Mass movement
I can understand mass movement and know how gravity causes sediments to move downhill.
Mass movement
I can understand mass movement and know how gravity causes sediments to move downhill.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Mass movement is the downhill movement of sediment under the influence of gravity.
- The main types of mass movement are rockfall, sliding, and slumping.
- Slumping is common on coastlines.
- Weathering and erosion lead to mass movement when combined with wet weather conditions.
Keywords
Mass movement - the downhill movement of material under the influence of gravity
Weathering - the process of being worn down due to long exposure to the atmosphere
Erosion - erosion is the process of Earth’s surface, e.g. rock or soil, being worn away and transported from its original site
Common misconception
Students may believe that mass movement only occurs in mountainous areas or during extreme weather events.
Mass movement can happen anywhere there are slopes, even in places with mild weather conditions. While extreme weather can trigger events, even light rainfall can cause mass movement if the slope is steep or the material is already weathered.
To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: Mass movement, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: Mass movement, 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.
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Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Rocks, weathering and soil: Why is geology important? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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