Project Based Learning

Why are rivers so important?

This half term, we are going to be starting our new PBL topic. We are going to be learning about the rivers and the seas, trying to answer our leading question: "Why are rivers so important?"

This week, we are going to complete a range of different activities that will introduce you to our topic and hopefully show you how interesting and fascinating it is to learn about rivers and seas. 

What are we going to do?

This week I would like you to complete the following tasks.

Monday - What surrounds us?

Today, I would like you to think about the following three questions:

1. What do we already know about rivers and seas?
2. What do we want to know about rivers and seas?
3. Do we know what makes The United Kingdom special?

I would like you to answer the first two questions on the worksheet provided.

I would then like you to look at the attached map of Europe. Can you find the United Kingdom? Can you then find Austria.

What do you notice about the two countries?

Can you tell me what is different about the two countries locations on the map. The use this to tell me what makes the United Kingdom special.

Tuesday - The seas surrounding us

During todays lesson we are going to focus on what makes the United Kingdom special. 

The fact that we are surrounded on all sides by water. 

This means that the United Kingdom is an island, while Austria a country that I also asked you to look at is landlocked as it is surrounded on all sides by land.

During todays lesson, I would like you to label the four main bodies of water which surround the United Kingdom. Can you research where these bodies of water are and what are these bodies of water called?

Wednesday - What is a river?

Now that we have discovered the 4 main bodies of water that surround the United Kingdom, it is time to move on and extend our learning further.

Today, we are going to be thinking about rivers, and trying to answer the question: "What is a river?"

In order to do this I would like you to watch the video at the following link https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z849q6f/articles/z7w8pg8.

(You may have to copy and paste the link in your internet browser)

Can you then write me a sentence which tells me what you think a river is.

Once you have done this, can you tell me the different features which are commonly found within a river on the worksheet that you have been provided with.

If you would like to challenge yourself further can you see if you are able to label the different parts of a river on the second sheet you have been given.

Thursday - Where are the rivers in the UK?

Now that we have looked at the different features of rivers, I would like you to spend todays session looking at the locations of the different rivers that can be found within the UK.

I would like you to find a map of the British Isles and draw and label 10 different rivers that are found within the United Kingdom.

Can you think about where the rivers originate at, and where the rivers flow to?

Friday - The journey of a river

During todays lesson we are going to be looking at the journey a river takes from its source all the way to the sea.

I would like you to read the extract I have attached for todays lesson. I would then like you to write the different stages that a river takes when it flows from its source to the sea.

If you would like to challenge yourself further, I would like to see you draw the river cycle all the way from the source to the sea.