KS2 Rivers Geography Unit – 6 Fully Resourced Lessons

This engaging unit introduces pupils to the key features, processes and importance of rivers while developing geographical enquiry and map skills.

Across six lessons, pupils explore the water cycle, river courses and river features, learn to locate rivers on maps, and investigate how humans interact with river environments.

The unit culminates in pupils evaluating the environmental quality of a river environment and suggesting ways it could be improved.

The lessons are designed to build knowledge progressively while encouraging discussion, enquiry and geographical thinking.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit pupils will be able to:

• Identify key stores and processes in the water cycle
• Describe the upper, middle and lower courses of a river
• Name and identify key river features (source, mouth, meander, floodplain)
• Locate major rivers on maps
• Explain different ways rivers are used by humans
• Identify human and physical features within river environments
• Use OS maps to locate rivers
• Describe environmental challenges affecting rivers
• Evaluate the environmental quality of a river environment
• Suggest ways river environments could be improved

This resource includes:

6 fully planned geography lessons
Editable PowerPoint presentations
Map skills activities using OS maps
Discussion and enquiry tasks
Assessment opportunities