1. DE Science Elementary “5-Minute Prep” For Earth’s Features Earth’s Changing Surface > Landforms

2. Landforms – The Big Ideas Landforms are the natural features of the Earth’s surface. Landforms include mountains, plains, hills, valleys, plateaus, coastal plains. Each landform is created in a different way. Mountains and hills are formed by volcanoes or by the faulting and folding of rock. Valleys are shaped by water running through them. Plains and plateaus are flat areas that are formed in various ways. Coastal plains are large, flat areas along a coastline and are formed by oceans, erosion from higher lands, and wind action.

3. Landforms- Prior Knowledge Students have probably seen many different types of landforms. However, they may not have a considerable vocabulary of landforms, and probably do not realize how they are formed. It will help students to use the Exploration: Landforms to discover the three ways mountains are formed. In addition, it will help if they have: Exploration: Landforms Seen examples of landforms in person, in pictures, or in maps. Traveled to areas where landforms might be different from their home area.

4. Landforms – Common Misconceptions The Earth was always as it now or any changes that have occurred must have been rapid or sudden. –Reality: Millions of years ago, scientists think the land on Earth looked very different from what it looks like today. It may have resembled one large continent. The continents as we now know them slowly moved positions because of the movement of tectonic plates. Land formations do not change over time and have always been as they appear. –Reality: A number of factors including weather, erosion, and plate tectonics affect and change landforms

5. Landforms – Using DE Science Content When you close this presentation, you can review the following recommended resources for Landforms. Explorations: LandformsLandforms Reading Passage: Natural WondersNatural Wonders eBook: Building Up and Breaking DownBuilding Up and Breaking Down Video: Uplifting and Erosion: How Landforms are FormedUplifting and Erosion: How Landforms are Formed Use the PowerPoint version of this presentation for hyperlinks to these resources or you can get to them through the browser or search feature.

6. Landforms: Instructional Ideas Use the Explorations: Landforms with the whole class so students can discover for themselves the three ways mountains are formed.Landforms Using the glossary and landform vocabulary, students can create models of landforms with different materials such as clay or shaving cream. Students can select and research famous landforms, and make a travel brochure showcasing their choice. Students can play a “memory” game by matching photographs with the definition and landform name.

7. State standards: If you wish to review your state standards regarding Landforms, click here to get to the curriculum standards search feature of DES. http://discoveryeducation.com/forward/curriculum.cfm You can click on any standard to see what resources are available to teach it. Additional Information: For additional content, check the Extend section within the concept.