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Year 7

The future of global coasts

I can explain the risks associated with climate change for coastal communities and describe how countries are taking action to combat them.

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New
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Year 7

The future of global coasts

I can explain the risks associated with climate change for coastal communities and describe how countries are taking action to combat them.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Climate change is putting millions of people across the world at risk from sea level rise and flooding.
  2. Island nations and coastal cities and communities are trying to mitigate the risk with built structures.
  3. There are different actions taking place to find solutions and try to prevent further global issues.

Keywords

  • Climate change - large-scale and long-term change in the planet’s climate, including weather patterns and average temperatures

  • Risk - the possibility that something bad or unpleasant, such as an injury, might happen

  • Global - something that affects people across the world

Common misconception

That rising sea levels only affect a few places like tropical islands, and that cities are not at risk of rising sea levels.

Rising sea levels is a concern for all global coastal communities. There is nowhere with a coast that will not be affected by rising sea levels, including major global cities, although some communities are affected more than others.


To help you plan your year 7 geography lesson on: The future of global coasts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Climate change and its impacts is a hotly debated topic in society. Allow space for students to express their opinons and ideas, to share their concerns and give them opportunity to debunk myths about climate change they may have picked up from social media.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is climate change?
The changing seasons in a year
The natural variation of the weather each day
Correct answer: Long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns on Earth
The increase in the number of storms in one year
Q2.
What is the movement of sediment along a coastline called?
Coastal drift
Sea breeze
Tidal movement
Correct answer: Longshore drift
Q3.
Which type of erosion occurs when rocks hit against each other and break into smaller pieces?
Correct answer: Attrition
Solution
Abrasion
Hydraulic action
Q4.
What is one of the main impacts of rising sea levels on coastal areas?
More sandy beaches
More fish in the sea
Higher air temperatures
Correct answer: Increased flooding and erosion
Q5.
What effect does climate change have on coastal ecosystems like coral reefs?
They become stronger and healthier
Correct answer: Coral bleaching and death due to warmer ocean temperatures
They grow at a faster rate
They provide more food for marine life
Q6.
How does rising sea level affect coastal communities?
Correct answer: It can flood homes and displace people
It creates more land for new settlements
It causes lower temperatures
It makes beaches wider and safer

Exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is coastal flooding?
Waves hitting the beach in a predictable way
Correct answer: When the sea level rises and floods coastal areas
The effect of tides on the coastline
When plants grow in the sand
Q2.
How does rising sea level affect coastal communities?
It creates more land for new settlements
Correct answer: It can flood homes and displace people
It causes lower temperatures
It makes beaches wider and safer
Q3.
Many major global cities are located on the coast. These cities have to manage the risk of __________ due to rising sea levels and extreme weather because of climate change.
desertification
earthquakes
war
Correct answer: flooding
Q4.
In the , the government has been building sea walls to protect the coastline from erosion and reduce the risk of flooding.
Correct Answer: Maldives