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.
Provided Resources
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.
Lesson Planning
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.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
There are no resources provided for this session.
You Will Also Need
Large baking tray
Sand
Water
Egg cup
Weblinks
Flood warning website from www.bbc.co.uk
Search online for video forage of flooding in the UK, e.g. from storm Desmond in 2015 or storm Dennis 2020 from www.youtube.com
Video on managing rivers on flood plains from www.youtube.com
Optional BBC Teach clip on flood plains and river management from www.youtube.com
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.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
There are no resources provided for this session.
You Will Also Need
A large map of the UK displayed on the wall
Access to online and library research resources
Large pieces of paper
Coloured pencils
Weblinks
Cliff collapse from www.youtube.com
Search for coastal features on Kiddle, or at https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/earth/coasts/
Harry Potter glossary (optional) from harrypotter.bloomsbury.com
BBC Coasts: coastal erosion and features (optional) from www.bbc.co.uk
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.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
There are no resources provided for this session.
You Will Also Need
Internet access
Weblinks
ITV news from Hemsby, 2018 from www.youtube.com
Search BBC news for reports of coastal erosion in the UK, e.g.on the Norfolk coast
Pros and cons of sea defences from www.youtube.com