The document is a 6th grade social studies lesson by Mr. Barnett on physical features of geography. It defines various geographic terms such as mountains, hills, plains, plateaus, rivers, and lakes, explaining their significance and how they relate to human activities and historical context. Students are instructed to work in groups to illustrate and define these terms through a gallery walk activity.

1. Physical Features of Geography
Mr. Barnett
6th Grade Social Studies
Plaza Middle School

2. Warm-up
• What are physical features?
• Describe your physical features.

3. Real-World Connection
• Why do we use physical features to identify places?
• Why would we tell people we live near the beach or
on the east coast?

4. Real World Connection
• Why would identifying
physical features be
important to historians?
• (Studying early people in
North American and where
they settled)
• We must adapt to our
physical environment to
survive.

5. Mountains
• Mountains are large
landmasses higher than a
hill.
• A mountain is the highest
kind of land.
• A mountain has a peak.
• A group of mountains
together is called a
mountain range.

6. Hill
• A hill is a rounded elevation of land
• A hill is land that rises above the land around it.
• A hill has a rounded top.

7. Plain
• A plain is an area of land usually at low
elevation.

8. Plateau
• A plateau is a large area of high land.

9. River
• A river is a natural
body of water that
runs through the
land.
• An example is the
Mississippi River.

10. Tributary
• A tributary flows into a larger river.

11. Gulf
• A gulf is a part of an
ocean partly or mostly
surrounded by land.
• The Gulf of Mexico is
the 10th largest body of
water in the world

12. Bay
• A bay is a body of water smaller than a gulf.

13. Island
• An island is a land form, smaller than a
continent, surrounded by water.

14. Peninsula
• A peninsula is a long, narrow portion of land
extending out into the ocean.
• ***It is boarded by water on 3 (three)
sides.***

15. Lake
• A lake is an inland body of standing water
of considerable size. Examples are the 5
(five) Great Lakes!

16. So Why Are Geologic Features
Important?
• They are important because they impact:
– patterns of trade
– the locations of cities and towns
– the westward movement
– agricultural and fishing industries.

17. Gallery Walk Directions
1. You will work in your group.
2. You will use your graphic
organizer.
3. Define the term. (use notes)
4. You will identify which picture
goes with which geography term.
5. Answer the question

18. Rivers Map Activity
Superior
Erie