The Earth’s BIG Features
Grade 3
Social Studies Online
Blueprint Skill Geography Grade 3

Recognize the identifying characteristics of
certain geographic features (i.e., peninsula,
islands, continents, mountains, rivers, deserts,
oceans, and forests).
Deserts

Approximately one-third of
the Earth's land surface is
desert. Desert is an area of
land that receives very little
rain and has very little
vegetation .
Deserts

Deserts can generally
be found in low-lying,
flat areas where
precipitation by rain is
blocked by mountain
ranges or wind currents
that prevent cool wet
air from reaching a
destination.
Deserts

Deserts generally are
made up of sand or
loose dirt. While most
deserts appear light
brown or tan in color,
many can appear red,
grey or even green
depending on the type
of rock that was
eroded.
Peninsulas

When a piece of
land extrudes into a
body of water and is
surrounded by at
least three sides, it
can be termed a
peninsula.
Peninsulas

In this image, the small
piece of land is
connected to the main
land by a narrow land
bridge or isthmus.
Peninsulas

However, not all
peninsulas are
shaped in this
fashion. Many
peninsulas have a
triangular shape
with a tip out into
the water.
Islands

Islands are pieces of land
smaller than continents
that are surrounded by a
body of water, including
oceans, seas, lakes, and
rivers.
Continents

A continent is
defined as a large
unbroken land mass
completely
surrounded by
water, although in
some cases
continents are (or
were in part)
connected by land
bridges..
Continents
The seven continents
are North America,
South America,
Europe, Asia,
Africa, Australia,
and Antarctica.
 The United States is
located in North
America.
Mountains

Over long periods of time,
mountains are created by
tremendous forces in the earth
with a steep top usually
shaped up to a peak or ridge.
Mountains occur more often
in oceans than on land. Some
islands are the peaks of
mountains coming out of the
water.
Mountains

Mountains are formed by
volcanism, erosion, and
disturbances or uplift in the
earth's crust. Most geologists
believe that the majority of
mountains are formed by
geological forces heat and
pressure producing changes
under the earth's crust and
movements in the earth's
crust.
Mountains

and pressure producing
changes under the
earth's crust and
movements in the
earth's crust.
Rivers and Streams

Rivers? Streams?
Creeks? They are all
names for water
flowing on the
Earth's surface. As
far as the Water
Science site is
concerned, they are
pretty much
interchangeable.
Rivers and Streams

I tend to think of
creeks as the
smallest of the
three, with streams
being in the middle,
and rivers being the
largest.
Oceans

Oceans are the
largest bodies of
water in the world.
Ocean water is
saltwater, and
covers three fourths
of the earth’s
surface.
Oceans

The world has four
oceans, named the
Atlantic Ocean,
Pacific Ocean,
Indian Ocean, and
Artic Ocean.

Ed. World: An Ocean
of Activities.
Resources

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What Is a Desert?
NASA Landformations: Deserts
NASA Landformations: Peninsula
History of Ellis Island
NASA Landformations: Islands
The Continents
World Atlas.com
Resources

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Mountains: Face of the Earth
The Evergreen Project: River and Stream
Topics
Water Science for School
What’s It Like Where You Live?
Comparing Communities
Education’s World: An Ocean of Activities
Resources

The Ocean Biome