Lesson Plan: Major River Systems: Climate Change and the River Nile

Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.

Step 1: Topic introduction and discussion 

Reading 1 : River Systems

Reading 2 : Fluvial Processes

1. Use the reading, ‘River Systems’ by Canadian Geographic Education to introduce your students to the basic terminology associated with a river system such as river source, tributary, floodplain, meander, upstream, wetlands, and watershed boundary. This document can also be downloaded.
2. Further, use the reading, ‘Fluvial Processes’ by Central Connecticut State University to describe the processes associated with the flowing nature of the river.
3. Use the text to describe what the drainage basin of a river system is, and what its characteristics are.
4. Explain the processes associated with river erosion and the transportation and deposition of eroded material.
5. Describe the flow channel characteristics and briefly discuss strategies for river management.
6. Finally use the set of review questions given in text to enable further discussion and to assess student understanding of the topic.

Step 2: Develop the topic further by exploring the features of some major river systems of the world

(Go to the Repository Rivers and River Systems)

1. Use the webpage, ‘Rivers and River Systems’ by Encyclopedia Britannica to teach your students about some major river systems of the world.
2. Choose a river system and navigate to different sections in the contents to teach about topics such as physiography, climate and hydrology, plant and animal life, people, economy, study and exploration.
3. Encourage a discussion on what factors, for example climatic factors, could affect the normal functioning of the river system and what their implications could be.
4. You may choose to specifically explore various aspects of the river Nile for better understanding of the effects of climate change on it, as discussed in the next teaching tool.

Step 3: Discuss the impact of climate change on the river Nile

(Go to the Video Nile faces greater variability )

1. Use the video and associated news report, ‘Nile faces greater variability’ by David L. Chandler, Massachusetts Institute of Technology News Office to explain the impact of climate change on the river Nile, one of the major river systems of the world.
2. This news piece reports on a study published by Prof Elfatih Eltahir and Mohamed Siam in Nature Climate Change.
3. Use the tool to explain how the Nile basin now faces unpredictable drought or flood conditions due to a warming climate and that the variability in precipitation and evapotranspiration are influenced by the Pacific Ocean El Nino/ La Nina phenomenon.
4. Further, use this report to discuss the future projections, mentioned in the study, of how such climatic factors could further increase the flow variation in the Nile.

Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation :

1. What are river systems? Describe their fluvial processes.
2. What is the socio-economic importance of a major river system? Give examples.
3. Comment on the significance of the river Nile for Egypt. How is it affected by climate change?
4. How are the major river systems of the world being affected by climate change?

The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:

1. understand river systems and their associated processes
2. learn about various aspects of some of the major river systems of the world
3. explain how river systems may be affected by climatic factors
4. discuss the impact of climate change on the river Nile

If you or your students would like to explore the topic further, these additional resources will be useful.