River study (Geography)

Come to Perlethorpe and walk in the river, here your class will get the chance to use river study equipment to discover important features including flow rate and invertebrate species. Whether they find a fresh water shrimp or the elusive Water Scorpion, the class will learn all about the River in a fun and exciting way.

This activity is also tailored and available to study at A Level. If you'd like to find out more about these courses, get in touch.

River studies activity day at Perlethorpe - on YouTube

Suitable for:

KS2, KS3 and KS4

Duration:

½ day session often combined with River Dipping

Available at:

Perlethorpe

Itinerary

On arrival one of our tutors will welcome your group to the Centre and go through the schedule for the day, learning objectives and health and safety issues.

KS2 half day itinerary:

Collect equipment, put wellies on and walk to River Meden
We'll separate the group into 4 groups
Demonstration of key activities
Each group to rotate around the different geographical techniques: flow rate, cross section, field sketching and identification of species
Then head back to the centre to get changed after tidying up
Optional addition of River Orienteering, using river features as controls and river sculptures

KS4, AS & A2 day itinerary:

Students will be asked: As geographers what factors can be measured?
What factors will change when comparing a straight piece of river to a river with a bend?
Followed by a Digital slide show on the different geographical techniques that are going to be used, covering flow rate, cross section, bedload size, wetted perimeter, gradient, depth and width field sketching
Demonstrate equipment
Activity supporting the teaching of erosion, abrasion, attrition, hydraulic action and corrosion
Walk to the river Meden
Followed by a study of straight river
Head back to the centre for lunch