Landforms are natural shapes or features on the Earth's surface. There are many different types of landforms including mountains, valleys, canyons, plains, plateaus, islands, lakes, oceans, coasts, deserts, and rivers. Each landform has a distinct definition describing its characteristics and composition.

1. What are Landforms?
Third Grade
Science and Social Studies

2. What are landforms?
• Landforms are the natural
shapes or features called
landforms.
• There are many different
types of landforms found
on the earth.

3. mountain
A mountain is a
place on
Earth’s
surface that is
much higher
than the land
around it.

4. valley
A valley is a
lowland area
between
higher lands
such as
mountains.

5. canyon
A canyon
is a deep
valley
with very
steep
sides.

6. plain
A plain is
a flat
area on
Earth’s
surface.

7. plateau
A plateau
is a flat
area
higher
than the
land
around it.

8. island
An island is
land that is
completely
surrounded
by water.

9. lake
A lake is
water that
is
completely
surrounded
by land.

10. ocean
Oceans are
the largest
bodies of
water on
earth.

11. coast
A coast is
the area
where the
ocean
touches
the land.

12. desert
A desert is
a hot dry
place with
little or no
rainfall.

13. river
A river
is a long
flowing
body of
water.