aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	Geography
What age group	Doesn't matter
What topic	Long and cross profile of a river
Quantity	1
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Exploring the Journey of a River: Long and Cross Profiles

Lesson Introduction

Imagine standing on the banks of the River Tyne. The gentle flow of water weaves through the countryside, carving its path into the earth. Now, close your eyes and envision the river in its entirety, from its source in the North Pennines to its mouth at Newcastle. Have you ever wondered about the journey it undertakes and how it changes along the way?

Today, we are going to embark on an exciting exploration of river profiles—specifically, the long and cross profiles. By understanding these concepts, we can better appreciate the physical geography of rivers and their influence on the landscapes they traverse.

Hook Activity: Drawing the River’s Journey

To kick off our lesson, we’ll begin with a creative activity that invites you to visualize and draw your very own river!

Instructions:

1. Gather your materials: You will need paper, coloured pencils, and rulers.
2. Sketch the Source: Start by drawing a small stream or spring at the top of your paper. This represents the river’s source. Use blue for the water and green for surrounding vegetation.
3. Create the River Path: As you draw the river flowing downwards, imagine its journey through hills, valleys, and plains. Think about how the land changes.
4. Include Features: Along the way, add features like tributaries, waterfalls, meanders, and floodplains. Each feature represents a different stage in the river’s journey.
5. Label Your Drawing: Once your drawing is complete, label each section of your river. Identify where the river is young (upper course), mature (middle course), and old (lower course).

As you work on your drawings, think about the different characteristics and features of the river in each part. After we finish, we’ll come together to discuss how these profiles relate to the long and cross sections of a river.

Objective

By the end of today’s lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe the long profile of a river, highlighting its features and gradient changes.
• Illustrate the cross profile, understanding how width and depth change in different locations.
• Connect physical geographical concepts to real-world rivers, enhancing your understanding through visualisation.

Let’s dive into the depths of geographical exploration of rivers and understand their importance in our environment!