The river's journey
I can describe changes in a river and its landforms as it flows along its course.
The river's journey
I can describe changes in a river and its landforms as it flows along its course.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The width and depth of rivers get larger and the river gets faster as it flows from source to mouth.
- The rocks in the river usually get smaller as the river flows downstream.
- Landforms like waterfalls are usually found in the upper course of a river.
- Landforms like meanders and floodplains are found in the middle and lower course of a river.
Keywords
Course - The course of a river is the path it takes from its source at the start to its mouth at the end
Downstream - Downstream is the direction a river flows as it moves towards the mouth
Tributary - A tributary is a smaller river or stream that joins a bigger river
Landform - A landform is a natural feature created by a process such as erosion or deposition
Common misconception
Rivers are fast near the source and become slower as they flow downstream.
Rivers are, on average, slower in the upper course. The reason for this is due to small rivers being slowed down by friction with the bed and the banks.
To help you plan your year 3 geography lesson on: The river's journey, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 geography lesson on: The river's journey, 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 2 geography lessons from the Rivers: what's special about them? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
upper course
middle and lower course
middle and lower course
narrow, shallow and slow with large rocks
larger, wider and faster with smaller rocks and sediment
very wide and deep with very small sediment