3rd GradeActivitySocial Studies25–30 minutes

Landform Explorer

Skill taught: Identifying, labeling, and describing major landforms and bodies of water

A third-grade social studies and science activity where learners identify, label, and describe major landforms and bodies of water found across the United States.

Subject

Social Studies

Type

Activity

Free printable
Time

25–30 minutes

Estimated

Materials Needed

  • β€’Printed activity pages
  • β€’Pencil
  • β€’Crayons
  • β€’Optional: physical map of the U.S. or world

Directions

  1. 1.Review the landform vocabulary before beginning: mountain, valley, plateau, peninsula, island, etc.
  2. 2.Label each landform on the diagram using the word bank.
  3. 3.Color-code the landforms and bodies of water using the key.
  4. 4.Locate examples of each landform on a real map.
  5. 5.Write 2–3 sentences describing how one landform affects how people live nearby.

Parent Teaching Tip

Landforms become memorable when connected to places your child knows. Find examples of each landform in your state or region and locate them on a real map β€” the connection between the worksheet and the real world makes the vocabulary stick.

Skill Progression

Prerequisite skill

Cardinal directions and basic map reading

This resource

Landform Explorer

Next skill

U.S. regions and their geographic characteristics

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