Cotswold_School_Logo_CMYK_100_72_0_0-01

 

 

Topic title: River Landscapes in the UK

Year group: 10

When taught: September to December

What are we learning?

  • The shape of river valleys changes as rivers flow downstream.
  • Distinctive fluvial landforms result from different physical processes.
  • Different management strategies can be used to protect river landscapes from the effects of flooding.

Why is this important to know? 

  • An understanding of how the long and cross profile of a river and its valley change downstream are important in understanding the associated processes and landforms.
  • A knowledge of the key fluvial processes of erosion, transportation and deposition are needed to explain how river landforms are created.
  • Characteristics and the formation of landforms resulting from erosion and deposition are required to be able to identify them on OS maps and photos and to our named example of a river valley in the UK, The River Tees.
  • The use of hydrographs is an important skill in identifying the relationship between precipitation and discharge.
  • Human and Physical Geography interlink through studying how each affects flood risk and how it may be managed.
  • Recognition that there are a range of hard and soft engineering flood management strategies, each with their own costs and benefits. Banbury flood alleviation scheme is used as an example of a flood management scheme in the UK.

Where does this link into our past and future learning? 

  • This topic deepens prior learning from the Year 8 unit focused on rivers and flooding.
  • It links and develops on prior learning from year 9 when the ‘Physical Landscapes in the UK’ unit was started through completing the ‘Coastal Landscapes in the UK’ element of the course.
  • Analysis of management strategies and sustainability is considered in all the remaining GCSE units.
  • KS5 requires an understanding of this topic in both the Coasts and Water and Carbon units.

How will we be assessed on this topic?

  • Assessment and feedback through the use of GCSE questions will be given throughout the unit. There will be an end of unit assessment, using a past GCSE paper, providing a summative grade.  This is to increase familiarisation with GCSE style questions and to refine exam technique to successfully apply knowledge and understanding to the questions.

What makes a strong piece of work in this topic?  What are teachers hoping to see?  

  • Correct use and spelling of key terms i.e. hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, solution, suspension, traction, saltation.
  • Accurate use and sequencing of the key processes in explanations of how landforms are created.
  • Effective use of hydrographs to be able to suggest what factors may be affecting the drainage basin’s flood risk.
  • Detailed evaluation of management strategies, explaining the costs and benefits of a range of strategies.
  • Accurate use of photos and OS maps to identify landforms and management strategies used.

What key words are there in this topic?

Quizlet. Click here

What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?

  • Regularly re-read and review your work. Use the specification to help make revision notes for each section.
  • Complete past exam questions on this unit. These can be found here
  • Watch or read the news – river flooding and management strategies are often in it.
  • Research how climate change may affect flooding in the future.
  • Research a local flood management scheme – Why is it needed? What strategies are used? Is it effective?

What wider reading can be done on this topic?

Foundations of Physical Geography by M Bradshaw and R Weaver. Click here

Supporting document/links:

Found on Satchel – My Drive – GCSE – Geography

  • Physical Landscapes knowledge organiser
  • Key Terms sheet