Land and water — Geography, 4–6 years
Earth has solid land and water in many forms. We can notice how they meet in places such as beaches, riverbanks and islands.
Two parts of a place
Land is the solid ground where we can stand, build and grow plants. Water may be in a puddle, stream, river, lake or sea. A place can contain both, and the edge where they meet can have a special name, such as a shore or riverbank.
Why notice land and water?
People need to know where they can walk, build or grow food, and where water may block a path or help a boat travel. Describing land and water helps us understand a place and choose safe ways to move through it. It also explains why homes and towns are built in particular spots.
Reading a small scene
Look at a picture with a house, a green field and a blue river. First, point to the land: the house and field are on solid ground. Next, point to the water: the river is the moving blue part. The line where field and river meet is the riverbank.
Blue does not always mean water
On many maps, blue means water, so it is natural to look for blue first. But a real place can have blue paint, blue signs or blue objects that are not water. Check the shape, the picture and the map key before deciding what a colour means.
Land and water around us
At a beach, land meets the sea; beside a river, a path follows the water; on an island, water surrounds the land. These patterns help us describe places we visit. They also help people plan bridges, roads, farms and boats.
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