River processes
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the processes of river erosion, transportation and deposition.
Key learning points
- There are four types of erosion: abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition and solution.
- There are four types of transportation: traction, solution, suspension and saltation.
- Deposition occurs when the river has lost its energy and can no longer carry its load.
Keywords
Erosion - the process by which Earth’s surface, e.g. rock or soil, is worn away and transported from its ordinal state and original location
Transportation - where rivers move sand, mud and rocks
Deposition - when sand, mud and rocks are dropped by the river
Common misconception
Attrition is where rocks and sediment carried by the river collide with the bed and the banks causing pieces to break off.
Abrasion is where rocks and sediment carried by the river collide with the bed and the banks causing pieces to break off.
Teacher tip
Use a classroom item such as a pencil sharpener to demonstrate the different modes of river transport.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Where does a river usually start?
Q2.What is a meander?
Q3.What is the boundary of a drainage basin called?
Q4.What causes rivers to flood?
Q5.What is the hydrological cycle?
Q6.What is precipitation?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is erosion in a river?
Q2.What best describes the process of attrition in a river?
Q3.What is hydraulic action?
Q4.Which of these transportation processes involves large rocks rolling along the riverbed?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: River processes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: River processes, 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.