River landforms caused by erosion and deposition
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the characteristics and formation of river landforms.
Key learning points
- River erosion shapes distinctive landforms (interlocking spurs, waterfalls and gorges).
- River erosion and deposition combine to form distinctive landforms (meanders and oxbow lakes).
- River deposition forms distinctive landforms (levees, flood plains, estuaries and deltas).
Keywords
Lateral erosion - the process where a river erodes the land on its sides (banks) rather than just the riverbed
Hydraulic action - the power of water eroding a river’s bed and banks
Abrasion - wearing away of a river’s bed and banks by its load
Deposition - when material being carried is dropped due to loss of a river’s energy
Common misconception
River erosion is the only process that creates landforms.
River erosion does create distinct landforms such as waterfalls and gorges. However, deposition and erosion create meanders and oxbow lakes in the middle course and deposition creates landforms such as floodplains and levees in the lower course.
Teacher tip
This lesson provides opportunity to look at OS maps to find examples of these landforms, looking at change in contour patterns along the course of a river. Practical modelling of the landforms using playdoh can help pupils to develop understanding.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which is not a type of erosion?
Q2.When does deposition occur?
Q3.What is hydraulic action?
Q4.Why do rivers erode more in the upper course?
Q5.What is the difference between river discharge and river velocity?
Q6.What is a tributary?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which landform is created by the erosion of a river in its upper course?
Q2.What is a gorge?
Q3.Which of the following statements is true about how river landforms are created?
Q4.Which process causes the formation of slip-off slopes in meanders?
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: River landforms caused by erosion and deposition, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: River landforms caused by erosion and deposition, 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 4 geography lessons from the River landscapes unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.