New
New
Year 10
AQA

An example of a river valley in the UK

I can identify major landforms of erosion and deposition in the River Eden valley, and explain their formation.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

An example of a river valley in the UK

I can identify major landforms of erosion and deposition in the River Eden valley, and explain their formation.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The River Eden valley is located in the northwest of England.
  2. The River Eden valley features landforms of erosion and deposition.
  3. It has erosional landforms in its upper course including a V-shaped valley, Hell Gill, and a waterfall, Hell Gill Force.
  4. It has depositional landforms in its middle and lower course including meanders across floodplains near to Carlisle.

Keywords

  • Erosion - the process by which flowing water wears away the land, shaping the landscape over time

  • Deposition - the process by which rivers drop sediment they have been carrying

  • Weathering - the breaking down of rocks but without the material being moved, it occurs in place (in situ)

Common misconception

All landforms created are due to erosion by the river.

Deposition and changes in geology, as well as human activity, can influence the landforms created.


To help you plan your year 10 geography lesson on: An example of a river valley in the UK, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Looking at a specific example provides opportunities for mapskills practice, using OS maps to identify specific landforms and land uses in the river valley.
Teacher tip

Equipment

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

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the source of a river?
Where the river meets the sea
The point where a river joins another river
Correct answer: The start of a river, usually in the hills or mountains
Where the river flows underground
Q2.
What is river discharge?
The amount of sediment in a river
The speed of river flow
Correct answer: The volume of water flowing in a river measured per second
The depth of the river channel
Q3.
Which process involves the river wearing away its bed and banks?
Transportation
Correct answer: Erosion
Deposition
Precipitation
Q4.
What is a meander?
A small stream
Correct answer: A bend in a river
A type of waterfall
A river mouth
Q5.
Where are waterfalls most commonly found?
Lower course
Middle course
River mouth
Correct answer: Upper course
Q6.
Which of the following is a type of transportation in rivers?
Attrition
Correct answer: Suspension
Erosion
Discharge

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Where is the River Eden located?
South Wales
Correct answer: Cumbria, North West England
Yorkshire Dales
Norfolk
Q2.
What is erosion?
When water freezes in cracks
When rocks break down without moving
Correct answer: When flowing water wears away land
When the river deposits sediment
Q3.
What is deposition?
Breaking of rocks in place
Movement of soil by gravity
Correct answer: Dropping of sediment by a river
Flowing water wearing away land
Q4.
Which statement is TRUE?
All landforms in the River Eden valley are caused by erosion.
Only weathering creates landforms in the River Eden.
Correct answer: Deposition and weathering also shape the landscape, not just erosion.
Deposition only happens in the sea.

Additional material

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