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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes

Name the landform from its description

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.2-ESS2-2England: KS1 Geography links

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Name the landform from its description.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Land and water on Earth

Leads to: Earth changes: fast or slow?; Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes

Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Land and water on Earth). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Where is most of Earth's water found? (in clouds / in the oceans / in lakes / in rivers) → in the oceansPrompt: Oceans cover most of the planet.
  2. About 96% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 4 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
  3. Which landform is described: fresh water flowing downhill to the sea? (mountain / valley / island / river) → riverPrompt: Is it high land, low land, land in water, or moving water?

Hook · 3 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: Name the landform from its description. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which landform is this: a rounded rise of land, lower than a mountain?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: hill
  • Answer: hill
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which landform is this: a mountain with an opening where hot melted rock can come out? (canyon / mountain / volcano / peninsula) → volcanoPrompt: Is it high or low? Flat or steep? Is water around it?
  2. Which description matches a valley? (a high, flat area of land with steep sides / low land between hills or mountains, often with a river / land with water all around it / land with water on three sides) → low land between hills or mountains, often with a riverPrompt: Picture the landform from above and from the side.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which landform is this: a mountain with an opening where hot melted rock can come out? (mountain / hill / peninsula / volcano) → volcanoPrompt: Is it high or low? Flat or steep? Is water around it?
  2. Which description matches a hill? (a wide, flat area of land / a rounded rise of land, lower than a mountain / land with water all around it / a very high, steep area of land with a peak) → a rounded rise of land, lower than a mountainPrompt: Picture the landform from above and from the side.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Land and water on Earth.
  • Use concrete materials: rock samples.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Earth changes: fast or slow?; Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Name the landform from its description

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which description matches a hill?

    • A. low land between hills or mountains, often with a river
    • B. a rounded rise of land, lower than a mountain
    • C. land with water on three sides
    • D. a mountain with an opening where hot melted rock can come out

  2. Question 2

    True or false? Valleys are the highest points of land.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    Which landform is this: a very high, steep area of land with a peak?

    • A. plain
    • B. volcano
    • C. valley
    • D. mountain

  4. Question 4

    Which description matches a volcano?

    • A. a deep, narrow valley with steep rock walls cut by a river
    • B. a wide, flat area of land
    • C. a very high, steep area of land with a peak
    • D. a mountain with an opening where hot melted rock can come out

  5. Question 5

    True or false? The Grand Canyon was carved by the Colorado River over millions of years.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    Which landform is this: a deep, narrow valley with steep rock walls cut by a river?

    • A. valley
    • B. canyon
    • C. hill
    • D. plain

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Answer key: Name the landform from its description

  1. 1. B. a rounded rise of land, lower than a mountain

  2. 2. B. False

  3. 3. D. mountain

  4. 4. D. a mountain with an opening where hot melted rock can come out

  5. 5. A. True

  6. 6. B. canyon