Name:____________________________________________________Date:________________Period:_
Earth’s Surface Project
Purpose: demonstrate your knowledge of Earth’s Surface through a creative project.
Directions: This project has two parts. The first part is worth ten points and the second part is worth 20
points. For each part, you have multiple project options. Select something that you will enjoy
completing. Although most landforms are created by a combination of forces, I will classify a landform
as constructive or destructive. Constructive landforms are formed mostly by constructive forces
(mountain, delta, beach, etc.). Destructive landforms are formed mostly by destructive forces (valley,
canyon, etc).
**Any late projects will not receive extra credit.
Part 1: Ten Points
_____ Create a topographic map that shows different geologic features (See Rubric).
_____ Create a large Venn diagram which compares and contrasts destructive and constructive forces
(See Rubric)
Part 2: Twenty Points
_____Landform Model. Create a model of four landforms. Two landforms created by destructive forces
and two created by constructive forces. Provide descriptions of how each of these landforms is created.
You must provide your own materials. (See Rubric)
_____ Landform Children’s Book. Create children’s book that shows how a riverbed and a delta are
created through weathering, erosion, and deposition. Use drawings and short passages to describe this.
(See Rubric).
_____ Landform Essay. Select 4 landforms, two created by constructive forces and two created by
destructive forces. Write a short four paragraph essay which describes how each of these are formed
(See Rubric).
_____Landform Website. Create a website that shows four landforms (2 constructive and 2 destructive).
Provide images of the landforms and explanations of how the landforms actually formed. Use
www.weebly.com to create your website (See Rubric)1 extra credit point.
_____Local Landform Examples. Find two examples of real local landforms created by constructive
forces or destructive forces. Take pictures of these landforms with yourself in the pictures. Write a
description of how the landforms were created. Put this together in a Prezi or Powerpoint. (See Rubric)
3 Bonus Points
_____Engineering Project. Research how weathering and erosion can affect different buildings. Select a
specific scenario and design a solution to prevent further weather or erosion. Create a Prezi or write a
paper which shows your work. (See Rubric) 3 Bonus Points
Part 1 Rubrics
Topographic Map
Mountains
Contour lines and interval
Benchmarks
Area of depression
Neatness and Presentation
2 points
Three mountains are shown.
Contour lines are properly
drawn; a contour interval of 100
ft. is shown.
One benchmark is correctly
displayed.
One area of depression is drawn.
Drawn neatly and on a large
piece of paper provided by the
teacher. Please Outline contour
lines in marker.
1 point
Less than three mountains are
shown.
The lines are drawn improperly
or the interval is not
listed/incorrect.
No benchmark is listed.
No areas of depression are
drawn.
Could be neater, or drawn on a
regular 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper.
Contour lines not outlined in
marker.
_____10 points
Venn Diagram
Constructive forces
Destructive forces
Both
Format
Neatness and Presentation
_____ 10 points
2 points
At least 5 points are covered.
At least 5 points are covered.
At least 3 points are covered
under both.
Venn diagram is properly set up.
All bullet points are in complete
sentences.
Drawn neatly on large paper
provided by the teacher. Venn
diagram is outlined in marker.
1 point
Less than five points are
covered.
Less than 5 points are covered.
Less than three points are
covered.
Venn diagram is incorrect. Bullet
points are not in complete
sentences.
Could be neater, or drawn on
regular 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper.
Venn diagram not outlined in
marker.
Part 2 Rubrics
Landform Model
Landforms
Description
Models
Effort and Creativity
_____/20 Points
5 Points
2 constructive
landforms and 2
destructive landforms
are included.
A complete sentence
description is included
that describes how each
landform was created.
 All models accurately
represent the
landforms.
 Tooth picks and index
cards are used to label
the models and
provide descriptions.
Excellent effort and
creativity.
3 points
1-2 landforms are
missing.
1 point
3 or more landforms
are missing.
 1-2 descriptions are
missing.
 Descriptions are not
in complete
sentences.
Models are
inaccurate.
1-2 toothpicks and
index cards are
missing.
3 or more descriptions
are missing.
Student shows some
effort and creativity.
Poor effort and
creativity.
No labels are included.
Landform Essay
Landforms
Content
Introduction and
Conclusion
Format
_____20 points
5 points
3 point
2 constructive and 2
1-2 landforms are
destructive landforms
missing.
are included.
 One paragraph
Two paragraphs are
describes
not included.
constructive
1-2 descriptions of
landforms.
landforms are
incorrect or are not
 One paragraph
describes destructive
detailed enough.
landforms.
 Each landform has a
detailed description
of how it was formed.
An Introduction and
An introduction
Conclusion are
paragraph is included
included.
but does not define
the forces or does a
poor job introducing
the paper.
Conclusion does not
properly sum up
paper.
 Essay is typed (see
 Essay does not meet
me in person if this is
the typed criteria.
a problem) double
 3 paragraphs are
spaced times new
included.
roman size 12 font.
 2-4 spelling or
 One spelling or
grammar mistakes are
grammar mistakes
made.
are made.
 1-2 paragraphs are
 4 paragraphs are
less than 5 sentences.
included.
 All Paragraphs are 5
or more sentences.
1 points
3 or more landforms
are missing.
 3 or more
descriptions of
landforms are
incorrect or not
detailed.
 Content is of poor
quality.
Introduction or
conclusion missing.
Essay is 2 or fewer
paragraphs.
5 or more spelling or
grammar errors are
made.
3 or more paragraphs
are less than 5
sentences.
Children’s Book
5 Points
 Story properly describes
how weathering (chemical
and physical), erosion, and
deposition create a river
bed and a delta.
 Constructive and
destructive forces are
properly defined.
Story is at least 8 pages long
including a title page.
Content
Pages
3 Points
Story is missing one or
two of the previously
listed pieces of content.
1 point
Story is missing 3 or
more pieces of the
previously listed
content.

