MRS. ZURKUHLEN’S CLASS

IS FULL OF LANDFORM WHIZZES!

Landforms

IN THIS ACTIVITY YOU WILL:

Learn about the different types of landforms.

Create and label landform models with play dough.

Write a Four Square describing a landform of their choice.

LANDFORMS

What Are Landforms? A landform is any natural formation of

rock and dirt, found on Earth. A landform can be as large as a mountain range, or as small as a hill. It can be as large as a continent, or as small as a pond. Geologists study how landforms are created, and how they interact with one another.

MOUNTAINS

Mountains can be tall and sharply pointed like the Rocky Mountains.

Mountains can be lower and more rounded like the Appalachian Mountains.

VALLEYS

Valleys are lowlands that lie between mountain ranges.

They are often good places for communities because water runs down from the mountains and they have rich soil to grow crops.

PLATEAUS

Plateaus are landforms that have STEEP SIDES and a FLAT top.

They may stretch for miles in every direction.

DESERTS

A desert is dry land with few plants and little water.

ISLANDS

An island is a piece of land that has water on all sides.

PLAINS

The area of flat land along a sea or ocean is a coastal plain

Plains are flat sometimes grassy lands that stretch for miles and can be good habitats for animals like zebras, lions, and elephants, giraffes.

PENINSULAS

A peninsula is a piece of land that has water on ONLY THREE sides and attached to another piece of land.

A good example of a peninsula is FLORIDA.

REVIEW OF LANDFORMS

MOUNTAINS: High steep,rocky land

VALLEYS: Low land in between mountains

PLATEAUS:Steep, sloped land with a flat top

DESERTS: Dry, sandy land

PLAINS: Flat, grassy land that stretches for miles

ISLANDS: Land surrounded by water

PENINSULAS:Land with water on 3 sides

CREATIVE ACTIVITY

Each group will get a package of play dough to make models of the landforms.

All landforms should be labeled. You can make the labels with a toothpick and small tag identifying the landform. Tape the tag to the toothpick and insert into the landform.

Writing Activity

Students will choose their favorite landform to write a Four Square paragraph and present it to the class.

Pictures

Pictures were found in teacher’s personal collection and Microsoft’s Office Online.