Landforms: Mountains, Rivers, and Lakes
Grade 1 · Social Studies · Study Guide
Discover the different shapes of land and water found on Earth.
The surface of the Earth has many different shapes called landforms. Landforms include mountains, hills, valleys, and plains. Bodies of water include rivers, lakes, and oceans.
A mountain is a very tall area of land. Mountains have steep sides and a pointed or rounded top called a peak. The Rocky Mountains are a famous mountain range in the United States.
A river is a large stream of water that flows across the land. Rivers usually start in mountains or hills and flow downhill until they reach an ocean, lake, or another river. The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in America.
A lake is a body of water surrounded by land on all sides. Lakes can be small or very large. The Great Lakes in the United States are five huge lakes that together form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world.
A hill is a raised area of land that is smaller than a mountain. A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains. A plain is a large flat area of land.
Landforms and bodies of water are important because they shape where people live, how they travel, and what they can grow and eat.
Key terms
- landform
- A natural shape of the land on Earth's surface, like a mountain or hill
- mountain
- A very tall area of land with steep sides and a high peak
- river
- A large stream of fresh water that flows across the land
- lake
- A body of water completely surrounded by land
- valley
- A low area of land between hills or mountains
- plain
- A large, flat area of land
Flashcards
- mountain
- A very tall area of land with steep sides and a high peak
- river
- A large, flowing stream of fresh water that moves across the land
- lake
- A body of water surrounded by land on all sides
- valley
- A low area of land between hills or mountains
- plain
- A large, flat area of land
- hill
- A raised area of land smaller than a mountain
- landform
- A natural shape of the Earth's surface
Questions
What is a mountain?
- A flat area of land
- A very tall area of land with steep sides
- A body of water surrounded by land
- A stream of water
Show answer
Answer: A very tall area of land with steep sides
A mountain is a very tall area of land with steep sides and a high top called a peak.
A lake is a body of water surrounded by land on all sides.
Show answer
Answer: True
A lake is completely surrounded by land on all sides, unlike rivers which flow freely or oceans which are very large.
A _____ is a large stream of water that flows across the land.
Show answer
Answer: river
A river is a large, natural stream of fresh water that flows across the land, often starting in mountains.
What is a valley?
- A very tall mountain
- A large ocean
- A low area of land between hills or mountains
- A flat grassy field
Show answer
Answer: A low area of land between hills or mountains
A valley is a low area of land found between hills or mountains. Think of it as the space between two tall areas.
The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in America.
Show answer
Answer: True
The Mississippi River stretches about 2,340 miles through the middle of the United States, making it one of the longest.
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