Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain the processes by which ice shapes the landscape.

      Key learning points

      1. Ice covered large parts of the UK in the past.
      2. Glacial processes have been responsible for shaping the landscape of the UK.
      3. Glacial processes include freeze-thaw weathering, erosion, movement, transportation and deposition (till and outwash).

      Keywords

      • Ice sheet - a vast, continuous expanse of ice covering a very large area of land

      • Glacier - a large mass of ice that forms on land and moves slowly due to gravity

      • Freeze-thaw weathering - the break up of rocks caused by water regularly freezing and thawing

      • Glacial till - a mixture of unsorted debris

      Common misconception

      Ice only affects landscapes during periods of melting.

      Ice modifies landscapes through continuous processes of erosion, transportation, and deposition, not just during periods of melting.

      Teacher tip

      There are useful online videos that present the changes in ice sheet coverage in the northern hemisphere over previous glacial maximums.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

      Loading...

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is erosion?

      Correct answer: What is erosion?
      the movement of material from one area to another
      material that has been deposited

      Q2.
      What is weathering?

      Correct answer: the breaking down of rock in situ
      the wearing away of rock
      the movement of sediment from one place to another

      Q3.
      What is a glacier?

      a large body of water that flows over land
      Correct answer: a large mass of ice that moves slowly over land
      a type of rock formed by volcanic activity
      a landform created by wind erosion

      Q4.
      What is an ice sheet?

      a small, frozen body of water found in mountain ranges
      Correct answer: a large mass of ice that covers vast areas of land
      a type of glacier that only forms in the Arctic
      a thin layer of ice found on lakes and rivers

      Q5.
      Which period is known for extensive ice coverage?

      Correct answer: Ice age
      Jurassic
      Triassic

      Q6.
      Which areas in the UK were most affected by ice coverage during the last Ice Age?

      eastern and southern regions
      Correct answer: northern and western regions
      southern and central regions

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What is a glacier?

      Correct answer: a large mass of ice that forms on land and moves slowly due to gravity
      a vast, continuous expanse of ice covering a very large area of land
      a mixture of unsorted debris

      Q2.
      Glaciers the landscape by the processes of abrasion and plucking.

      Correct Answer: erode

      Q3.
      are vast masses of ice that cover large areas of land, over 50 000 square kilometres.

      Correct Answer: Ice sheets

      Q4.
      Order the process of freeze-thaw weathering.

      1 - During the day, higher temperatures cause snow to melt.
      2 - Water seeps into cracks in the rock.
      3 - At night, temperatures drop below 0°C. The water freezes and expands.
      4 - The expanding ice pushes against the rock, making the crack larger.
      5 - The process repeats as freezing and thawing occur over time.
      6 - The crack continues to grow. Eventually, the rock weakens and pieces break off.

      To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Ice-shaping processes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...