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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. In which form is water found at the top of very high mountains? (there is never water there / only liquid / only gas / solid ice and snow) → solid ice and snowPrompt: It is very cold high up.
  2. About 96.5% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 3.5 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
  3. Which landform is described: a long dip carved by a river or glacier? (mountain / valley / island / river) → valleyPrompt: 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 very high, steep area of land with a peak? (valley / mountain / plain / plateau) → mountainPrompt: Is it high or low? Flat or steep? Is water around it?
  2. Which description matches a canyon? (a mountain with an opening where hot melted rock can come out / a high, flat area of land with steep sides / low land between hills or mountains, often with a river / a deep, narrow valley with steep rock walls cut by a river) → a deep, narrow valley with steep rock walls cut by 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: land with water on three sides? (plateau / mountain / volcano / peninsula) → peninsulaPrompt: Is it high or low? Flat or steep? Is water around it?
  2. True or false? Spain and Italy are peninsulas. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Picture each landform: high, low, flat or surrounded by water?

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 canyon?

    • A. land with water all around it
    • B. a very high, steep area of land with a peak
    • C. a wide, flat area of land
    • D. a deep, narrow valley with steep rock walls cut by a river

  2. Question 2

    Which landform is this: a rounded rise of land, lower than a mountain?

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

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Mountains are higher and steeper than hills.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    Which description matches a volcano?

    • A. low land between hills or mountains, often with a river
    • B. a high, flat area of land with steep sides
    • 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

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

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

  6. Question 6

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

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Name the landform from its description

  1. 1. D. a deep, narrow valley with steep rock walls cut by a river

  2. 2. B. hill

  3. 3. A. True

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

  5. 5. C. canyon

  6. 6. A. True