1. Lesson 3: Michigan’s Natural Characteristics
Landforms

2. What is a natural or physical characteristic?
Things on Earth not made by humans
Examples of natural characteristics
Trees
Soil
Hills
Rivers
Animals
Lakes
Peninsulas

3. Landforms Different kinds of land on the Earth Examples of landforms
Mountains
Hills
Plains
Peninsula
Island
Sand Dunes

4. What peninsulas can you find in Michigan?
Keweenaw Peninsula
Leelanau Peninsula
Upper Peninsula
The “thumb”
Lower Peninsula

5. What islands can you find in Michigan?
Isle Royal
Mackinac Island
Beaver Island
Bois Blanc Island
North & South Manitou

6. Special Purpose Map
Maps that show characteristics of an area such as landforms, climate, or forests
Highest elevations – brown
Medium elevations – yellow
Lower elevations - green
Elevation
Map

7. Elevation The elevation of the land is how high a place is. Examples
A mountain has a higher elevation than a hill
Mt. Arvon has an elevation of 1,979 feet above sea level.

8. What does this special purpose map tells us about Michigan?
Huron Mountain Range
What does this special purpose map tells us about Michigan?
Porcupine Mountain Range

9. Special Purpose Maps Michigan Studies Elevation Map L andforms Map
pages 18-19
L andforms Map
page 15

10. Mt. Arvon Michigan’s Highest Point
Huron Mountains

11. Reading Elevation Maps
Michigan Studies
Pages 18-19
Porcupine Mountains

12. Michigan Sand Dunes
Sand dunes are ridges or hills of loose sand piled up by the wind.
Michigan has the largest amount of fresh water dunes in the world.
Michigan sand dunes support a wide variety of habitats –
cool forests of maple trees to the windy wide open dunes.

13. Michigan Sand Dunes
Sleeping Bear Dunes

14. Landforms of Michigan Read informational text
Compare text to reference chart

15. Legend of Sleeping Bear
By Kathy-Jo Wargin
Legend
Traditional Literature
Passed down through generations orally
Come from a specific culture
Contain religious, magical, or mystical elements