Landforms are constantly changing over time.
The physical contours that make up the geography of a location are known as landforms. Mountains, valleys, hills, riverbanks and plains are just a few of the landforms. Clay models can help students visualize landforms that may not be in the local environment. More than one landform can be created in a model. Usually when one landform is made another is created, such as a set of mountain ranges and a valley.
Instructions
Mountains and Valleys
1. Draw the boundaries of two mountain ranges across from one another on the cardboard, using the marker.
2. Place modeling clay within the boundaries drawn on the cardboard.
3. Build up the mountains where the clay has already been placed. Mountain ranges should be steep and comparably tall.
4. Shape the mountains to show the relative age of the modeled mountains. Sharper mountaintops are found with younger landforms and smooth tops are from older ones.
5. Fill in the space between the two mountain ranges with clay to represent a valley. A valley is a flat portion of land that has mountains for boundaries.
Plateaus
6. Draw a rounded boundary on a piece of cardboard. Place clay within the boundary.
7. Build up the clay to make a large mound with steep slopes. The steep slopes also represent another landform called a cliff.
8. Flatten the top of the mound to form the plateau. This landform can be small flat areas with steep slopes or larger areas as well.
Coastal Landforms
9. Draw a boundary, with a marker, on a piece of cardboard to represent the coastline.
10. Place blue colored modeling clay on one side of the boundary to indicate an ocean. Oceans are one of the most abundant landforms on Earth.
11. Choose another color to represent the land portion of the coast.
12. Make a mound of clay with steep sides to make a cliff. Many coast lines are the result of tectonic plate movement which can make very steep landforms.
13. Place small mounds of clay, in the same color as the land, in the water portion to make islands. Making a small chain of islands will produce a landform called an archipelago. Many oceanic islands are produced from volcanoes.
14. Extend a portion of the coastline into the water and curve slightly. This peninsula should be surrounded by water while being attached to the main land.
Tips Warnings
Use different colors of clay to identify specific landforms.
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