---
title: "Shapes of land and water"
description: "Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land (mountains, valleys, plains) and bodies of water (rivers, lakes, oceans) in an area"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/shapes-of-land-and-water-mt_KsKLVW_ssY
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/shapes-of-land-and-water-mt_KsKLVW_ssY.md
retrieved: 2026-11-12
---

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# Shapes of land and water

Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land (mountains, valleys, plains) and bodies of water (rivers, lakes, oceans) in an area

Subject: Science · Area: Earth's Systems · Ages 7 to 8
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/shapes-of-land-and-water-mt_KsKLVW_ssY

## Ready when they can

- Name and describe at least four types of landforms (mountain, valley, plain, hill, cliff)
- Name and describe at least three types of water bodies (river, lake, ocean, pond)
- Create or interpret a simple model or map showing land and water features of an area

## Lesson: Shapes of land and water

Landforms are shapes of land. Mountains rise high above nearby land. Hills are smaller rises. A valley lies between hills or mountains. A plain is broad, fairly flat land. A cliff is a very steep rock face. Mountains can have rounded tops.

Rivers flow along channels. A lake has land around it, though water can flow in and out. Ponds are usually smaller than lakes. Earth's ocean is a vast, connected body of salt water. A large lake can also have an unseen far shore.

*(drawing: A key explains symbols. This is a key, not a map of where the features are.)*

A map shows where features are. A model can show their shapes. Read the key to check colours and symbols. In our colour example, blue means water and brown means land. Other maps may use different keys.

**Example.** Make a high clay bump for a mountain, smaller bumps for hills, and a low gap between hills for a valley. Leave flat land for a plain. Add a blue strip for a river. Label each feature.

**Example.** A plan map shows an area from above. Each cell below names a feature.

Row  Left  Right
Top  Hill  River
Bottom  Plain  Lake

The river is right of the hill and above the lake. To locate a feature, find its row and side, then check nearby cells.

**Recap.** Land comes in shapes like mountains, hills, valleys, and plains, and water comes in shapes like rivers, lakes, ponds, and oceans.

*This lesson, its questions, and its flashcards were written for this dataset.*

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Optional connections

- [Seasonal changes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/seasonal-changes-mt_go5i87u2b9)

## Opens up

- [Finding patterns in data](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/finding-patterns-in-data-mt_-G6erQvLig)
- [Ring of Fire](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/ring-of-fire-mt_bhwf_rDXQL)
- [Preventing erosion](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/preventing-erosion-mt_m6UaSmrQVG)
- [Where water is found on Earth](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/where-water-is-found-on-earth-mt_nRF_VRntrW)