Conducted by: Park Ranger or Teacher
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: Geography
Duration: 50 minutes to one hour
Setting: Classroom
Skills: New Vocabulary, Understanding, Steam Science, Art
Objectives
Students will:
- Learn and name different types of landforms including landforms found in and around the New River Gorge.
- Create basic images of these landforms.
- Analyze and describe each landform.
Content Standards
S.2.GS.10
VA.O.2.3.01
ELA.2.32
Materials
- Book titled - ”What is a Landform”
- Power Point titled “Landforms”
- Coloring supplies
- White board or smartboard
- Landforms Worksheet
- Projector
Background:
When you stand at an overlook in the New River Gorge, you notice the steep V-shaped canyon (gorge) and sandstone cliffs that characterize this region. The V-shaped gorge was formed as the New River and its tributaries cut and eroded away the layers of rock over a very long period of time. You can see the ongoing effects of erosion and weathering in the large rocks and slides that have tumbled from the sandstone cliffs to the river below.
The gorge cuts through the Alleghany Plateau, a part of the larger Appalachian Plateau. It exposes3200 feet of very old rock comprised primarily of limestone, sandstone, shale and coal. In the upper portion of the gorge, the river has cut into layers of limestone rock, some of the oldest rocks found in the gorge.
Because the New River existed before the current Appalachian Mountains were uplifted, the river was able to cut down through the mountains as fast as they were uplifted allowing this very old river to maintain its northward course.
Landform - The shape of the land around us. A natural formation of rock and dirt found on the Earth’s surface such as a plateau, gorge, mountain, valley, river, and wetland.
Plateau - A relatively flat, uplifted area of land. Plateaus are bound on one or more sides by cliffs or steep slopes. The New River Gorge region is a good example of a plateau with high walls of sandstone carved out by the New River many years ago.
Gorge - A deep, v-shaped land area cut with steep rocky slopes. Gorges are cut by rivers or streams down through the earth’s crust over millions of years.
Mountain - An area of land that rises high above the surrounding land. Mountains are taller than hills and have a rounded or sharp peak. Mountains are formed through tectonic pressure or volcanism. They are rarely found alone and groups of mountains are called ranges.
Valley - A U-shaped land area between mountains. Valleys are usually long and narrow and often having a river or stream running along the bottom. Most valleys are formed by rivers eroding or wear down the rocks and soil over thousands or millions of years.
Lake - A body of fresh water surrounded by land. Lakes contain less than 1 percent of the world’s fresh water, but are a very important freshwater source. Lakes contain more than 98 percent of the fresh water available for our use.
River - A large natural stream of water flowing across the Earth’s surface. Rivers flow in a channel that often meanders downstream to empty into another river, a lake, or an ocean. Rivers shape the and around us by carving (eroding) out valleys, canyons and gorges. Rivers carry freshwater to people, plants, and animals all across the Earth and provide people with transport and water power.
Island - An area of land completely surrounded by water. Islands are not large enough to be called a continent. Islands can be found in all bodies of water, from streams and rivers to lakes, seas, and oceans. The two main types of islands are oceanic islands and continental islands.
Waterfall - A place where water falls from a higher level to a lower level. Waterfalls usually spilling over a rocky cliff.
Procedures
Preparation
1. Set up the power point program to show landform slides or print out landform photos to use with lesson.
2. Review the definitions of the landforms listed in the background section.
3. Photocopy the Landform Worksheet (one per student) and gather coloring supplies.
Introduction
4.Cover the lesson objectives
5. If this lesson plan is being conducted by a park ranger use Slide #1 to introduce yourself and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. If a teacher is leading this lesson plan than skip Slide #1 and go to step 6 of the lesson plan to continue.
6. Tell students that they are going to learn about different types of landforms including landforms found in the New River Gorge
Lesson/Activity
7. Slide #2 - Ask students: “What is a landform?”
8. Write the answers on the board and discuss each response. Use Slide #2 (part2) to provide a simple definition of what landforms are “The Shape of the Land Around Us.”
9. Read the book—”What is a Landform” to the class. Use the book as a teaching tool.
10. Hold up the Landforms Worksheet and explain to the students that your are going to put a picture of a type of landform on the screen/board and the class will identify the landform. Once the landform is identified, students will find the name of the landform in the first column on their worksheet. In the second column, the students will write a definition of the landform which the instructor will put on the screen/board. In the third column, students will draw and color a picture of the landform.
11. Pass out the Landform Worksheet, one to each student. Have them get a pencil and their crayons.
12. Use slides #3-8, (parts 1, 2, & 3 of each slide) one at a time to show and talk about different types of landforms found here in the New River Gorge Region. For each landform shown, have the students try to guess the type of landform it is. Once you have identified the type of landform, ask them if they know what a definition of each landform might be.
13. Show the students the definition and have them:
- Copy the definition of each landform in column two on the worksheet beside the landform name.
- Draw and color a line art picture of each landform in column three on the worksheet.
* You might draw a simple line art drawing of each landform on the board for students to copy.
Wrap Up
14. Using the completed Landform Worksheet have students pick and circle the name of each landforms they would see in the New River Gorge.
15. Use Slides #9-13 to show them the landforms found in the New River Gorge Region. (Plateau, Gorge, River, Waterfall, and Island)
Assessment
Have Students:
A. Do a quick review by saying out a definition and asking students to identify what type of landform it is or call out a type of landform and having a student give you the definition.
Landforms Worksheet
|
LANDFORM
|
DEFINITION
|
PICTURE
|
|
Mountain
|
|
|
|
Gorge
|
|
|
|
Waterfall
|
|
|
Plateau
|
|
|
Island
|
|
|
River
|
|
|
