Landforms and Bodies of Water
Kindergarten · Social Studies · Study Guide
Explore the amazing shapes of land and water that make up our Earth.
Look at the ground under your feet and the water in rivers and lakes — these are called landforms and bodies of water. A landform is a natural shape on the surface of the Earth. Mountains are very tall landforms that push up high into the sky. Hills are smaller bumps of land. Plains are flat areas of land where many farms are found.
Bodies of water are places where water collects on Earth. An ocean is a huge body of salt water that covers much of our planet. A lake is a body of water with land all around it. A river is water that flows in one direction, usually down from mountains to the ocean. A pond is a small, still body of water, smaller than a lake.
Landforms and bodies of water are found all over the world. They affect where people live, what jobs they do, and what activities they enjoy. People who live near the ocean might fish or swim, while people who live in the mountains might ski or hike.
| Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain | Landform | Very tall, rocky land that points to the sky |
| Hill | Landform | A smaller rounded bump of land |
| Plain | Landform | Flat, wide-open land |
| Ocean | Body of Water | Huge saltwater area covering most of Earth |
| Lake | Body of Water | Water with land on all sides |
| River | Body of Water | Flowing water that moves in one direction |
| Pond | Body of Water | Small, calm body of water |
Key terms
- landform
- A natural shape on the surface of the Earth, like a mountain or hill
- mountain
- A very tall landform that rises high above the surrounding land
- plain
- A large, flat area of land
- ocean
- A huge body of salt water that covers much of the Earth
- river
- A body of water that flows in one direction across the land
Flashcards
- Landform
- A natural shape on the surface of the Earth
- Mountain
- A very tall landform that rises high above the land
- Plain
- A large, flat area of land
- Ocean
- A huge body of salt water covering much of Earth
- River
- Flowing water that moves in one direction across the land
- Lake
- A body of water that has land on all sides
Practice questions
What is a mountain?
- A flat area of land
- A large body of water
- A very tall landform
- A small pond
Show answer
Answer: A very tall landform
Mountains are the highest type of landform, rising far above the surrounding terrain.
An ocean is a huge body of salt water.
Show answer
Answer: True
Oceans contain salt water and cover about 71% of the Earth's surface.
What is a river?
- A very tall mountain
- Water that flows in one direction across the land
- A flat plain
- A small hill
Show answer
Answer: Water that flows in one direction across the land
Rivers flow continuously downhill, often starting in mountains and ending in oceans.
A plain is a very tall, rocky landform.
Show answer
Answer: False
A plain is a flat, wide-open area of land, not tall or rocky.
A ___ is a body of water with land all around it.
Show answer
Answer: lake
Lakes are surrounded by land on all sides, unlike rivers or oceans.
Fun facts
- Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on Earth — it is so tall that clouds float below its peak!
- The Pacific Ocean is so wide that all the world's continents could fit inside it.
- The Amazon River carries more water than any other river on Earth.
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