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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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 · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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 · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 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/ 8

  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

  7. Question 7

    Which description matches a peninsula?

    • A. land with water on three sides
    • B. low land between hills or mountains, often with a river
    • C. a wide, flat area of land
    • D. a deep, narrow valley with steep rock walls cut by a river

  8. Question 8

    True or false? Spain and Italy are peninsulas.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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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

  7. 7. A. land with water on three sides

  8. 8. A. True