Free Land and Water Cards (27)

Montessori land and water form nomenclature cards illustrating mountains, lakes, islands and more

Any time of year is a wonderful time to explore geography with your child. On summer road trips, point out the different landforms you pass on a map and challenge your child to spot them out the window — it makes for a delightful travel game and turns the whole world into a classroom.

Geography is the study of how people interact with their physical environment — in other words, how humans live on the earth. That environment includes the features of the planet, its animals, its plants, and its many cultures. A child's very first introduction to geography happens right at home, through everyday exposure to their own family's culture. From there, a key part of any child's education is a gentle, curious introduction to the other cultures and environments that share our planet.

The Names of Geographic Things

A fun and natural place to begin is with landforms. A landform is a single unit that makes up part of the overall shape of the earth. A collection of landforms together is called a landscape — all the visible features of one area of the earth.

Below you'll find clear, child-friendly definitions grouped into three sets, along with the matching free PDF printouts you can download and assemble at home.

Landforms — Set 1

Mountain — An area of land that is dramatically higher than the surrounding area. A mountain also has a distinct summit (top).
Hill — An area of land that is somewhat higher than the surrounding land. A hill does not need to have a distinct summit.
Plateau — An area of land that is relatively flat and elevated above the surrounding land.
Plain — A flat area of land, generally found near rivers.
Valley — A low-lying area of land surrounded by mountains, hills, or plateaus.

Download the free printout for these landforms
Don't forget to add the matching cards and name cards.

Landforms — Set 2

Peninsula — An area of land surrounded by water on three sides.
Bay — An area of water surrounded by land on three sides.
Lake — A body of fresh water that is relatively still.
Island — An area of land smaller than a continent that is surrounded by water on all sides.
Isthmus — A narrow piece of land between two larger bodies of water.
Strait — A narrow body of water connecting two larger bodies of water.

Download the free printout for these landforms
Don't forget to add the matching cards and name cards.

Large Landforms & Landscapes

Ocean — The salty water that covers most of the Earth's surface.
Land — The dry ground surrounded by the oceans.
Continents — Land is broken up into seven continents.
Layers of Earth — The Earth is made up of three main layers: the core, the mantle, and the crust. The core has a solid center and a liquid outer core. The mantle is mostly liquid. The crust is the thinnest layer — we live on the surface of the crust, and all the continental plates are made of crust. Above the crust is the atmosphere.

Download the Nomenclature Cards and Matching Cards for these landforms.

Introducing the Nomenclature Cards with Definitions

Begin by placing a picture card — such as the isthmus — with its word label below the picture on a work rug or table. Beneath the card and label, place the matching definition. (An isthmus is a narrow neck or strip of land where two larger sections of land are connected.)

Take two more cards and lay them out in the same order, one card, label, and definition at a time. Read each definition aloud to your child. If your child is able and willing, invite them to read the definition themselves. This lesson can comfortably unfold over several days — there's no need to rush.

Always allow your child to do the exercise after you have demonstrated it. If your child clearly understands the work and wishes to continue independently, gently step back and let them carry on without guidance. Following the child is at the heart of the Montessori approach.

Supplementary Information

Continents
Landform links
Scope and Sequence
More landform links
How to Use 3-Part Cards
Latitude and Longitude Lesson

Montessori Mom