The upper course of a river
I can describe the characteristics and landforms associated with the upper course of a river.
The upper course of a river
I can describe the characteristics and landforms associated with the upper course of a river.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- A river starts in the upper course at the source and this is usually an upland area.
- Rivers in the upper course are usually small and slow but have a steep gradient.
- Erosion in the upper course of a river is usually vertical.
- Landforms in the upper course of a river include v-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, waterfalls and gorges.
- V-shaped valleys are steep-sided valleys caused by vertical erosion.
Keywords
Upper course - the part of a river’s course closest to its source
V-shaped valley - a narrow steep-sided valley with a river at the bottom
Interlocking spur - ridge-like features found along the sides of river valleys
Waterfall - a point in the river where there is a vertical drop in the water
Gorge - a very narrow valley, with steep sided rocky walls
Common misconception
A river has the most energy in the upper course.
The river does not have that much energy in the upper course as there is not a lot of water in the river.
To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: The upper course of a river, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: The upper course of a river, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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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.
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