Activities

1. Which of the following is a source of river water?
   1. Oceans
   2. Springs
   3. Geysers
   4. Ponds
      
      
2. What is the name of a man-made lake?
   1. Marsh
   2. Dam
   3. Reservoir
   4. Hoover

3. How are coral reefs formed?
   
   
4. Describe a river's beginning using the words headwater and source in your explanation.

5. Describe the effect that rivers have on their landforms and give an example.
   
   
6. Describe how river systems and ocean systems are interconnected.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. B
   
   
2. C
   
   
3. Answers may include, but are not limited to:
   Coral reefs are formed from coral polyps, which are living organisms. When the coral polyps die, their skeletons are left behind and new coral polyps live on top of them. The cycle continues eventually forming a reef.

4. Answers may include, but are not limited to:
   A river starts with a source, or the initial water involved. When talking about rivers the source is usually melting snow or a spring. The headwater is the beginning of the river when the water piles up and begins to flow downstream.

5. Answers may include, but are not limited to:
   Rivers effect the landforms around them through the process of erosion. Over time, the river picks up sediment from the river bed and the rushing water literally carves out the land around them. One of the most notable landforms created through erosion is that of the Grand Canyon. (Answers are not limited to the above response.)

6. Answers may include, but are not limited to:
   River systems are connected most notably to oceans by estuaries. Estuaries mark the end of a river where the freshwater pours into the salt water of the ocean. The interconnectedness does not end with estuaries but continues by providing the oceans with the more water and creating a unique breeding ground for animals that can survive in the minimal salinity provided. (Answers are not limited to the above response.)