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Identifying the natural shapes of the land like mountains, hills, and plains that surround our communities.
Have you ever wondered why some roads are perfectly flat while others twist and turn like a roller coaster? It's all because of the 'giant shapes' of the Earth hiding in our own backyards!
The Earth isn't just flat ground; it has many different shapes called landforms. Think of landforms as the 'furniture' of the planet! Mountains are the tallest landforms, often with pointy tops and steep sides. Hills are like smaller, rounded versions of mountains that are easier to climb. Between these high places, you often find valleys, which are low areas that look like a 'V' or a 'U' shape. Finally, there are plains, which are large, flat areas of land that stretch out as far as the eye can see. Each of these shapes makes our backyard unique!
Quick Check
If you were standing in a low area between two big mountains, what landform would you be in?
Answer
A valley.
Long ago, when people started building communities, they had to look at the landforms first. Imagine trying to play soccer on the side of a steep mountain—the ball would roll away! This is why many towns are built on plains. It is much easier to build houses, schools, and roads on flat land. Plains are also great for farming because the soil is usually deep and the ground is easy to plow. However, some people live near mountains for protection or to use the wood from mountain forests. The landform dictates the 'rules' for the community.
Imagine you have a toy set and want to build a village. 1. You find a flat rug (this is your plain). 2. You place your houses there because they won't tip over. 3. You use a pile of pillows to represent mountains in the background for decoration. 4. You realize the flat rug is the best place for your toy cars to drive!
Quick Check
Why is a plain usually better for a farm than a mountain?
Answer
Because it is flat, making it easier to plant crops and move equipment.
Landforms aren't the only things in our backyard. We also have water bodies. A river is a long ribbon of moving water that flows downhill. Rivers are like the 'highways' of nature. A lake is a large area of water with land all around it. On a map, these are usually colored blue. Communities are almost always built near water. Why? Because people need water for drinking, cleaning, and growing food. If you see a blue line on a map, it's likely a river; a blue circle is usually a lake!
A town wants to build a new hospital. They have two choices: 1. Site A is on a plain near a river. 2. Site B is on a steep hill far from water.
The town chooses Site A because it is easier to build on flat land and the river provides water for the building.
You are drawing a map for a new city. You must include: 1. A mountain range to the North to block cold winds. 2. A river flowing from the mountains into a lake in the center. 3. A community built on the plains next to the lake so they have water and flat land for a park.
Which landform is described as a large, flat area of land?
Why are most cities built near rivers or lakes?
A valley is a high landform with a pointy top.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to name the four main landforms we discussed and one reason why people like to live on flat land.
Practice Activity
Look at a map of your own town or state. Can you find a blue line (river) or a blue shape (lake)? Is your school built on a hill or a plain?