The document discusses beaches and their characteristics. It describes different types of beaches like sandy beaches and pebble beaches. Sandy beaches are generally shallow and flat while pebble beaches are steeper. Sandy beaches can stretch further inland than pebble beaches. Beach profiles show how beaches change, with sandy beaches having a gentler profile than pebble beaches. Key terms like berm and beach characteristics are also defined.

1. Big Picture
Beaches
• Different types
• Formation
• Characteristics
Beach profile
• How they change
• Diagram
Beach
 A zone of deposited material
that extends from the low
water line to the limit of
storm waves.
Key Vocabulary
Page 100
07 May 2019
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

2.  You can describe the characteristics and formation of beaches.
 You use a limited range of specialist terms
 You have a reasonable accuracy in the use of spelling,
punctuation and grammar.
 You can outline the characteristics and formation of beaches.
 You use a good range of specialist terms
 You have a considerable accuracy in spelling, punctuation and
grammar.
 You explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.
 You use a wide range of specialist terms where appropriate.
 Accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Learning Outcomes – Success Criteria
L3 - Detailed
Answer
L2 - Clear
Answer
L1 - Basic
Answer
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

3. Pebble beaches are generally steep whilst
sandy beaches are generally shallow and
almost flat. The distance the beaches
stretch inland is not very far when the
beach is made up of pebbles however
when the beach is made up of sand, they
do stretch a long way inland.
Constructive waves are dominant at sandy
beaches whilst destructive waves are
dominant at pebble beaches. Towards the
back of a sandy beach, there may be sand
dunes whereas pebble beaches will have
larger pebbles at the back.
How are Sand & Pebble Beaches
Different?
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

4. Contrasting beaches
How are these two beaches different?
How can processes account for these differences?
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

5. EDEXECL GCSE GEOGRAPHY A TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

6. How are Sand & Pebble Beaches
Different?
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

7. Extension: A sandy beach at low tide
Draw a labelled sketch to show the features of this beach.
[4 marks]
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

8. Which beach does the characteristic belong to?
Shallow, almost flat
Sandy OR Pebble
Has large pebbles at the back
Sandy OR Pebble
Stretches quite long inland
Sandy OR Pebble
Destructive waves are dominant
Sandy OR Pebble
How are Sand & Shingle Beaches
Different?
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

9. Produced by Mr M Colclough
Use the information slides to help you
fill out all sections of your sheet.
1. Explain what a beach profile is and
how they change in the bottom
box.
2. Use the information slide to draw
the profiles of both summer and
winter beaches.
3. Use the information slides to lable
the photograph.
4. Answer the GCSE short question.
Worksheet
task
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

10. A beach profile shows the gradient from the back of the beach to the
sea and the characteristics in between. A sandy beach generally has a
gentle, fairly flat profile, whereas a pebble beach has a steep, stepped
profile.
What is a Beach Profile?
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

11. Why do beach profiles change?
A berm is a terrace on a beach that has formed in the backshore, above the water
level at high tide. On broad beaches there may be three or more subparallel berms,
each formed under different wave conditions. While an existing berm is moved up
the beach by storms and spring tides, a new berm may develop and change the
beach profile.
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

12. 1. In winter, berms
and sometimes sand
dunes at the back of
the beach, are eroded
by destructive waves
which drag beach
deposits offshore to
create an offshore
bar. This lowers the
height of a beach.
Why do beach profiles change?
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

13. 2. In late spring and
summer, constructive
waves will rebuild the
beach. The offshore
bar is worked by the
waves to rebuild the
berms.
3. Destructive waves
often result in winter
profiles that are
narrower and steeper.
Why do beach profiles change?
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

14. Sand Dune
 A hill of loose sand formed by wind or water, these can
be stabilised by vegetation.
Key Vocabulary Page 100
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

15. Produced by Mr M Colclough
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

16. Complete the worksheet describing what a dune slack is and how sand dunes are
formed.
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

17. Strong onshore
winds blow the sand
towards the land.
Small embryo dunes
form around
obstacles in the
tideline
Vegetation grows on
the small dunes to
form a large
foredune
The plants that grow
here have long roots
that stabilise the
sand dunes
After a while the
vegetation that has
died makes the sand
more fertile forming
the grey dunes.
The wind can carve
hollows into the
dunes known as
slacks.
How are Sand Dunes Formed?
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

18. Embryo Dune
Unstable, steep
slip slope (lee
face) on
sheltered side
Crests
Gentle slope
on windward
side
Identify the characteristics of sand dunes. Add the characteristics in the correct places.
Berm
Slack
The Characteristics of Sand Dunes
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

19. Study Figure 2, a photograph showing sand dunes near Studland, Dorset.
Explain how the sand dunes
in Figure 2 formed. (3)
SUCCESS CRITERIA:
Start from the beginning
of the formation process
– what does wind cause?
What happens to trapped
sand? What type of dunes
are formed first?
What happens to the
sand?
Where do sand dunes
end? What type of dune?
Figure 2
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

20. Study Figure 2, a photograph showing sand dunes near Studland, Dorset.
Explain how the sand dunes
in Figure 2 formed. (3)
MODEL ANSWER:
Sand blowing up the
beach was trapped by
obstacles (1). The
trapped sand was
colonised by
vegetation, forming
embryo dunes (1). The
embryo dunes grew
and migrated inland,
forming mature dunes
(1).
Figure 2
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.

21. Embryo Dune
Unstable, steep
slip slope (lee
slope) on
sheltered side
Crests
Gentle slope
on windward
side
Berm
Slack
The Characteristics of Sand Dunes
Coastal Features: Beaches
LO: To explain the characteristics and formation of beaches.