Classifying coasts – Edexcel IAL Geography

A fully editable, ready-to-teach lesson on Classifying coasts for Edexcel International A Level (IAL) Geography, Unit 2: Geographical Investigations – Crowded Coasts.

Lesson aim: To classify coastal landscapes using geology, energy, sea level change, relief and sediment.

Learning outcomes

• To describe five ways of classifying coasts
• To compare rocky (cliffed) coasts with coastal plains
• To explain the difference between high-energy and low-energy coasts

Specification: 2.3.1 Coastal processes — coastal landscapes can be classified by geology, energy, sea level change, relief and sediment

What’s included

• Editable PowerPoint lesson (12 slides)
• Word worksheet: Five ways to classify a coast
• Teacher notes and suggested answers in the speaker notes

Lesson overview

• Starter: Describe this coastline using five words or phrases.
• Five ways to classify a coast
• Rocky coasts and coastal plains
• Which type of coast would be easier to build a city on? Which would be safer?
• High-energy and low-energy coasts
• Classifying by sea level change
• Classifying by sediment
• Which classification would be most useful to a coastal manager? Why?
• Classify the coasts
• Exam practice: Explain two ways in which coastal landscapes can be classified. (4)

This lesson is part of my complete Edexcel IAL Geography Crowded Coasts unit, which is also available in my shop if you would like every lesson in the topic.

Want a free sample? Visit The Geography Teacher website.