Rivers: source to sea

How rivers flow from source to mouth and the landforms they create

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Put these river features in order from source to sea. Put these in order: Mouth (estuary), Source, Middle course, Upper course
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2
Complete the sentence. A smaller river that flows into a bigger one is called a ___.
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3
What is a meander? A) A bend or curve in a river B) The start of a river C) A type of waterfall D) A river that has dried up
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4
True or false? Erosion happens when a river wears away the land. A) True B) False
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5
Match each river feature to its description. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Source, Confluence, Estuary, Floodplain Right: Where a river begins, Where two rivers meet, Tidal mouth of a river, Flat land beside a river that floods
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6
What is an oxbow lake? A) A curved lake formed when a meander is cut off from a river B) A lake shaped like the letter O C) A lake where oxen drink D) The source of a river
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7
True or false? Deposition happens when a river drops material it has been carrying. A) True B) False
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8
Put these river processes in order during the formation of an oxbow lake. Put these in order: River cuts through the narrow neck, Meander becomes more curved, A river bend forms (meander), Old meander is left as an oxbow lake
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9
In which part of a river's course is erosion strongest? A) The upper course, where the river flows fastest B) The middle course, where meanders form C) The lower course, near the sea D) Erosion is the same throughout
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10
Put these river features in order from source to mouth. Put these in order: Source, Tributaries, Meander, Confluence, Estuary
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Answer key

Rivers: source to sea · for parents and teachers

1
Source, Upper course, Middle course, Mouth (estuary)
A river begins at its source (often high ground), flows through the upper, middle and lower courses, and ends at its mouth (sometimes an estuary or delta).
2
tributary
A tributary is a smaller river or stream that joins a larger river. The point where they meet is called a confluence.
3
A bend or curve in a river
A meander is a curve or bend in a river. They form when a river flows across flatter land and erodes the outer bank while depositing on the inner bank.
4
True
Erosion is the process of wearing away rock and soil. Rivers erode mostly in their upper course where they flow quickly.
5
Source → Where a river begins; Confluence → Where two rivers meet; Estuary → Tidal mouth of a river; Floodplain → Flat land beside a river that floods
These are key river features. The source is usually high up, while the estuary is at the sea. Floodplains form from sediment dropped during floods.
6
A curved lake formed when a meander is cut off from a river
Over time, erosion can cut through the narrow neck of a meander. The bend is left behind as a curved oxbow lake, separate from the main river.
7
True
Deposition is when a river drops sediment such as sand, mud or pebbles. It happens most in the lower course where the river slows down.
8
A river bend forms (meander), Meander becomes more curved, River cuts through the narrow neck, Old meander is left as an oxbow lake
Meanders grow more curved over time as erosion deepens the bend. Eventually the river cuts through the neck, leaving the old loop as an oxbow lake.
9
The upper course, where the river flows fastest
The upper course is steep and the water flows quickly, giving it the most energy to erode. Waterfalls and V-shaped valleys form here. Lower courses see more deposition.
10
Source, Tributaries, Meander, Confluence, Estuary
A river starts at the source, gains tributaries, bends as meanders, joins others at confluences, and ends at an estuary.