Equipment

30 metre measuring tape; metre stick; 30 centimetre ruler; float (such as an orange or a dog biscuit); clipboard

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - outdoor learning

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What causes a river to erode its banks most?
Wind
Gravity
Correct answer: Fast-moving water
Sunlight
Q2.
Where does deposition mostly occur in a river?
On steep slopes
Correct answer: On the inside bend of a meander
At the river source
In waterfalls
Q3.
What shape is typically formed by a meandering river?
Correct answer: Snake-like curves
Straight line
Circular lakes
Steep cliffs
Q4.
Which landform is created by deposition at the river’s mouth?
Canyon
Correct answer: Delta
Gorge
U-shaped valley
Q5.
What is the source of a river?
Where it meets the sea
A waterfall
Correct answer: The starting point, often in hills or mountains
The middle course
Q6.
Which process deepens river valleys over time?
Correct answer: Vertical erosion
Deposition
Flooding
Sediment sorting

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:Bradshaw model,Shows how river features change from source to mouth

Shows how river features change from source to mouth

Correct Answer:bedload,Rocks and sediment moved by the river

Rocks and sediment moved by the river

Correct Answer:(flow) velocity,Speed of water moving through the river channel

Speed of water moving through the river channel

Q2.
What does the Bradshaw model describe?
River flooding patterns
Types of fish in a river
Correct answer: Changes in river features from source to mouth
Weather patterns
Q3.
Why is planning important before fieldwork?
To pick a nice day
Correct answer: To decide what data to collect and how
To avoid walking
To meet friends
Q4.
What is the purpose of a field sketch?
Correct answer: To clearly show geographical features
To create a work of art
To take photographs
To draw maps of cities

Additional material

Download additional material