The document discusses how the landscape changes along the course of the River Severn in the UK. It describes the river's upper, middle, and lower courses and how they differ. The upper course near the source in Wales has steep slopes and rapids. The middle course through Gloucestershire is wider with flatter valleys. The lower course near Bristol estuary is tidal, with few rapids and meanders.

1. How do river landscapes change
along the course of the River Severn?

2. Lesson Objectives
• To know the key characteristics of a river
• To have an awareness of how river landscapes contrast between the
upper, middle and lower courses
Key words:Long profile= a slice through the river from source to mouth that shows
the changes in height of the river’s course
Valley profile= a slice across a river showing the changes in height across the valley

3. Key Words
• Long profile a slice down the river from
source to mouth that shows the changes in
height of the river’s course
• Valley / cross profile a slice across a river’s
valley showing the changes across the river
valley.

4. Valley or long profile?

5. Valley or long profile?

7. Your turn
• Draw the Long Profile and the Cross Profile for
each of the three stages of the river.

8. River Severn – The journey of a river
Stick this map into your books. Label the source and the mouth.

9. Changes along the River Severn
• Watch the video on the
River Severn adding in
any specific points to your
three different stages.

10. Can you add anything further from
these pictures?
The source of the River Severn is in the Upper Course: Plynlimon ( it is the highest
point of the Cambrian Mountains in Wales).
What does it look like? Can you see any features?

11. Middle course
Bewdley-the
middle course
of the river.
What does it
look like? Can
you see any
features?

12. Can you add anything further from
these pictures?
The middle course of the River Severn in: Gloucestershire. What does it look like?
Can you see any features?

13. Can you add anything further from
these pictures?
The lower course of the River Severn in: Bristol (the Severn Beach). What does it look
like? Can you see any features?

14. Which picture would you find
where? Upper, Middle and
Lower Course?

15. Summary
 Imagine an alien has landed in
the classroom and wants to
know what a river profile is.
 How would you answer him:
tell your answer to the person
sitting next to you.
 Challenge: you cannot use the
word ‘river’ in your answer.