Learning About Landforms: Selected Resources

This annotated resource list features suggested online full-text resources, other web sites and print resources available in the Collins Instructional Media Center's collection. Are you unable to find the information you need? Please stop by the IMC, or send Mrs. O'Keefe (joanneokeefe@salem.k12.ma.us) an e-mail message asking for help!

IMC ONLINE FULL-TEXT COLLECTIONS

BrainPOP / Volcano: Lotsa Lava!
(Stop by the IMC for the User Name and Password you'll need to use BrainPOP.)

SIRS Discoverer and WebFind
This full-text collection includes domestic and international newspapers, magazine articles, reference books, government documents, pictures and recommended web sites.
(Stop by the IMC for the User Name and Password needed to access this collection. After entering these, click the "SIRS Products" button.)

STUDENT RESOURCE CENTER
The Gale Encyclopedia of Science article "Landform", available in this collection, features definitions of many landforms, as well as an explanation the formation of tectonic landforms - volcanoes, faults, and earthquakes. (Stop by the IMC for the ID you'll need to use this resource.)

WEB SITES

ILLUSTRATED GLOSSARY: LANDFORMS AND BODIES OF WATER
Visit this outstanding EnchantedLearning.com resource for brief but complete definitions of many landforms, often accompanied by nice illustrations or photographs.

LANDFORM: FROM WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA
This article features an extensive list of landforms, each with its own Wikipedia entry, including a definition, and explanation of the way in which it forms, and several examples located throughout the world.

GEOGRAPHY GLOSSARY
Visit this About.com site to search for brief definitions of "key terms in geography", including many landforms.

A Geographical Dictionary, from First School Years

LANDFORM TERMS
This resource features a simple A to Z list of terms and their definitions.

MAPS AND GLOBES GLOSSARY
This site features a nice A-Z lising of words about maps, globes and study of the Earth. Visit How the Earth Formed, also available from this site, for a nice explanation of how oceans are formed.

LANDFORMS
This site features information and illustrations about selected landforms.

LANDFORMS OF THE WORLD
This site features a long list of landforms. Students can simply click on a landform to learn about its main characteristics, locate at least one example, and see two illustrations/photographs.

Worldatlas.com
This site features annotated lists of notable landforms for each of the continents. Students can search for information about continents, countries, dependencies, islands, territories, bodies of water, and more.

LONGITUDE & LATITUDE

USGS: U.S. Board on Geographic Names

U.S. Census Bureau: U. S. Gazetteer

Longitude and Latitude: Where is it?, from Infoplease.com

EARTHQUAKES

British Geological Survey: Earthquakes

Earthquake Museum: Famous Earthquakes

Earthquakes - Historical Earthquakes

Earthquakes for Kids

Factmonster: Famous Earthquakes

FEMA: Earthquakes

HowStuffWorks: How Earthquakes Work

Natural Hazards in California

Plate Tectonics, The Cause of Earthquakes

The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: The Great 1906 Earthquake and Fire

TheTech: Earthquakes

Understanding Earthquakes

USGS: Earthquakes

VOLCANOES

Factmonster: Famous Volcanoes

How Volcanoes Work

Michigan Technological University Volcanoes Page

USGS

USGS: Cascades Volcano Observatory

USGS: Volcanoes of the United States

Volcanic and Geologic Terms

Volcanoes

Volcano World

Volcanoes

Volcanoes Online

PRINT RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE REFERENCE COLLECTION

Atlas of Geology and Landforms. Cally Oldershaw. New York: Franklin Watts, 2001. (REF 550 Old)
This atlas provides facts and information about the study of geology and how it helps to explain the history and development of Earth's various landforms.

Earth Science: Discovering the Secrets of the Earth. Landforms. Danbury, CT: Grolier Educational, 2000. (REF 550 Ear)
This resource features color illustrations and photographs of various landforms as well as a glossary of terms.

Encyclopedia of Earth and Physical Sciences. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1998. (REF 500.2 Enc)

Encyclopedia of World Geography. Editorial Director: Graham Bateman. Marshall Cavendish, c1994. (R 910.3 Enc)
This encyclopedia features coverage of physical geography, economics, government and peoples, and includes color photographs, charts, maps, an index (vol. 24), and glossary (very useful for defining landforms).

