This lesson will help students learn to identify the landforms on maps.

Engaging Questions

• What are landforms that are made by nature?

• What is a plain?

• What does a physical map show?

Teacher Goals

• The learner will identify the landforms on a physical map.

Required Resources

• Materials
  
  Map Pencils
  Physical Map

• Physical map

  • Physical map

• Resource

  • Features of Physical Map

Optional Resources

• Book
  
  Social Studies Textbook

Steps

1. Notes

   Read the student notes to learn about landforms that are made by nature.

2. Physical Map

   Print a copy of the physical map found under "Required Resources."

3. Mountains and Hills

   Use the symbol from the legend to find mountians and hills on the map.

4. Color mountains and hills

   Color the the mountain and hill areas on the map brown with a map pencil.

5. Oceans and Lakes

   Color the oceans and lakes with a blue map pencil.

6. Rivers

   Trace the rivers with a blue map pencil.

7. Plains

   Color the plains with a green map pencil.

Teacher Notes

• An overhead transparency may be used to guide the class through the steps. Students will need a copy of the student guide if there are an insufficient number of computers available.

• Duration: This activity will take about 30 minutes.

Learner Notes

• This tool will help you identify the main features of a physical map.
  
  Maps have many purposes. A physical map show things made by nature. These landforms include hills, mountains, plains, oceans, rivers, and lakes. A plain is flat land.
  
  Most maps will have a political map over a physical map. This allows you to see both kinds of maps at the same time.

Mentor Notes

• The student notes gives the information necessary to complete the steps. The learner may work independently or be guided through the steps.