Landscapes include natural and human-built features.
Landscapes form the face of the Earth, comprising all the visible features of the land, including plants and animals, mountains and rivers, and even buildings and highways. As with the faces of people, landscapes change continually and are shaped by both natural and artificial forces. In this way, landscapes tell the story of the planet. These activities help students understand the changing landscapes around them.
Local Landscapes
Understanding landscapes starts with examining those with which you are most familiar, the ones in your own backyard. In this activity, students use maps, charts, photographs and personal observations to identify features of their local landscape. Students differentiate between natural features -- such as mountains, valleys and hills -- and ones made by people, such as roads and buildings. By looking at the local landscape, students also explore the ways that people have changed their physical environment.
Topographic Maps
Topographic and contour maps are models of the Earth's landscapes, and they contain detailed information. In this activity, students make a contour map and topographic profile of a landscape created out of modeling clay. Next they learn read topographic maps to extract information such as elevation, distance, and natural and human-made features. Through these activities, students also explore how natural forces and people affect landscapes.
Plate Tectonics
Movement of the Earth's tectonic plates shapes landscapes through both long-term and sudden processes. In this activity, students use news reports on the Internet and data from the U.S. Geological Survey to map the location of mountains, earthquakes and volcanoes, all of which result from movement of the plates. From their map, students infer the location of the boundaries of the plates.
Sedimentary Processes
Geologic processes such as erosion, weathering and deposition reshape landscapes built through plate tectonics. In this activity, students look for signs of weathering and erosion in their local landscape. They identify the types that occur, and brainstorm ways to prevent or reduce them. Then, using a sand box, students demonstrate the types of erosion that can occur with water and wind.
Human Influence
Throughout their history, humans have changed the landscape in positive and negative ways. In this activity, students examine these changes at the local, country and global levels. Using photographs of their local community taken in different years, and comparing these to their personal observations, students identify ways in which people have shaped the landscape. Students then gather current news articles to examine the effects people have on global landscapes, both positive and negative.
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