Changes in river landscapes along the course of a river
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe changes in the long profile and channel of a river along its course.
Key learning points
- Rivers exhibit a distinctive long profile from source to mouth.
- River and valley cross profiles change between their upper, mid- and lower courses.
- River channel characteristics in the River Eden change with distance downstream.
Keywords
Gradient - refers to the steepness or slope of the land or riverbed
Lateral erosion - the process where a river erodes the sides of its channel, widening the valley
Channel - pathway through which water flows in a river or stream
Cross section - a section taken sideways across the channel or valley
Common misconception
River valleys remain V-shaped from source to mouth.
A river valley changes from a V-shape to a U-shape as they flow towards the mouth due to processes like lateral erosion and deposition.
Teacher tip
This lesson provides an opportunity to use OS maps to dentifying the key characteristics of the upper, middle and lower course, practising grid references and interpreting contour lines.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the source of a river?
Q2.What is a river’s mouth?
Q3.What process involves the wearing away of the riverbed and banks?
Q4.What is the term for material carried by a river?
Q5.What is the main river channel?
Q6.Which of these is a famous river in the UK?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.What is a tributary?
Q2.How does a river transport material?
Q3.How does a river valley change as it moves downstream?
Q4.What is the name of the area that drains water into a river?
Q5.Match the lesson's keywords with their definitions.
refers to the steepness or slope of the land or riverbed
the process where a river erodes the sides of its channel
pathway through which water flows in a river or stream
a section taken sideways across the channel or valley
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Changes in river landscapes along the course of a river, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Changes in river landscapes along the course of a river, 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.