Earth Features Slides 2nd Grade Earth Science
Junior Explorer Mission
EXPLORE OUR AMAZING PLANET
Landforms & Bodies of Water
Put on your explorer hats! Discover how land and water shape the surface of Earth.
Tall Mountains
Rising high in the sky
Vast Oceans
Covering most of Earth
Island Adventures
Surrounded by water
Earth Features
What is a Landform?
Natural shapes of the solid land!
Mountain
The highest kind of land! Mountains have steep rocky slopes and a sharp peak at the top.
Super Tall & Steep!
Hill
Land that rises up, but is shorter and rounder than a mountain. Gentle to climb!
Rounded Tops
Plain
A very wide, flat area of land. Great for growing crops, grasses, and grazing animals!
Flat & Wide Open
Explorer Clue: Hills look like bumpy green bumps; mountains poke high into the clouds!
More Landforms
Valleys and Islands
Unique Land Shapes!
Valley
Low Land Between High Land
A valley is the low land found between hills or mountains. It often shapes like a letter "V" or "U".
Fun Fact: Rivers often flow through deep valleys!
Island
Land Surrounded by Water
An island is a piece of solid land completely surrounded by water on all sides. You need a boat or plane to get there!
Fun Fact: Hawaii is a group of tropical islands!
Remember: A valley is low down between peaks. An island is land in water all around!
Water Wonders
Bodies of Water
Water covers over 70% of Earth!
Ocean
Earth's largest bodies of water. Oceans are deep and full of saltwater!
Huge & Salty
River
A ribbon of flowing freshwater that moves downhill toward a lake or ocean.
Water on the Move!
Lake
A large body of still water completely surrounded by land. Usually freshwater!
Land on All Sides
Saltwater Oceans (Whales, Sharks, Coral Reefs)
Freshwater Rivers, Streams, & Most Lakes
Explorer Challenge
Name That Earth Feature!
Can you guess them all?
1
Clue #1
"I am a strip of freshwater moving downhill toward the sea. Boats ride my current!"
What am I? → River!
2
Clue #2
"I have solid ground under your feet, but water touches all 4 edges of my land!"
What am I? → Island!
3
Clue #3
"I am the lowest land between two high mountains. I make a V-shape!"
What am I? → Valley!
4
Clue #4
"I am super tall, pointy, rocky, and sometimes wear a white snow hat on top!"
What am I? → Mountain!
Super job, Explorers! You are ready for the hands-on activity sheet!
Mission Time
Your Explorer Activity Mission
Ready Your Pencils!
STEP 1
Identify & Match
Match each earth feature picture to its clue and write its name on the line.
STEP 2
Land vs. Water Sort
Sort the features into the correct column: Landform or Body of Water!
STEP 3
Color the Map
Use green & brown for land and bright blue for water to solve the map code.
Become an official Earth Scout by completing your field sheet!
Happy Exploring!
Land and Water Activity Earth Features Field Guide
Junior Earth Explorer • Landforms & Water
Name:
Date:
Explorer Word Bank Use each word one time below
Mountain Hill Plain Valley Ocean River
Part 1: Read the Clue & Write the Name
6 Questions • 6 Points
Clue 1
I am the highest landform. I have steep, rocky slopes and a sharp, pointy peak.
Answer:
Clue 2
I am the largest body of water on Earth. My water is deep, blue, and very salty!
Answer:
Clue 3
I am a very wide, flat piece of land. Farmers love me for planting wheat and corn.
Answer:
Clue 4
I am a long ribbon of freshwater that is always flowing downhill toward an ocean.
Answer:
Clue 5
I am the low land nestled right between two tall mountains or rolling hills.
Answer:
Clue 6
I rise above the land, but I am shorter and rounder than a mountain.
Answer:
Field Checkpoint:
Turn to page 2 to test your sorting and cartography skills!
Page 1 of 2
The Great Earth Sort & Map Lab
Classification • Cartography Challenge
Name:
Page 2
Part 2: Sort into Landforms or Bodies of Water
Write each word from the box below
Ocean Mountain River Plain Lake Island Valley Pond
Landforms (Solid Ground)
Bodies of Water (Water Features)
Part 3: Map Cartographer & Artist Challenge
Coloring & Drawing
Color the Explorer Code:
Read each instruction and use your crayons or colored pencils to color each box to match Earth:
1
Color all water (Ocean & River) BLUE
2
Color the Mountains BROWN or GRAY
3
Color the flat Plains & Hills GREEN
Remember: Land is solid rock and soil; water fills the lowest basins!
Draw Your Favorite Earth Feature:
I drew a:
Certified Junior Earth Explorer
Teacher Signature:
Grade: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Land and Water Key Teacher Answer Key & Guide
Earth Features Field Guide • Page 1 Answers
Teacher Reference
Total Part 1: 6 Points (1 pt each)
Passing Score: 5/6 (83%+)
Part 1 Answer Solutions
Correct Student Responses
Clue 1
Highest landform; steep rocky slopes; sharp pointy peak.
Answer: Mountain
Clue 2
Largest body of water on Earth; deep, blue, salty water.
Answer: Ocean
Clue 3
Very wide, flat piece of land; great for planting crops.
Answer: Plain
Clue 4
Long ribbon of flowing freshwater moving downhill toward ocean.
Answer: River
Clue 5
Low land nestled right between two tall mountains or hills.
Answer: Valley
Clue 6
Rises above the land, but shorter and rounder than a mountain.
Answer: Hill
Key 2nd-Grade Misconceptions to Address:
Mountains vs. Hills: Remind students that hills are gently sloped and round, while mountains are towering with steep rocky peaks.Rivers vs. Lakes: Point out that river water is always moving/flowing downhill, whereas lake water is still and enclosed by land.
Teacher Answer Key & Guide
Sorting & Cartography Lab • Page 2 Answers
Teacher Reference
Part 2: Sorting T-Chart Solutions (8 Points)
Order inside each column may vary
Landforms (Solid Ground)
1. Mountain
2. Plain
3. Island
4. Valley
Bodies of Water (Water Features)
1. Ocean
2. River
3. Lake
4. Pond
Part 3: Map Code & Drawing Rubric (4 Points)
Holistic Scoring Criteria
Color Code Criteria (2 pts):
Student accurately applied Blue for oceans and rivers.
Student applied Brown/Gray for mountains and Green for flat plains/hills.
Drawing & Label Criteria (2 pts):
Drawing clearly shows visual traits of chosen feature (e.g., peak for mountain, water around island).
Fill-in sentence correctly names the landform or water body drawn.
Comprehensive Grade Breakdown
Part 1 (6 pts) + Part 2 (8 pts) + Part 3 (4 pts) =
