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Grade Three
What are landforms?

Landforms are features on the Earth’s surface. Can you tell the difference between mountains and mesas? Between plains and plateaus? View these web pages and see how they are created.
 
 

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Title: Water Science for Schools
Description: Find information on almost any water topic at this USGS site. Included in the site are: water basics, water use, Earth's water, water quality issues, map gallery, data library, picture gallery, glossary, and activity center and many water links.
URL: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/index.html
Title: Scientists in Action
Description: Read about scientists reacting to the challenges of science in the field. Written for students to be able to understand how scientists do science.
URL: http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/scientists/
Title: California Geological Survey
Description: This page has several links to topics covering the Geology of California. There is a Kids Geozone link for activities.
URL: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/Pages/index.aspx
Title: Why Scientists Do Science: A Trek for Answers
Description: Insights into the workings of scientists from the inside. Interviews with four scientists reveal their thoughts on doing science and how science is learned.
URL: http://www.jyi.org/volumes/volume6/issue1/features/demi ...
Title: How Barrier Islands Work
Description: The fragile ecosystems of barrier islands are studied on this site. How these islands are formed, what habitats and life are present on them, how they change, the consequences of development and the recreational activities that alter them will be studied
URL: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/conserva ...
Title: Kure Beach
Description: Kure Beach is a high density recreational beach with oceanfront sand erosion. A short term solution to this problem is beach renourishment. These photos show Kure Beach being renourished.
URL: http://www.ncsu.edu/coast/pjournal/ncsouth/kure/kure.ht ...
Title: Geology of National Parks: 3-D Tours Featuring Park Geology
Description: So, what are the lines on that Butte from anyway? Grab your 3-D glasses & learn about the geology of our National Parks. No glasses? No problem. Available in regular format also. Great pictures!
URL: http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/index.html
Title: Weathering
Description: Maybe you know that weathering is the breakdown of rocks into smaller and smaller pieces, but did you know there are different types of weathering? Click here to learn about mechanical, chemical and biological weathering.
URL: http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_weathering.htm ...
Title: 20th Century Volcanic Eruptions and Their Impact
Description: Information on 20th Century volcanoes is provided in a time line fashion at this US geological site. Click on the volcano name if you need more information.
URL: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/VolcanicFacts/volc ...
Title: Animated Movie of a Volcano Collapsing
Description: Click here to watch a QuickTime movie of a volcano collapsing.
URL: http://www.cotf.edu/ete/movies/caldera.mov
Title: Plot That Quake!
Description: Help students gain a better understanding of why earthquakes happen and where they are most likely to occur with this weekly earthquake plotting activity. This site provides a detailed lesson plan, resources, and links.
URL: http://seismo.berkeley.edu/seismo/istat/digiguide/EQ.ht ...
Title: The Ocean's Sand, A Natural Resource
Description: Here you will learn about and discover why we need sand and gravel. Read about beaches, erosion, and learn about the causes of beach erosion. Examine sand, make a beach profile, and participate in a sand size analysis activity.
URL: http://www.boemre.gov/mmskids/PDFs/sandanaturalresource ...
Title: Losing Ground
Description: Find two activities which demonstrate how the effects of farming practices in the early 20th Century contributed to severe soil erosion of a large portion of the North American grasslands. and became known as the Dust Bowl.
URL: http://forces.si.edu/ltop/pdfs/2-5-LosingGround.pdf
Title: Unique Landforms
Description: This page provides a lesson plan in which the effect of erosion is studied utilizing a video and a internet research on the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, Antelope Canyon in Utah, and Pumpkin Patch Concretions in California.
URL: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/progra ...
Title: Erosion
Description: Erosion is happening all around us. Even though you may not recognize it, the forces of erosion are constantly shaping our planet. Learn more about erosion, investigate, and describe how erosion is affecting the earth in your neighborhood.
URL: http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirtrep/erosion/invest.ht ...
Title: Rocks for Kids
Description: This site is for kids of all ages who love rocks. Here you will find out stuff about rocks & minerals and where to go to find out more.
URL: http://www.rocksforkids.com/
Title: Weathering and Erosion Splashdown
Description: This activity can be used to help students see how plant roots can slow down erosion.
URL: http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=11138
Title: Do Rocks Last Forever?
Description: These four experiments will have students exploring the effects of mechanical and chemical weathering.
URL: http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/information/kids_geo ...
Title: How Does the Rain Shape the Earth?
Description: How does rain shape the earth? To see erosion in action, try this simple science lab. Can you predict what will happen to the dirt after you pour the water over it?
URL: http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirt/erosion/index.htm
Title: Wind Erosion
Description: Study how the wind moves sand on a beach with this wind erosion activity. What effect does the moving sand have on buildings? Can your students think of ways to minimize this effect?
URL: http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/Wind.html
Title: Egg Tectonics
Description: Boil some eggs and demonstrate the three types of boundaries formed from the movement of tectonic plates!
URL: http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/information/kids_geo ...