Exploring Your World: The Adventure of Geography. Prepared by the Special Publications Division, National Geographic Society. National Geographic Society, 1989. (R 910.3 Exp)
This terrific resource includes 334 alphabetically arranged entries, more than 1,000 illustrations, featuring maps, charts, and photographs, and an index. Useful for landform mapping assignments, it provides a definition of each landform, and an explanation of the way(s) in which it occurred. In many cases, maps are included providing location(s) of one or more examples of landforms.

Grolier International Dictionary. Danbury, CT: Grolier, 1980. (R 423 G)
This is a useful general dictionary - but be sure to read each definition carefully. In some cases, the first definition may not be relevant to a student's research. (For example, the first definition of the word basin provides a description of a kitchen sink! The definition for the landform basin is definition #4.)

Lands and Peoples. Danbury, CT: Grolier, 1999. (R 910.22 Lan)
This resource, organized into six volumes, features a helpful "Important Geographical Terms section (vol. 6, pp. 350-352), including definitions for many landforms.

National Geographic Atlas of the World. 6th ed. Washington, D.C. : National Geographic Society, 1992. (R 912 Nat)
This atlas includes discussion of "Continents Adrift: The Concept of Plate Tectonics," including detailed maps of "Tectonic Earth: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Age," and features world climate, population, food, minerals, and energy maps. It is arranged by continent, and for each includes population, land use/land cover, resources and industry, transportation and environmental stress maps.

National Geographic Picture Atlas of Our World. Washington, D.C. : National Geographic Society, 1991. (R 912 Nat)
This resource features an index and glossary (pp. 242-243), which includes definitions of many landforms. Maps of the world are helpful to students trying to determine longitude and latitude of continents, and place continents in proper locations on maps they are asked to draw.

Rand McNally World Atlas. Chicago, IL : Rand McNally, 1992. (R 912 Int)
This atlas features a nice section on map symbols, including political boundaries, transportation, and topographic features. It includes listings of principal mountains, oceans, seas, gulfs, lakes, rivers and islands, and an idex.

World Almanac and Book of Facts 1999. Mahwah, NJ: World Almanac Books, 1999. (Ref 317.3 Wor Pbk.)
This handy resource includes lists featuring locations of major rivers, mountains, volcanoes, etc., in the world. Students will find the World Almanac useful as they attempt to locate landforms on maps they create. One of its best features is a comprehensive index.

The World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, 2002. (Ref 031 Wor)

Young People's Science Encyclopedia. Chicago: Children's Press, 1985. (Ref 503 You)
This resource offers detailed definitions, causes, and illustrations/photographs of many landforms.

FICTION BOOKS ABOUT EARTHQUAKES, VOLCANOES, AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS

Earthquake in the Early Morning, by Mary Pope Osborne ; illustrated by Sal Murdocca
The magic tree house takes Jack and Annie to San Francisco in 1906, in time for them to experience one of the biggest earthquakes the United States had ever known.
New York: Random House, 2001, 72 p.

Earthquake Terror, by Peg Kehret
When an earthquake hits the isolated island in Northern California where his family is camping, twelve-year-old Jonathan must find a way to keep himself, his partially paralyzed sister and their dog alive until help arrives.
New York: Cobblehill Books, copyright 1996, 132 p.

Earthshake: Poems From the Ground Up, by Lisa Westberg Peters ; pictures by Cathie Felstead
Presents twenty-two poems about geology. End notes provide information about the earth's surface and interior, types of rocks, and how volcanoes, glaciers, and erosion modify the landscape.
New York: Greenwillow Books, 2003, 32 p.

Escaping the Giant Wave, by Peg Kehret
When an earthquake creates a tsunami while thirteen-year-old Kyle is babysitting his sister during a family vacation at a Pacific Coast resort, he tries to save himself, his sister, and a boy who has bullied him for years.
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003, 151 p.

High Tide in Hawaii, by Mary Pope Osborne
Jack and Annie travel in their Magic Tree House back to a Hawaiian island of long ago where they make friends, learn how to surf, and encounter a tsunami.
New York: Random House, 2003, 96 p.

PaperQuake: a Puzzle, by Kathryn Reiss
Certain that she is being drawn by more than coincidences into the lives of people living nearly 100 years ago, Violet, who feels like the odd sister in a set of triplets, searches for clues to help her avert an imminent tragedy.
San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace, copyright 1998, 264 p.

