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Year 10
Edexcel B

Changes in river landscapes along the course of a river

I can describe changes in the long profile and channel of a river along its course.

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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel B

Changes in river landscapes along the course of a river

I can describe changes in the long profile and channel of a river along its course.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Rivers exhibit a distinctive long profile from source to mouth.
  2. River and valley cross profiles change between their upper, mid- and lower courses.
  3. 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.


To help you plan your year 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...

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.
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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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the source of a river?
The point where the river meets the sea
Correct answer: The highest point where a river begins
A small lake along the river's course
The area where tributaries join the main river
Q2.
What is a river’s mouth?
Where a river begins
Where a river joins another river
Correct answer: Where a river flows into a lake or the sea
Where meanders form
Q3.
What process involves the wearing away of the riverbed and banks?
Transportation
Correct answer: Erosion
Deposition
Precipitation
Q4.
What is the term for material carried by a river?
Correct answer: Sediment
Floodplain
Rapids
Q5.
What is the main river channel?
A small stream that joins a river
Correct answer: The main body of flowing water in a river
A lake that feeds into a river
The area where a river meets the sea
Q6.
Which of these is a famous river in the UK?
The Nile
Correct answer: The River Thames
The Ganges

5 Questions

Q1.
What is a tributary?
The point where a river meets the sea
A bend in the river
The main river channel
Correct answer: A smaller river that joins a larger one
Q2.
How does a river transport material?
By lifting it into the air
Correct answer: By carrying it in the water
By pushing it into the ocean
Q3.
How does a river valley change as it moves downstream?
It becomes steeper with more waterfalls
It becomes deeper and narrower with no change in width
It stays the same from source to mouth
Correct answer: It gets wider and flatter with gentler slopes
Q4.
What is the name of the area that drains water into a river?
Waterfall
Delta
Correct answer: Drainage basin
Q5.
Match the lesson's keywords with their definitions.
Correct Answer:gradient,refers to the steepness or slope of the land or riverbed
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refers to the steepness or slope of the land or riverbed

Correct Answer:lateral erosion,the process where a river erodes the sides of its channel
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the process where a river erodes the sides of its channel

Correct Answer:channel,pathway through which water flows in a river or stream
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pathway through which water flows in a river or stream

Correct Answer:cross section,a section taken sideways across the channel or valley
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a section taken sideways across the channel or valley