PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS & NATURAL RESOURCES OF A PLACE LESSON PLAN FOR K5: GEOGRAPHY & SOCIAL STUDIES EMPHASIS OCEANS AND COASTS • THE EARTH IS A WORLD OF WATER, WITH SEVEN TENTHS OF ITS SURFACE COVERED BY THE OCEAN. • WATER IN THE OCEAN PROVIDE US WITH MUCH OF THE AIR WE BREATHE. • MICROSCOPIC PLANKTON PERFORM HALF OF ALL PHOTOSYNTHESIS. • A COAST IS THE PART OF LAND THAT IS NEAR THE OCEAN OR SEA. HOW MANY OCEANS DOES OUR WORLD HAVE? OCEANS & COASTS RIVERS AND STREAMS • A RIVER IS A LARGE NATURAL STREAM OF WATER FLOWING DOWN A CHANNEL OR WATERWAY TO THE SEA, OCEAN OR INTO A LAKE. • WHAT ARE USES OF RIVERS? RIVERS CARRY WATER AND NUTRIENTS TO AREAS ALL AROUND THE EARTH. RIVERS ALSO PROVIDE EXCELLENT HABITATS (HOMES) AND FOOD FOR FISH, DUCKS, BEAVERS AND OTHER ANIMALS. RIVERS CAN ALSO BE USED TO TRAVEL ON AND TO SHIP THINGS BY BOAT. • WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RIVER AND STREAM? BOTH ARE FAST MOVING BODIES OF WATER. A RIVER IS LARGER, DEEPER AND LONGER THAN A STREAM. STREAMS ARE MUCH SMALLER. RIVERS & STREAMS PONDS • A POND IS A SMALL BODY OF STILL WATER FORMED NATURALLY OR BY HOLLOWING OUT SHALLOW DIP IN THE EARTH. • A POND IS USED TO WATER LIVESTOCK SUCH AS COWS, SHEEP, DEER OR HORSES. WHEN THE POND IS DEEP ENOUGH YOU CAN FISH IN IT. PONDS MOUNTAINS AND HILLS • MOUNTAINS ARE STEEP, SURFACING RISING VERY HIGH. • A HILL IS EASIER TO CLIMB THAN A MOUNTAIN. IT IS LESS STEEP AND NOT AS HIGH. PLAINS • A LARGE AREA OF FLAT LAND. • HAS VERY FEW TREES VALLEYS • A LOW AREA OF LAND BETWEEN HILLS OR MOUNTAINS. • IT USUALLY HAS A RIVER OR STREAM THAT RUNS THROUGH IT. • MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN VALLEYS BECAUSE THE SOIL IN THE VALLEY IS BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE HILLS OR MOUNTAINS WHEN WATER RUNS INTO THE VALLEY AND THE SOIL IS VERY GOOD FOR FARMING. DESERT • A BARREN AREA THAT HAS NO TREES, GRASS OR A LOT OF VEGETATION. • VERY LITTLE RAIN FALLS IN A DESERT. • NORMALLY A DESERT RECEIVES LESS THAN 10 INCHES OF RAIN IN A YEAR. NATURAL RESOURCES SOIL WATER PLANTS AND ANIMALS • TOP LAYER OF THE EARTH THAT • REGULATES THE EARTH’S TEMPERATURE • PLANTS ABSORB CARBON DIOXIDE PLANTS GROW. AND RELEASE OXYGEN THAT WE NEED • 75% OF THE HUMAN BRAIN IS WATER TO BREATHE. • HUMAN CAN GO ONLY 1 WEEK • PLANTS AND ANIMALS ARE FOOD. WITHOUT WATER. NATURAL RESOURCES TREES MINERAL • PROVIDE OXYGEN • IMPORTANT FOR A HEALTHY BODY • IMPROVE AIR QUALITY • KEEP BONES, MUSCLES, HEART AND BRAIN WORKING PROPERLY. • CONSERVE WATER, PRESERVE SOIL AND SUPPORT WILDLIFE • IMPORTANT IN MAKING ENZYMES AND HORMONES. EXPLORING LANDFORMS AND BODIES OF WATERS FOR KIDS.