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Year 7 - Geography

Erosional coastal landforms

Coasts: what shapes life at the coast?

Unit Summary

This unit teaches pupils how physical and human processes shape our coastline. Pupils will also learn about the threats and challenges coastlines face in a warming world.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain erosional processes and describe the coastal landforms they create.

Key Notes

  • There are four types of erosion: abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition and solution.
  • The geology of a coastline will have an impact on the rate of erosion.
  • Coastal landforms, such as arches, are formed through erosional processes over millions of years.
  • The sequence from a headland to a stump is: headland, cave, arch, stack, stump.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • erosion: the process of Earth's surface, e.g. rock or soil, being worn away and transported from its original site
  • landform: landforms are natural features created by processes such as erosion or deposition
  • geology: the geology of an area is its physical structure and the rocks and minerals that exist there
  • rate: a measure of the quantity, frequency or speed at which something happens or occurs

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Students may think that soft rock is physically soft to the touch, like a pillow.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.

There are four types of erosion: abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition and solution. The geology of a coastline will have an impact on the rate of erosion.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'erosion'

the process of Earth's surface, e.g. rock or soil, being worn away and transported from its original site.

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: Students may think that soft rock is physically soft to the touch, like a pillow. Correction: Geologically soft is not the same as being soft like a pillow. All rock feels solid when touched, even soft rocks. Rock that is classified as soft, like clay, can crumble and break more easily than rock which is classified as hard, like granite.

More Lessons In This Unit

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