Journey down the River Severn

The River Severn is our nearest large river, it is 350km long and flows from its source in the Cambrian Mountains in Wales, to its mouth in the Bristol Channel. Watch the Landmarks video (Follow the River Severn) carefully, especially the information about the features you would find along the course of the river, in the three stages of its course – the upper, middle and lower course.

You now have these tasks to complete. Read the instructions very carefully and ask if there is anything that you do not understand.

1. A group of school friends went on a trip where they followed the R. Severn for the whole of its length. They each had to write about what they saw and you have a selection of the descriptions that they wrote.
2. Try to put the descriptions in order, starting from the source to the mouth. Are there any that don’t seem to fit in? Are there any that could go in a number of places?
3. Using the outline map to help you, make THREE lists, one for the Upper part of the river’s course, one for the Middle section and the last one for the Lower section.
4. Use your lists to help you write a description of "The Course of the River Severn".
5. Use a map or Atlas to help you name the towns and other features marked on the map.

The river had cut into the bank leaving a steep slope.

I was amazed at how wide the valley was here, l could not see the sides.

The tributary that joins the river here is quite a big river too.

The bridges are both big and exciting to cross.

I want to learn to surf!

You could really see where the Severn Bore washed away the soil from the river bank.

Small stones were being moved along by the water.

I saw a boat.

The valley was a definite "V" shape.

The towns by the river are much bigger here.

We watched a train go past.

We could easily jump from one side of the river to the other.

The water was very dirty, full of sand and silt.

The waterfall wasn’t very high but the plunge pool was quite deep.

It was easy to see how the Ox-bow lake had formed.

I had seen some pictures of houses with sandbags against the door to keep the flood water out.

The land around had only a few farmhouses.

The ground was really boggy here because of the high rainfall.

I could see the river meandering.

The water looked as if it was flowing quite fast.

Why was there seaweed in the river?

Click here (right mouse button) to download the sentences here in Word format - you can then edit and amend them to suit your needs.

Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to kate.russell@staffordshire.gov.uk
Copyright © 2007 [QLS Staffordshire County Council]

This page last updated 24 April 2006