Upper Key Stage 2 Earth Matters - NEW LOOK
Water cycle, rivers & coasts

Study the water cycle and the physical effects of rivers and seas on the surrounding landscape. Look at how rain finds its way into rivers and how rivers develop from the source to entering the sea. Learn about coastal erosion and the impact of the sea on human activity.

Session 1 The water cycle

Objectives

Geography

  • Understand and identify the features of the water cycle.

Enquiry question
Where does water come from?

Outcomes
Children will:

  • Identify and define the features of the water cycle.
  • Accurately use vocabulary associated with the water cycle.
  • Recreate the water cycle in a simple experiment.
  • Apply learning to show understanding of the water cycle in a poster.

You Will Also Need

Each group will need: a large transparent bowl, a small transparent bowl, hot water, a few cubes of ice, spoon, cling film, salt, a large sheet of paper, felt tip pens, coloured pencils or quality crayons.

Weblink
Met Office water cycle animation from www.youtube.com

Session 2 From source to sea

Objectives

Geography

  • Use maps to locate local features.
  • Identify features of rivers and streams from source to sea.

Enquiry question
Where does our local river come from and go to?

Outcomes
Children will:

  • Identify the source of a local river, its route to the sea and its significant features.
  • Use maps to track a river’s course.

Provided Resources

There are no resources provided for this session.

You Will Need

Online mapping tool, e.g. Google maps/ OS maps
Blue string
Drawing pins
Coloured pencils

Weblinks
The River Esk from source to sea from www.youtube.com

Session 3 Flood plains and flooding

Objectives

Geography

  • Discuss the human impacts on floodplains.
  • Understand the importance of flood management systems.

Enquiry question
Should we build on flood plains? How can we reduce flooding?

Outcomes
Children will:

  • Discuss the human impact on floodplains.
  • Explore different ways to manage floods on rivers.

Provided Resources

There are no resources provided for this session.

Session 4 Coastal features

Objectives

Geography

  • Name and describe key coastal features.
  • Research the processes involved in coastal erosion.

Enquiry question
How is our coastline shaped?

Outcomes
Children will:

  • Compile a glossary of key terms used to describe coastal physical features and how they are formed.
  • Produce a poster to clearly show the processes involved in forming a coastal feature.

Provided Resources

There are no resources provided for this session.

Session 5 Coastal erosion

Objectives

Geography

  • Research different ways of defending the coastline against erosion.
  • Understand the decisions made about how and where to defend the coastline.

Enquiry question
How does coastal erosion affect people?

Outcomes
Children will:

  • Explore the potential impacts of coastal erosion on people.
  • Write a short script and film a news report about coastal erosion’s impact on people.

Provided Resources

There are no resources provided for this session.