LEARNING TOOL
Open Educational ResourceLEARNING TOOL
The Lay of the Land
The Lay of the Land
How do physical features of the landscape define our regions today?
This activity was developed by National Geographic and Esri to be used with MapMaker, a digital mapping tool for the classroom. It is one in a series of geoinquiry lessons intended to promote geographic thinking by using maps and spatial patterns to acquire, understand and communicate information.
Grades
6 - 8
Subjects
Geography, Physical Geography, Earth Science
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Learning materials
Instructional Links
Landforms play a huge role in shaping where we live. Before modern transportation, people relied primarily on walking, riding horses or pulling wagons to travel over land. The slope and height of mountains and other landforms made some places difficult to access using these forms of transportation. Landforms also influence what kinds of resources might be available in a place. For example, rivers historically provided irrigation for crops and were used to transport crops and other goods to cities where they could be sold. As a result, large towns grew up along rivers that could provide both fresh water and a way for people to make money
Landforms also act as landmarks and natural barriers that shape how we think of regions. In this activity, students will explore how the mountains, valleys and rivers of North America affect where we live today.
By clicking on the link above, educators will find a StoryMap that contains:
- A MapMaker map, The Lay of the Land, that the activity relies upon
- A teacher guide and student activity, available as Open Educational Resources in the form of a Google document or Microsoft format, designed to be adapted as needed
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Last Updated
May 21, 2025
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