Land & Water
π Overview
Earth has many different landforms and bodies of water. These physical features shape the places where people live and affect how people travel, work, and use natural resources. In this topic, students learn to identify common landforms and bodies of water and describe their basic characteristics.
π― Learning Objectives
By the end of this topic, students will be able to:
- Identify common landforms and bodies of water.
- Describe basic characteristics of different landforms.
- Describe basic characteristics of different bodies of water.
- Locate landforms and bodies of water on simple maps.
- Explain how land and water affect where people live and work.
Land & Water
Earth’s surface has many different landforms and bodies of water. These physical features help make each place unique.
A mountain is a high area of land with steep sides. A hill is raised land that is lower and often less steep than a mountain. A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains. A plain is a large area of mostly flat land.
There are also many types of bodies of water. A river is flowing water that moves across land. A lake is a body of water surrounded by land. An ocean is a very large body of salt water. A pond is a smaller body of water that is usually surrounded by land.
People depend on both land and water. People may build communities near rivers, lakes, and oceans. Land provides places for homes, farms, roads, and businesses. Water provides drinking water, transportation, food, and places for recreation.
Land and water are important parts of Earth’s geography.
π§ Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Landform | A natural feature of Earth’s land. |
| Mountain | A high area of land with steep sides. |
| Valley | A low area of land between hills or mountains. |
| Plain | A large area of mostly flat land. |
| River | Flowing water that moves across land. |
| Lake | A body of water surrounded by land. |
βοΈ Fun Practice Activities
π Offline Homework Activity
Land and Water Around Me
With help from a parent, caregiver, or teacher, find a map or picture that shows land and water.
Name one landform:
Name one body of water:
Where did you find them?
How might people use the land or water?
Draw one landform and one body of water.
π¬ Family Conversation
Ask a family member:
βWhat landform or body of water have you visited or seen?β
Talk about what it looked like and how people used the area.
β Remember
Landforms and bodies of water are important physical features that shape the places where people live and work.