Land and Water Forms - Introduction

1. Prepare the Albums: Begin by gathering the albums that contain classic images of various land and water forms. Explain, "Let's start by getting our albums. These pictures will help us see and learn about different geographical features."
2. Introduce the Activity: Announce the day's focus by saying, "Today, we are going to look at beautiful pictures of places around the world. We will talk about what we see and learn some new words that describe these places."
3. Present the First Image: Show the first image and explain, "Here’s our first image. This is a picture of a lake. Can you see how the water is surrounded by land? A lake is a large body of water surrounded entirely by land."
4. Discuss the Features: Engage the children in observing the image by asking, "Let's talk about what we see in this picture. What colors do you notice? Do you see any trees or animals? What do you think it would be like to visit this lake?"
5. Introduce Relevant Language: Teach new vocabulary by pointing out features, "The land around a lake is often called the shoreline. Can you say shoreline? Very good! This is where the land meets the water."

6. Continue with More Images: Move to the next image, explaining, "Now, let’s look at the next image. This one shows an island. An island is land that is completely surrounded by water."
7. Explore the Image: Encourage detailed observation, "Look closely at this island. What do you notice about its shape and the water around it? What might you find on an island?"
8. Discuss and Define Terms: Introduce more terms, "Islands can have beaches, rocks, or even mountains. The water around an island can be called the sea or ocean. Can you say ocean? Great job!"
9. Encourage Observations and Questions: Prompt the children to think and inquire, "What do you wonder about this place? Do you have any questions about islands?"
10. Review and Recap: Summarize the session by reviewing key concepts, "Let’s review what we learned from our images. What is the difference between a lake and an island? Can you remember the new words we used today?"
11. Clean Up and Closure: Conclude the activity by tidying up together, "Thank you for looking at these images with me. Let’s put our albums away and get ready for our next activity."

Three Period Lesson

Now, let's move on to using the vocabulary cards after completing the previous steps.

Previously: Select a group of three or four cards that the child has not yet mastered and set the remaining cards aside, face-down or in their holder to prevent them from becoming a visual disturbance.

1. Prepare the Vocabulary Cards: Begin by saying, "Let's gather our Vocabulary Land and Water Forms cards. Today. Now, we will focus on just a few cards."
2. Introduce the Activity: Explain the day's objective by stating, "We are going to learn some new words today that describe different land and water forms. These words will help us talk about what we see in pictures and in the world around us."
3. Period 1 - Introduction and Naming: Start with the first card, holding it clearly in view, and say, "This is a lake." Repeat the name slowly and clearly. Continue with the subset of cards, repeating the process for each. Say, "This is an isthmus," "This is a strait," "This is a gulf."

4. Period 2 - Recognition: Move the cards slightly away and point to one without touching it, saying, "Show me the lake." If the child points correctly, praise their effort. If the child is incorrect or unsure, gently remind them by returning to Period 1, saying, "Let's look at them again. This is the lake."
5. Period 3 - Recall: After reviewing, point to a card and ask, "What is this?" If the child responds correctly, confirm with a positive affirmation, "Yes, that's right, it's a gulf!" If the child does not remember, go back to Period 2.
6. Repeat and Reinforce: Depending on the child's response, continue through the cards using the three periods. It might take several tries or days for the child to feel comfortable with the vocabulary.