Materials:
- World Map or Globe
- Paper (Construction paper or drawing paper)
- Crayons or Markers
- Optional: Computer/Tablet with internet access for viewing waterfall videos/images
- Optional: Playdough or clay
Lesson Activities:
What is a Waterfall? (10 mins)
Let's talk about waterfalls! What do you think a waterfall is? (Allow student to respond). That's right! A waterfall is a place where a river or stream flows over a steep drop, like a cliff. Imagine water taking a big jump! It can be noisy and create a lot of mist.
How Do Waterfalls Happen? (10 mins)
Waterfalls often form where a river flows over different kinds of rock. Imagine hard rock on top and softer rock underneath. The flowing water wears away the softer rock much faster than the hard rock. Over a long, long time, this carving action creates a step or cliff, and the water tumbles over it! This wearing away process is called erosion.
Famous Waterfalls Around the World (15 mins)
There are amazing waterfalls all over our planet! Let's look at our map/globe.
- Niagara Falls: Found on the border between the USA and Canada in North America. It's not the tallest, but it's very wide and has a HUGE amount of water flowing over it! Can you find North America on the map? Let's point to where Niagara Falls is.
- Angel Falls: Located in Venezuela, South America. This is the world's tallest uninterrupted waterfall! The water drops for such a long time that much of it turns into mist before reaching the bottom. Can you find Venezuela in South America on the map? Let's point it out.
- Victoria Falls: Found on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa. It's considered one of the largest waterfalls in the world based on its width and height combined, creating a giant curtain of falling water. Can you find Africa on the map? Let's find Zambia and Zimbabwe.
(Optional: Show brief videos or pictures of these waterfalls if using a device).
Activity 1: Map It! (10 mins)
Using a crayon or marker, let's put a small mark or sticker on our map/globe where Niagara Falls, Angel Falls, and Victoria Falls are located. This helps us remember where these incredible natural wonders are!
Activity 2: Create a Waterfall! (15 mins)
Now it's your turn to be creative! You can either:
- Draw a picture of your favorite waterfall (real or imaginary). Think about the rocks, the falling water, and maybe the plants or animals nearby.
- Use playdough or clay to build a model of a waterfall. Show the cliff and the water tumbling down.
Wrap-Up (5 mins)
Great job exploring waterfalls today! What is one thing you learned about waterfalls? Can you name one of the famous waterfalls we talked about and point to its continent on the map? Waterfalls are amazing features of our Earth's geography!