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Earth has land and water, and both are important parts of our world. Land is where we find mountains, forests, rocks, soil, and many homes for plants and animals. Water covers most of Earth and fills oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds. Learning about land and water helps children understand where living things find food, shelter, and space to grow.
Oceans are the biggest bodies of water on Earth, and they are home to many animals like fish, whales, crabs, and sea turtles. Land can be dry, rocky, sandy, flat, or tall, and different animals live in different places. Water and land also work together because rain falls on land and flows into rivers and oceans. When children compare land and water, they begin to notice patterns in nature and how Earth fits together.
Key Facts
- Land is the dry part of Earth where people, trees, and many animals live.
- Water covers more of Earth than land does.
- Oceans are very large bodies of salt water.
- Rivers move water across land into lakes or oceans.
- Some animals live on land, some live in water, and some use both.
- Sand, rocks, soil, shells, waves, and clouds are all parts of Earth's land and water places.
Vocabulary
- land
- Land is the dry ground on Earth where we can walk, build, and grow plants.
- water
- Water is the wet part of Earth found in oceans, lakes, rivers, and rain.
- ocean
- An ocean is a huge body of salt water.
- river
- A river is water that moves across the land.
- shore
- A shore is the place where land meets water.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Thinking all water is ocean water, but this is wrong because lakes, ponds, rivers, and rain are water too and they are not all salty.
- Thinking all animals live only on land or only in water, but this is wrong because some animals, like frogs and turtles, use both places.
- Calling every big piece of land a mountain, but this is wrong because land can also be flat, sandy, grassy, or rocky.
- Thinking the shore is only water, but this is wrong because the shore is where land and water meet together.
Practice Questions
- 1 A picture shows a tree, a rock, a fish, a boat, and a shell. Which 2 things belong in water habitats and which 3 belong on land or shore?
- 2 A child sorts 8 picture cards. There are 3 land animals, 3 water animals, and 2 things found at the shore. How many cards are not only land animals?
- 3 Why might a turtle need both land and water to live well? Explain using one reason for land and one reason for water.