Geography
P2L
Rivers: Drainage basins
You have choice how you complete this P2L task
1. Make a labelled model to describe and explain the features of a river basin.
OR
2. Identify and photograph or sketch the features of a river basin in the real world and create a PowerPoint presentation or leaflet to describe and explain these features
Only do one of these!
Page 74 in geog 1, the work you have done in your Flood Disasters booklet and your exercise book will help you
with these tasks.
Page 74 in geog 1
A River’s Profile Page 74 geog 1
This video will also help you identify features of a river basin.
Click the hyperlink below to view it.
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/where-does-the-water-in-the-river-severn-come-from/340.html
Key Words
• River Basin• Source• Tributary• Confluence• Meander• Flood Plain• Upper Course• Middle Course• Lower Course• Mouth
Your model, PowerPoint or leaflet should
identify, describe and
explain what all these keywords
mean.
Option One
Make a labelled model to describe and explain the features of river
basin
The instructions on the next 9 slides will help you
NAME, TEACHING GROUP and FORM OF MODEL, MOVIE OR PRESENTATION MAKER:
Self assessment Peer assessment 1
Peer assessment 2
Peer assessment 3
Peer assessment 4
Peer assessment 5
Is the model well made?
L3
Does it show the shape of the land? High at the source low at the mouth?
L3
Does it have labels to show:
Source L4 Tributary L4 Confluence L4 Flood plain L4 Meander L4 Mouth L4 Upper Course L4 Middle Course L4 Lower Course L4 Do the labels describe what the following features are:
Source L4 Tributary L4 Confluence L4 Flood plain L4 Meander L4 Mouth L4 Do the labels explain what
these keywords
mean?
Drainage Basin L5 Watershed L5
Do the labels explain how
the slope changes
between:
Upper Course L5 Middle Course L5 Lower Course L5 Final level
Use the self and peer assessment
sheet to ensure you have included all
the labels to Describe (Level 4) and Explain (Level 5) the features of a
river basin!
Gather the resources that you might need. You already have pens, pencils, colours, rulers etc for school. Asks your parents or carer if you you can use
the glue and scissors that you have at home.
You should not need to buy “Building Materials”. Use waste cardboard boxes, scrap paper, junk mail and used envelopes that would otherwise be put in
your recycling bags or boxes.
Cut up a box to create the base of you model. Glue on other card to make the “land”. Leave gap some
of the base showing. This will be the “sea”.
Cut out more card and use it to show the relief (the shape of the land) by gluing it in layers to
your base to create the hills around your drainage basin. Trim the edges carefully.
Glue on some white card or paper to show the snow on mountain tops and a glacier that could be the source of
your river
Use pencil to draw in the main features of the drainage basin. Include the source at the base of your glacier, a spring, tributaries, confluences,
meanders and the mouth of the river.
Be careful to include all the features of a
drainage basin
Use your pencil lightly so you can easily rub out mistakes
Very carefully colour in the river and it’s tributaries. Don’t forget it will be narrow nearer
the source and wider nearer the mouth!
Now label your model. Make sure you use keywords and describe what each feature is. You could write these on
white card or paper then glue them to your model, make flags and attach them to you model or number each
feature then write out a key that you could glue onto the model. Give your model a title and include your name and
form
Features to describe and label:
Source Spring Tributary Confluence Meander Flood Plain
Mouth &
Descriptions of the slope in the upper, middle and lower
parts of the river.
Don’t forget to recycle your waste paper and cardboard!
Now write a paragraph to explain how you used technology to make your model.
Did you use it for research?
For presenting your work?
To build your model?
Option 2
Identifying features of a drainage basin on a real local river
AndPresenting your work using PowerPoint or by making a
movie
Option 2• Use a local Ordnance survey map to find the following
features on local streams and rivers. You can borrow one of these from your teacher.
• Record the Grid references.• Visit the sites and photograph the features using a digital
camera or make sketches of what you see.• Prepare a PowerPoint presentation or a leaflet to show the
features that you identified. Make sure you describe each feature, explain what it is and give it’s grid references.
• The next 8 slides of features of Barrow Brook and the River Sence will give you ideas.
• Print your PowerPoint as 6 slide hand outs and hand this in to your teacher.
• Or bring in your movie on a data stick!
NAME, TEACHING GROUP and FORM OF MODEL, MOVIE OR PRESENTATION MAKER:
Self assessment Peer assessment 1
Peer assessment 2
Peer assessment 3
Peer assessment 4
Peer assessment 5
Is the model well made?
L3
Does it show the shape of the land? High at the source low at the mouth?
L3
Does it have labels to show:
Source L4 Tributary L4 Confluence L4 Flood plain L4 Meander L4 Mouth L4 Upper Course L4 Middle Course L4 Lower Course L4 Do the labels describe what the following features are:
Source L4 Tributary L4 Confluence L4 Flood plain L4 Meander L4 Mouth L4 Do the labels explain what
these keywords
mean?
Drainage Basin L5 Watershed L5
Do the labels explain how
the slope changes
between:
Upper Course L5 Middle Course L5 Lower Course L5 Final level
Use the self and peer assessment
sheet to ensure you have included all
the labels to Describe (Level 4) and Explain (Level 5) the features of a
river basin!
STAY SAFE
• Water can be very dangerous.
• When you visit the sites:
• Go with an adult.
• Do not enter or play in the water.
• Keep yourself safe from the weather!
Features of a River Basin:
Blower’s Brook and the River Sence
By Mr Howard 8SH
The SourceThe starting point of a river it could be a spring, melting glacier or an area where rain collects.
Grid reference: 393137
The Upper CourseThe Upper Course is the steepest part of the
river. Barrow Brook flows from this these hills.Grid reference 392123
The Middle CourseThe slope is less steep.
Grid Reference: 396116
Meander A Meander is bend in a river
Grid Reference: 398114
TributaryTributaries are small rivers that join the main one.
Blower’s Brook is a tributary of the river Sence.Grid Reference: 399114
ConfluenceWhere two rivers join. Here Blower’s
Brook joins the river Sence.Grid Reference: 399114
Flood PlainThis is the land that get flooded when the river
overflowsGrid Reference: 397115
The Lower CourseThe slope has flattened out as the river
gets nearer the mouth. Grid Reference: 399113
The MouthWhere a river flows into a lake or the sea
Grid Reference: 399113
Now write a paragraph to explain how you used technology to make your model, movie or presentation.
Did you use it for research?
For presenting your work?
To create your presentation?
To make a movie?