Lesson 3 Earths Surface Vocabulary Words Elevation Relief

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

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.

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?

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

Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Landforms • Mountains, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lesson 3: Earth’s Surface Landforms: Plateaus • Plateaus areas of low relief and high elevation. • They are much higher than the surrounding land often have steep, rugged sides. • Plateaus are less common than plains, but still occur on every continent. • Plateau Formation 1. 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) 2. They can also be formed by volcanic activity. (The Columbia Plateau in western US is the result of many successive lava flows)

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. 1. Build-up of lava on the ocean floor- Hawaiian Islands 2. Forces inside Earth fold, push, or uplift huge blocks of rocks. Himalayas, Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains

Quiz Time • Silent • No notes • Turn in on my table

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