Landforms: Mountains, Rivers, Valleys
Identifying landforms and how people use them
Landforms: Mountains, Rivers, Valleys
Identifying landforms and how people use them
Social Studies - Grade 2-3
- 1
A mountain is a very high landform that rises above the land around it. What is one word you could use to describe a mountain?
Think about how a mountain looks compared with flat land.
One word to describe a mountain is tall. Mountains are high landforms that rise above the land around them. - 2
A river is a body of moving water. What direction does river water usually move?
River water usually moves downhill from higher land to lower land. It may flow toward a lake, ocean, or another river. - 3
A valley is low land between hills or mountains. In your own words, describe where a valley is found.
Look for the low place between two higher places.
A valley is found in a low area between hills or mountains. It is often shaped like a long dip in the land. - 4
Choose the correct landform: A tall, rocky landform with a peak at the top is a river, mountain, or valley?
A tall, rocky landform with a peak at the top is a mountain. - 5
Choose the correct landform: A long body of moving water that flows across land is a mountain, river, or valley?
A long body of moving water that flows across land is a river. - 6
Choose the correct landform: Low land between two mountains is a mountain, river, or valley?
The landform is lower than the land on both sides.
Low land between two mountains is a valley. - 7
Why might people build a town near a river?
Think about ways people use water every day.
People might build a town near a river because rivers can provide water for drinking, farming, and travel. - 8
Why might it be harder to build roads in the mountains than on flat land?
It might be harder to build roads in the mountains because the land is steep, rocky, and uneven. - 9
Look at this list: mountain, river, valley. Which one is made of moving water?
One of the choices flows from place to place.
A river is made of moving water. Mountains and valleys are landforms made of land. - 10
Look at this list: mountain, river, valley. Which one is usually the highest landform?
A mountain is usually the highest landform. It rises above the land around it. - 11
A farmer wants to grow crops. Which place might have flatter land and water nearby: a steep mountain peak or a valley near a river? Explain your answer.
Plants need water, and farming is often easier on flatter land.
A valley near a river might be better for growing crops because it can have flatter land and water nearby. - 12
Write M for mountain, R for river, or V for valley. A low area between hills is ____.
The correct letter is V because a valley is a low area between hills or mountains. - 13
Write M for mountain, R for river, or V for valley. A landform with a peak is ____.
The correct letter is M because a mountain is a high landform that often has a peak. - 14
Write M for mountain, R for river, or V for valley. Moving water that may flow to the ocean is ____.
This landform is a body of water, not a shape of land.
The correct letter is R because a river is moving water that may flow to the ocean. - 15
Draw a simple picture that includes one mountain, one river, and one valley. Then label each landform.
Place the valley in a low area and show the river flowing through or near it.
The drawing should show a mountain, a river, and a valley. Each landform should be labeled correctly.