• Observe students constructing the landforms. Listen for students correctly identifying each landform.

Activity 1 Day 1

Introduction of Landforms

Display a wooden puzzle of the United States. Remove several states and discuss things such as:

• shape

• a state that is meaningful to you

• a state that is neighboring Pennsylvania

• states students may have visited

Ask students the following questions: “Does anyone know the name of the state we live in? Can anyone find our state on the U.S. map?” Students may not be able to locate Pennsylvania so allow students to investigate the map and then show them where Pennsylvania is located. Ask students, “What shape does the state Pennsylvania remind you of?” Students may say it reminds them of a rectangle.

Show students a map of Pennsylvania and ask students, “What do you think this part of Pennsylvania is like?” Students may say that the area looks flat, green, brown, etc., relating to the colors on the map. Guide students to begin to understand that the map will show landforms such as mountains, forest, lakes, rivers, etc. Point out the various landforms that can be identified on the map.

Ask students to think and share what they think each landform is made of. Create a word web for each landform and record student responses to the following questions: “What do you think _____ (mountains, hills, flatlands) are made of?” Record student responses on each word web and display the responses in the classroom. Guide students to conclude that the landforms are made of rocks, sand, dirt/soil.

Activity 2 Day 2

Let’s Make Landforms

Take students on an investigation walk. Have students walk outside in their school yard and determine if they can see any landforms nearby. (There may not be any landforms but students may talk about some landforms they may have seen.)

Designate an area in the school yard for students to create landforms. Place students in groups and tell each group they will create landforms they have been talking about in the classroom. Caution students not to throw any materials and to wash hands after the activity is completed. If it is not possible to go out to the school yard, prepare an area such as a sand table or tubs containing potting soil, soil gathered from the area, and sand. Students may build landforms in the classroom and identify each landform. Have students share their landforms with others.

Extension:

• Students who may be going beyond the standards can laminate a map of Pennsylvania (S-K2-6-2_Map of Pennsylvania.doc) or another map for students. Provide students with modeling clay and have students create landforms that match the areas on the map.
• Students who might need opportunities for additional learning can make a classroom map using symbols to indicate what is in the room.