Skip to content
Skip to content
Teachers
Go to pupils
View unit
Lesson 4 of 6
  • Year 3

What landforms do rivers create? (Part 2)

In this lesson, we will be learning about how meanders in rivers are formed. In order to do this, we will be looking at the process of erosion and deposition in more depth. We will also be learning about how an oxbow lake is formed.

View unit
Lesson 4 of 6
  • Year 3

What landforms do rivers create? (Part 2)

In this lesson, we will be learning about how meanders in rivers are formed. In order to do this, we will be looking at the process of erosion and deposition in more depth. We will also be learning about how an oxbow lake is formed.

These resources will be removed by the end of the Spring Term 2026.

Start using our brand new teaching resources now. Designed by teachers and subject experts, with real classrooms in mind.

The older resources below were created for lockdown learning during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

View and download new resources

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. What a meander is
  2. How a meander forms
  3. How an oxbow lake forms

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

Lesson video

Share with pupils
Skip lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf
Share with pupils

9 Questions

Q1.
What sort of erosion is the river doing in the upper course (closest to the source where it is flowing through hills and mountains)?

lateral (sideways) erosion
Correct answer: vertical (downwards) erosion

Q2.
Where does lateral erosion take place?

at the source
Correct answer: in the middle and lower course (further away from the source, closer to the mouth)
in the upper course (closest to the source where it is flowing through hills and mountains)

Q3.
What effect does the vertical erosion have on the valley?

Correct answer: it makes it deeper
it makes it wider

Q4.
What type of rock does the river find the easiest to erode?

Correct answer: less resistant (softer) rock
more resistant (harder rock)

Q5.
What are interlocking spurs?

sections of rock that stick out, that the river has been able to erode easily
Correct answer: sections of rock that stick out, that the river has not been able to erode as easily

Q6.
Where does the river form a V-shaped valley and interlocking spurs?

Lower course
Middle course
Correct answer: Upper course

Q7.
Which type of erosion helps form V-shaped valleys?

lateral (sideways) erosion
Correct answer: vertical (downwards) erosion

Q8.
The Horseshoe Bend in the Grand Canyon has been created by....

deposition
Correct answer: erosion
transportation

Q9.
The Nile Delta has been created by....

Correct answer: deposition
erosion
transportation

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf
Share with pupils

11 Questions

Q1.
Which type of erosion makes a river wider?

Correct answer: lateral (sideways) erosion
vertical (downwards) erosion

Q2.
What are big bends in rivers called?

deposition
erosion
Correct answer: meanders
mouth
source

Q3.
When water goes around a bend in a river, where does the water move the fastest?

inside of the bend
Correct answer: outside of the bend

Q4.
When does a river have more energy?

Correct answer: when it is moving quickly
when it is moving slowly

Q5.
When water goes around a bend in a river, where does deposition happen?

Correct answer: on the inside of the bend where water moves slowly
on the outside of the bend where the water moves fast

Q6.
Finish this sentence. As the meanders in a river get bigger, the neck of the meander becomes more _______.

fast
Correct answer: narrow
slow
wide

Q7.
What is the first stage in meander formation?

Deposition occurs on the inside of the bend
Erosion causes the bends to get bigger
Correct answer: Lateral erosion creates gentle bends
Over time, the meander grows bigger.

Q8.
What is the second stage in meander formation?

Deposition occurs on the inside of the bend
Correct answer: Erosion causes the bends to get bigger
Lateral erosion creates gentle bends
Over time, the meander grows bigger.

Q9.
What is the third stage in meander formation?

Deposition occurs on the inside of the bend
Erosion causes the bends to get bigger
Lateral erosion creates gentle bends
Correct answer: Over time, the meander grows bigger.

Q10.
What is the forth stage in meander formation?

Correct answer: Deposition occurs on the inside of the bend
Erosion causes the bends to get bigger
Lateral erosion creates gentle bends
Over time, the meander grows bigger.

Q11.
How is an oxbow lake created?

A meander becomes very deep and the river breaks through, creating an oxbow lake
Correct answer: A meander becomes very narrow and the river breaks through, creating an oxbow lake
A meander becomes very shallow and the river breaks through, creating an oxbow lake
A meander becomes very wide and the river breaks through, creating an oxbow lake