GIS: Analysing flood risk
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can visualise flood risk using a GIS and analyse the impacts of flooding on people and property.
Key learning points
- Different groups of people make use of flood risk maps.
- The Environment Agency collects data to monitor flood risk.
- GIS can be used to visualise flood risk in the UK.
- GIS can be used to analyse the impacts of flood risk in the UK.
Keywords
Environment Agency - the government body in England responsible for protecting and improving the environment; it manages issues like flooding, pollution and climate change
GIS - a GIS (geographic information system) is a computer system that captures, analyses and displays geographic data to help understand spatial patterns
Analyse - to break information down into parts, find patterns, relationships or trends, and explain why they are important
Common misconception
Flooding only happens close to rivers.
Flooding can also happen away from rivers, especially after heavy rainfall. When the ground can't absorb the water fast enough, surface water builds up and causes floods — even in places far from rivers.
Teacher tip
Think carefully about where you would like pupils to investigate using the Geography Visualiser in this lesson. It is better if it is somewhere relatively local where river flooding is an issue.
Equipment
Computers, laptops or tablets with an internet connection.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which factor increases flood risk by reducing how much rainwater can soak into the ground?
Q2.What is a social effect of flooding?
Q3.How can deforestation contribute to flooding?
Q4.Which river process transports material by bouncing rocks along the riverbed?
Q5.What is the hydrological cycle also called?
Q6.What happens to the river channel as it moves downstream?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What does GIS help geographers do?
Q2.What is the Environment Agency responsible for?
Q3.Why is GIS useful for analysing flood risk?
Q4.Where can flooding happen?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: GIS: Analysing flood risk, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: GIS: Analysing flood risk, 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 3 geography lessons from the Rivers: How do rivers shape the land? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.