River fieldwork
I can collect primary and secondary data in a river environment to help me answer a geographical question.
River fieldwork
I can collect primary and secondary data in a river environment to help me answer a geographical question.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- There are many geographical enquiry questions that you can investigate along the course of a river.
- Data collection methods in a river landscape can examine flood management and a river's agreement to the Bradshaw model.
- Secondary data can provide contextual information about particular rivers and comparable data.
Keywords
Channel morphology - the physical size and shape of a river channel, including the sediment (bedload) it carries
The Bradshaw model - a theory about how river processes change from source to mouth
Flood management - strategies used to prevent a river over topping its banks following a period of intense rainfall
Common misconception
River processes are independent variables that shape river features.
Rivers are complex systems where processes and features both affect each other at different times. This means that students need to disengage with the idea that one variable is going to be independent of another as they present and analyse data.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - outdoor learning
Supervision
Adult supervision required