The Waterfall Background and Vocabulary

Our next story is about an adventure a young boy and his family have exploring a waterfall. Describe a waterfall that you have seen yourself or in pictures. What did it look like? What did it sound like? Let’s look at some waterfall pictures! See if they look like waterfalls you may have seen!

Let’s learn about how waterfalls are formed….. A sudden drop in the level of a river or stream causes water to fall over an edge. This is called a waterfall. Some waterfalls are only a few feet high. Others plunge over cliffs and crash down into the deep canyons below.

Running water can cut rock shelves called ledges out of sheer canyon walls. Ledges are flat spaces like shelves on the sides of cliffs or rock walls. Sheer means very steep. A canyon is a deep valley with steep walls on both sides, formed by running water. Boulders are often found in or near a riverbed. Boulders are large, rounded rocks. When hiking, areas near a waterfall should be scouted for the safest path. Scouted means explored carefully for information. Water crashes down creating a foamy pool that may look like a boiling cauldron. A cauldron is a large pot used for boiling. Very tiny waterfalls that are close together are called rapids. Rapids are a group of small waterfalls in a river where the water flows very fast.

Put on your thinking caps! It’s time to practice!

Vocabulary Words boulderscanyoncauldron ledgesrapidsscoutedsheer Pick the word that means very steep. If you were a giant, what is something you could pick up and throw? Which word means small waterfalls in a river where the water flows fast? Pick the word that means explored carefully for information. If you were a witch, what is something you would use to boil your witch’s brew? Pick the word that means a deep valley with steep walls on both sides that’s formed by running water. If you are climbing, where could you rest for a moment if it is safe? sheer boulders rapids scouted cauldron canyon ledges