Landforms
Grade 2 · Social Studies · Study Guide
Explore the different shapes of land on Earth, from towering mountains to deep valleys.
Earth's surface is covered with many different shapes of land called landforms. Landforms were created over millions of years by forces like moving water, wind, ice, and volcanoes. Every landform has a unique shape and plays an important role in the environment.
Mountains are the tallest landforms. They rise high above the surrounding land, often with rocky, steep sides and snow-capped peaks. Famous mountain ranges include the Rocky Mountains in the United States and the Himalayas in Asia. A hill is smaller than a mountain and has gentle, rounded sides.
Plains are large, flat areas of land. Grasslands and prairies are types of plains. Farmers love plains because the flat land is easy to plow and plant. In the middle of the United States, the Great Plains stretch for hundreds of miles. A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains, often with a river running through it.
Other interesting landforms include plateaus (flat land high up, like a table), peninsulas (land surrounded by water on three sides), and islands (land completely surrounded by water). Learning about landforms helps us understand geography and how people choose where to live and work.
| Landform | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain | Tall, steep, rocky landform | Rocky Mountains, USA |
| Hill | Smaller rounded landform | Rolling hills of Kentucky |
| Plain | Large, flat land area | Great Plains, USA |
| Valley | Low land between hills | Yosemite Valley, California |
| Peninsula | Land surrounded by water on 3 sides | Florida, USA |
| Island | Land surrounded by water on all sides | Hawaii, USA |
Key terms
- landform
- A natural shape or feature of the Earth's surface
- mountain
- A very tall, steep landform that rises high above the surrounding land
- plain
- A large, flat area of land
- valley
- A low area of land between hills or mountains, often with a river
- peninsula
- A piece of land that is surrounded by water on three sides
- plateau
- A flat area of land that sits high above the surrounding area
Flashcards
- Landform
- A natural shape or feature found on the Earth's surface
- Mountain
- A very tall, steep landform rising high above surrounding land
- Plain
- A large, flat area of land, often used for farming
- Valley
- A low area of land between hills or mountains
- Peninsula
- Land that is surrounded by water on three sides
- Island
- Land that is completely surrounded by water on all sides
Practice questions
What is a landform?
- A type of weather
- A natural shape of the Earth's surface
- A drawing on a map
- A kind of animal
Show answer
Answer: A natural shape of the Earth's surface
A landform is any natural feature or shape on the Earth's surface, like mountains, plains, valleys, and islands.
A peninsula is land that is completely surrounded by water on all sides.
Show answer
Answer: False
A peninsula is surrounded by water on THREE sides, not all four. An island is completely surrounded by water on all sides.
A large, flat area of land is called a ___.
Show answer
Answer: plain
Plains are wide, flat stretches of land. The Great Plains of the United States is one of the most famous examples.
Which landform is the tallest?
- Valley
- Plain
- Hill
- Mountain
Show answer
Answer: Mountain
Mountains are the tallest landforms on Earth, rising steeply above the land around them with peaks that can reach miles into the sky.
A valley is a low area of land often found between hills or mountains.
Show answer
Answer: True
Valleys form in low areas between higher land. Rivers often flow through valleys because water runs downhill.
Fun facts
- Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth, grows about 4 millimeters taller every year because two tectonic plates are slowly pushing together!
- Florida is a peninsula — if you look at a map, you can see that water surrounds it on three sides.
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