Liz Bonnin introduces clips that explore how a river changes as it travels downstream.
Liz Bonnin introduces 麻豆官网首页入口 archive footage of Sir David Attenborough as he follows the Amazon River downstream.
Sir David explains how the characteristics of a river change and how dramatic scenery results from the erosion of rocks. He also explains how waterfalls form in the upper course of a river and meanders are found in the lower course. The formation of ox-bow lakes is also shown.
Sir David references the Yellow River in China as well as other major rivers around the world.
The film ends with Helen Skelton describing the confluence of the Amazon and its main tributary, the Rio Negro ('Black River' in Spanish / Portuguese).
Teacher Notes
Key Stage 3
This short film could be used to introduce or to reinforce to students how a river changes as it moves downstream.
It will provide students with an introduction to the features of waterfalls, meanders and ox-bow lakes.
After watching this short film students could consider the formation of these features in more detail.
Key Stage 4
This short film could be shown to allow students to put their learning of river features into context - showing what an ox-bow lake and waterfall look like in real life.
Students could be asked to draw the detailed formation from memory having watched this clip.
Curriculum Notes
This topic appears in Geography at KS3 (Hydrology) and KS4 / GCSE (Rivers and water) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4/5 in Scotland.
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