Lesson 3 Reading Guide - KC

1
Lesson 3 Reading Guide - KC
Earths Surface

• What are Earths major landforms and how do they
  compare?
• What are the major landform regions of the United
  States?

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Lesson 3 Reading Guide - Vocab
Earths Surface

• landform
• plain
• plateau
• mountain

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Lesson 3-1
Oceans and Continents

• Oceans cover more than 70 percent of Earths
  surface.
• Many of the features that appear on dry land
  also appear on the ocean floor.

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Lesson 3-2
Landforms

• Landforms are topographic features formed by
  processes that shape Earths surface.
• Scientists use the term topography to describe
  the shape of a geographic area.
• Many factors such as erosion or uplift of Earths
  surface can create and affect landforms.

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Lesson 3-2

• A landform is usually identified by its surface
  form and location.

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Lesson 3-2
Landforms (cont.)

• Scientists use the term elevation to describe the
  height above sea level of a particular feature.
• Relief is a term that scientists use to describe
  differences in elevation.

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Lesson 3-2

• Areas with high relief have a relatively large
  difference between the lowest elevation and the
  highest elevation.

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Lesson 3-2
Landforms (cont.)

• Plains are landforms with low relief and low
  elevation.
• Plains can form when sediments are deposited by
  water or wind.

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Lesson 3-2
Landforms (cont.)
plains from Latin planus, means flat, level
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Lesson 3-2
Landforms (cont.)

• Plateaus are areas with low relief and high
  elevation.
• Plateaus are much higher than the surrounding
  land and often have steep, rugged sides.
• Plateaus can form when forces within Earth uplift
  rock layers or cause collisions between sections
  of Earths crust.

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Lesson 3-2
Landforms (cont.)

• Plateaus can also be formed by volcanic activity.
• Mountains are landforms with high relief and high
  elevation.
• Mountains can form from a buildup of lava on the
  ocean floor, or when forces inside Earth fold,
  push, or uplift huge blocks of rocks.

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Lesson 3-2
United Stated Landforms
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Lesson 3-2
Medioimages/Photodisc/Getty Images
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Lesson 3-2
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Lesson 3-2
Landforms (cont.)
Describe at least three major landform regions in
the United States.
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Lesson 3 - VS

• Landforms are topographic features formed by
  processes that shape Earths surface.
• Major landforms include flat plains, high
  plateaus,and rugged mountains.

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Lesson 3 - VS

• Major landform regions in the United States
  include the Appalachian Mountains, the Great
  Plains, the Colorado Plateau, and the Rocky
  Mountains.

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Lesson 3 LR1
Which term refers to landforms with low relief
and low elevation?
A. plains B. plateaus C. mountains D. oceans
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Lesson 3 LR2
Which term is used to describe the height above
sea level of a landforms particular feature?
A. relief B. mountain C. elevation D. topography
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Lesson 3 LR3
Which term do scientists use to describe
differences in elevation?
A. height B. plateau C. relief D. elevation
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Lesson 3 - Now
Do you agree or disagree?
5. All ocean floors are flat. 6. Most of Earths
surface is covered by water.