What's Happening?
The land and water around us come in many different shapes. Some land is flat. Some land is tall and pointy. Some water is in a tiny pond. Some water is in a huge ocean!
- What shapes of land and water do you see in the picture?
- What kind of land or water is near your home?
Big Ideas About Land and Water
Earth has many land features (shapes of the ground) and water features (places where water collects). Let's learn about the most important ones!
Land Features
Water Features
Models Help Us Learn
Let's Try It!
What you need: A tray or shallow box, clay or play dough (brown and green), blue water or blue paper, small rocks, and labels (sticky notes or small cards).
- Plan it. Think about what land and water you want to show. Pick at least 2 land features and 1 water feature.
- Build the land. Use clay to make mountains (tall and pointy), hills (short and round), valleys (low dips), or plains (flat areas).
- Add the water. Use blue paper or real water to fill in rivers (long and thin), lakes (round), or an ocean (at the edge).
- Label it. Write the name of each feature on a small card and place it on your model. Then describe your model to a friend or family member!
When you describe your model, tell about each feature. You might say: "This tall part is a mountain. It has steep sides. This low part is a valley between the mountain and the hill. The blue part is a river that flows past the hill."
What We Found Out
When we build a model, we can see how land and water features look. We can point to each part and tell about it. Let's look at how different features compare.
| Feature | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Mountain ā°ļø | Very tall land with steep sides and a peak at the top |
| Hill šļø | Shorter than a mountain, with round, gentle sides |
| Valley š | Low land between mountains or hills |
| Plain š¾ | Flat land that stretches very far |
| Ocean š | A huge body of salt water ā the biggest water feature |
| Lake š§ | Water with land all around it |
| River šļø | Water that flows in a long, winding path across the land |
| Pond šø | A small, still body of water ā smaller than a lake |
A model helps us describe all of these features. When you describe your model, you use words about shape, size, and where things are.
For example: "The mountain is the tallest part. The river flows through the valley. The lake is next to the flat plain."
Do You See the Pattern?
Scientists look for patterns ā things that happen in the same way again and again. Let's find some patterns about land and water!
Here is the pattern: Land features can go from very tall (mountains) to very flat (plains). Water features can go from very big (oceans) to very small (ponds).
This pattern helps us describe and sort what we see. When you look at your model, you can use size and shape to describe each feature.
Land and Water in the Real World
People use models of land and water every day! Have you ever looked at a map? A map is a flat model of the Earth. It shows where mountains, rivers, lakes, and oceans are.
People who build roads need to know where the mountains and rivers are. People who build houses need to know if the land is flat or hilly. Models and maps help them plan!
- One mountain or hill
- One river or lake
- One flat area (plain)
Label each part of your map. Then describe your map to someone. Tell them what each feature looks like and where it is!
Key Vocabulary
- Model ā Something we build or draw to show what something in the real world looks like.
- Mountain ā Very tall land with steep sides and a peak at the top.
- Hill ā Land that is raised up, but shorter and rounder than a mountain.
- Valley ā Low land between mountains or hills.
- Plain ā Flat land that stretches very far.
- River ā Water that flows in a long path across the land.
- Lake ā A body of water with land all around it.
- Ocean ā A very large body of salt water.