Topic title: Coastal Landscapes in the UK

Year group: 9 – GCSE

When taught: May to July

What are we learning?

• An overview of the location of major upland/lowland areas and river systems.
• Characteristics of waves and coastal landscapes and how these are formed or affected by different physical processes.
• Different management strategies can be used to protect coastal areas from the effects of flooding and erosion.
• Applying the knowledge to case-studies in the UK.

Why is this important to know? 

• An overview of the location of major upland/lowland areas and river systems in the UK.
• An understanding of basic geology and rock structure.
• What are the two wave types and their characteristics.
• A knowledge of the key sub-aerial processes of weathering and mass movement and understanding of how they shape the coastal landscape.
• A knowledge of the key fluvial processes of erosion, transportation and deposition are needed to explain how coastal landforms are created.
• Characteristics and formation of landforms resulting from erosion – headlands and bays, cliffs and wave cut platforms, caves, arches and stacks.
• Characteristics and formation of landforms resulting from deposition – beaches, sand dunes, spits and bars.
• The use of OS map skills and geolocation of the Dorset coastline. Students must be able to identify the major landforms along this coast. Examples include Old Harry, a stack.
• An understanding of how different management strategies can be used to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes.
• Applying cost benefit analysis to the hard engineering, soft engineering and managed retreat on UK coastlines. Human and Physical Geography interlink through studying how each affects erosion and flood risk and how it may be managed.
• Dawlish Warren as a named example of a Coastal Management Scheme.

Where does this link into our past and future learning? 

• This topic deepens prior learning from the Year 8 unit that focuses on water and the water cycle.
• It builds a base knowledge for the GCSE ‘Physical Landscapes in the UK’ unit, leading the way for the ‘River Landscapes in the UK’ element of the course.
• Key terms used in this topic are used at both KS3, KS4 and KS5.
• Analysis of management strategies and sustainability is considered in all the 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 OS maps and figures to be able to identify landforms and management strategies used.
• Detailed evaluation of management strategies, explaining the costs and benefits of a range of strategies.

What key words are there in this topic?

Quizlet

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 at AQA
• Use the Time for Geography Website to consolidate learning: Time for Geography
• Watch or read the news – Coastal flooding, erosion of the coast and management strategies are often in it.
• Research how climate change may affect coastal flooding and storms in the future.
• Research the coastal management scheme at Lyme Regis – Why is it needed?, What strategies are used?, Is it effective?

What wider reading can be done on this topic?

WOW Earth:click here

Blue Planet II:click here

Supporting document/links:

Found on Satchel – My Drive – GCSE – Geography

• Physical Landscapes knowledge organiser
• Key Terms sheet