Landforms for Kids: Mountains, Valleys, Islands and More (Grade 2 Science)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Earth's land comes in many shapes. Some land is tall and pointy, some is low, and some is flat. These shapes are called landforms. Let's go exploring!

A mountain is very tall land with steep sides and a high peak. A hill is like a smaller, rounder mountain. Canada has huge mountains, like the Rocky Mountains in the west.

A valley is low land between hills or mountains. Rivers often flow through valleys. A canyon is a very deep, narrow valley with steep, rocky walls, carved out by a river over a very long time.

Plains are wide, flat lands, and they are great for farming. A plateau is also flat on top, but it is raised up high above the land around it, like a giant table.

Now for land and water together. An island is land with water all around it. A peninsula has water on three sides and joins the mainland on one side. A lake is water with land all around it.

Scientists draw maps and models to show the shapes of land and water. On many maps, blue means water, while green and brown show land. Brown often marks high places like mountains.

Now it's your turn. This land has water all around it, on every side. Which landform is it? Pause and try. It is an island! Vancouver Island in British Columbia is a big one.

Great job! Remember, mountains are tall, valleys are low, plains are flat, and plateaus are high and flat. Islands have water all around them. Practice landforms in the Science Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!