Story is less than 6
pages long.

Drawings/Story
Each page has a hand drawn
picture and a 1 sentence
description that reads as a
story. (This should be a
children’s book!)



Neatness and
Effort.



_____/20
Book is very neat with 0-2
spelling or grammar
errors.
Book is bound properly.
Book took much effort to
complete.



Story is less 6 or 7
pages long.
Story does not
include a title page.
1-2 pages do not
have hand drawn
pictures.
1-2 pages do not
have a 1 sentence
description.
Descriptions do not
read as a story.
Book is neat but
could have been
given more effort.
Book is not bound
properly.
3-4 spelling or
grammar errors.




3-4 pages do not
have hand drawn
pictures.
3-4 pages do not
have a 1 sentence
description.
Book shows little
effort.
It is sloppy or
inappropriate for
children.
Landform Website
Landforms
Descriptions
Links
Professionalism
5 points
At least two destructive
and two constructive
landforms are shown.
Each landform has a
two or more sentence
description of what
specific forces created
the landform.
Each landform has its
separate page on the
website.

The website has a
professional
appearance.

There is a home
page that
provides links to
all of the other
pages.
3 points
1-2 landforms are
missing.
1 point
3-4 landforms are
missing.
1-2 descriptions are
missing, inaccurate, or
not long enough.
3 or more descriptions
are missing, inaccurate,
or not long enough.
Multiple landforms are
included on the same
page.
The website does not
include a home page.
The website has only
one page.
The website appears
unprofessional.
_____/20
Real Landform Examples
Landforms
Descriptions
5 points
1 constructive and 1
destructive landform is
provided.
Each landform has a
complete sentence
description explaining
how it was formed.
 Each landform is its
own slide.
 Each slide has an
appropriate picture.
Slides
Effort


Prezi (PowerPoint) is
very creative and
shows much effort.
Pictures are of local
landforms with
student in the
pictures!
3 points
One landform is
missing,
1 point
2 or more landforms
are missing.
3 or more descriptions
1-2 descriptions are
missing or inaccurate. are missing or
inaccurate.
Descriptions are not
in complete
sentences.
3 or more slides are
 Multiple landforms
missing pictures.
are included on one
slide.
 1-2 slides are missing
pictures.
 More effort is
 Poor Effort.
needed.
 Pictures are not local
 Prezi (PowerPoint) is
landforms or
not delivered to
student is not in the
teacher properly
pictures.
(flash drive, google
drive, email, etc.)
Engineering Project
Select A Problem
Research the Problem
Solution
Finished Product
_____/20
5 Points
Student selects a
problem caused by
erosion or weathering
that impacts human
life.
Student finds five
specific facts related to
the problem.
 Student presents a
realistic solution to
the problem.
 Student explains the
solution in one or
more good
paragraphs (5 or
more sentences).
 Student also builds a
model or designs a
drawing to
represent the
solution.
 Student writes a
paper or creates a
Prezi.
 Great effort is given
and student goes
above expectations.
3 Points
Student selects a
problem caused by
weathering or erosion
that does not Impact
human life.
Student facts are too
general.





1 point
Student selects a
problem not caused by
weathering or erosion.
Student finds less than
five facts.
Student designs an
unrealistic solution.
Paragraph is not of
proper length.
Drawing or model is
unsatisfactory or
was made with poor
effort.


Solution is poor.
Paragraph and
design are
incomplete or
missing.
Student writes a
paper or prezi.
Student meets or
just misses
expectations.

Student does not
complete a paper
or Prezi.
Student fails to
meet
expectations.
