2. Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Vocabulary Words
Elevation
Plain
Relief
Plateau
Topography
Mountain
Landform

3. Mini-Lab- 10 minutes Textbook p. 27
Person 1 will get the salt dough from Mrs. Wiley and bring it back after the lab
Person 2 will press their hand into the dough
Person 3 will slice the dough and measure the differences
Person 4 will record the answers to the questions on a sticky note.
All members will discuss the questions.

4. Mini-Lab Questions
What was the difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points on your handprint?
How are your model features similar to features on Earth? How are they different?

5. Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Oceans and Continents
Oceans make up more than 70 % of Earth’s surface.
Many of the features found on dry land are also found on the ocean floor.
Monterey Canyon,
comparable in size to the
Grand Canyon

6. Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Landforms
Mountains, plains, plateaus, canyons, and other features are called landforms.
Landforms are topographic features formed by processes that shape Earth’s surface.
Characteristics such as size, shape, slope, elevation, relief, and orientation are used to describe landforms.
A landform is usually identified by its surface form and location.
Landforms are not permanent. Their characteristics change over time.
Factors such as erosion or uplift of Earth’s surface can create and affect landforms.

8. Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Landforms: Elevation
Scientists use the term elevation to describe the height above sea level of a particular feature.
Landforms can have high or low elevation.
Can be negative (below Sea Level) or positive (above Sea Level)
Sea Level is 0 ft.

9. Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Landforms: Relief
Relief is a term that scientists use to describe differences in elevation.
Some landforms have low relief- this means there is a relatively small difference between the lowest and highest elevation in an area.
Landforms with a large difference between the lowest and highest elevation have high relief.

10. Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Landforms: Topography
Topography is a term that scientists use to describe the shape of a geographic area.
You can describe the topography of a small area, or the general topography of a large area.

11. Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Landforms: Plains
Plains are landforms with low relief and low elevation.
Plains cover most of Earth’s surface.
The broad, flat area in the center of North America is called the interior plains.
Plains can form when sediments are deposited by water or wind, and the soil is often rich.
Plains are often used for growing crops and grazing animals.

13. Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Landforms: Plateaus
Plateaus are areas of low relief and high elevation.
They are much higher than the surrounding land and often have steep, rugged sides.
Plateaus are less common than plains, but still occur on every continent.
Plateau Formation
They can form when forces within Earth uplift rock layers or cause collisions between sections of Earth’s crust. (The Tibetan Plateau is still being formed by collisions between India and Asia)
They can also be formed by volcanic activity. (The Columbia Plateau in western US is the result of many successive lava flows)

15. Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Landforms: Mountains
Mountains are landforms with high relief and high elevation.
They are the tallest landforms of all.
Mountains can form in several different ways.
Build-up of lava on the ocean floor- Hawaiian Islands
Forces inside Earth fold, push, or uplift huge blocks of rocks- Himalayas, Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains

18. Quiz Time
Silent
No notes
Turn in on my table

19. Landform Poster With your GROUP…
Pick mountain, plain, or plateau (OR a combination) to create a poster about
Poster should include title, defining characteristics, how it forms, and an illustration
USE COLOR
Names should be on the back