Mountains and Rivers

Year 4

Unit Overview

In this project, your child will learn about the characteristics and physical processes of rivers, including how they shape the landscape over time, their significance around the world and the impact of flooding. They will learn how to use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and a key to locate and plot geographical places and features on a map, as well as how contour lines are used to show the topography of an area. They will have the opportunity to learn about the stages of the water cycle and about mountains and their different formations, studying mountain ranges in the United Kingdom and around the world. They will also learn about habitats and how human and natural influences can have an impact on the environment. 

❇ MEMORABLE MOMENT

Visit to the River Irk near Alkrington Woods Nature Reserve. 

️✏️ WRITING OPPORTUNITIES

🌳 LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

In this unit of work we will visit the River Irk near Alkrington Woods Nature Reserve.  

Driver Subject: Learning Intentions

1.      Retrieval - Capital cities of Europe.  Main - describe and understand key aspects of:  physical geography, including: rivers. What is a river? Introductory Knowledge: The children are introduced to the unit and know the 3 stages of a river and the characteristics of each stage.

2.       Retrieval - World map-label Equator,  N & S poles, Oceans and continents.  Main - Changing Landscapes: How do rivers change the landscape? Rivers can change landscapes through erosion, deposition and transportation. Look at oxbow lakes, manders, waterfalls.

3.      River visit

4.      Retrieval - 4 figure grid references . Main -Describe and understand key aspects of:  physical geography, including: the water cycle . What is the water cycle? The children can use specific geographical vocabulary and diagrams to explain the water cycle.

5.      Retrieval - locate counties in U.K.     Main- Describe and understand key aspects of:  physical geography, including: mountains. What are mountains? Explore what a mountain is.

6.      Retrieval - Globel interactive game.  Main -Name and locate key topographical features (including hills, mountains, coasts and rivers).  Do I live near a mountain? Locate and name mountain ranges in UK and around the world. Use a topography map to show these mountain ranges. Compare habitats at the top and bottom of a mountain.

7.      Quiz about rivers and mountains.


🏁 BIG FINISH

Children to complete a Big Finish quiz.

📖 FOCUS TEXT(S) 

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson.

The River by Valerie Bloom.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

A variety of non-fiction texts.