Quake!, by Joe Cottonwood
With their parents away at the 1989 World Series, fourteen-year-old Franny, her younger brother, and their cousin try to cope with the frightening events following an earthquake that destroys their home on Loma Prieta mountain.
New York: Scholastic Inc., 1995, 146 p.

Quake!: Disaster in San Francisco, 1906, by Gail Langer Karwoski
Tells the story of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake as seen through the eyes of Jacob, a thirteen-year-old Jewish boy who lives in a boarding house with his father and younger sister.
Atlanta: Peachtree, c2004, 153 p.

A Sea So Far, by Jean Thesman
After surviving the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fires, two teenage girls, a wealthy semi-invalid and her hired companion, travel together to Ireland and discover they share much in common, from a love of romance novels to grief over the loss of their mothers.
New York: Viking, 2001, 195 p.

The Shark Callers, by Eric Campbell
Two teenage boys, one on a shark hunt and the other traveling with his family, face the challenge of their lives when a volcano erupts, causing a massive tidal wave in the South Seas.
San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace, 1994, 232 p.

Storm-Blast, by Curtis Parkinson
Regan, Matt, and Carol have to depend on each other to survive when their small boat gets swallowed up in a fierce Caribbean storm.
Toronto, Ont.; Plattsburgh, N.Y.: Tundra Books, c2003, 156 p.

The Strange case of Baby H, by Kathryn Reiss
In the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, twelve-year-old Clara finds a baby left on the doorstep of her family's boarding house, and sets out to unravel the surrounding mysteries.
Middleton, Wis.: Pleasant Co., 2002, 163 p. (from the American Girl History Mysteries series, no. 18)

The Tears of the Salamander, by Peter Dickinson
When Alfredo, a twelve-year-old choir boy in eighteenth-century Italy, loses his family in a fire, he goes to live with Uncle Giorgio, who he discovers is a sorcerer in control of the fires of Mt. Etna with sinister plans for his nephew.
New York, N.Y.: Wendy Lamb Books, c2003, 197 p.

Learning About Careers in Math & Science

Thinking about a career as a biologist, chemist, or other interesting work in the field of math or science? What kind of education and training will you need? What will you actually do each day? Visit the links below to learn more about a particular career, or to browse lists of challenging and rewarding jobs.

Careers in Science: Living Science - Find Your Future With Us! (National Agricultural Library Kids' Science Page)
Select the career(s) you'd like to learn about from the lengthy list available at this site.

FirstGov for Kids: Careers
Learn about the responsibilities, pay, and more, for different jobs by clicking on the math or science career you wish to learn about, or any of the links to other interesting information available from this site.

What Do You Like? Exploring Career Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics -- 2006-2007 Edition
Which of your classes do you find most interesting? Those involving building & fixing things, math, science, or computers? Learn about careers that call for skills in these areas, as well as in reading, music & the arts, and others at this site.

Careers for Kids Who Like....(created by Lowpoint-Washburn District #21, Washburn, IL)
This site provides information about the working conditions, required training and/or education, employment prospects, earnings, and related occupations, for many careers. Math-related careers described include engineer, accountant, architect, computer scientist, and mechanic. Science-related careers described include pharmacist, chemist, doctor, nurse, and pilot.

KidsWork! (from knowitall.org)
Visit a virtual hospital at this site to learn about the important responsibilities of healthcare providers.

NASA: Careers in Earth Science
Visit this site for information about careers in earth science, including the following: chemist, computer programmer, engineer, forest ranger, geologist, meteorologist, and oceanographer/marine biologist.

Health and Science Careers...Interesting, Fun, and Rewarding! (from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
This site offers lots of helpful career information, as well as a terrific essay, "Getting Your Own Lab Coat! Careers for You in Science and Research", by Dick Sloane.

Dinosaurs: a Career in Paleontology
Learn about the education, training, and responsibilities of those scientists who help us to understand ancient life through the study of fossils.

Women Exploring the Oceans
Learn about the careers of several women who have emerged as leaders in the field of oceanography.

Resource Guide to Careers in Toxicology

Ornithology Careers
Learn about the responsibilities and work environment of the ornithologist, as well as the education and training required for those who wish to pursue the study of birds.

Check out these careers:
Physicists & Astronomers (Also see Astronomer: Job Profile, and Curious About Astronomy? Ask an Astronomer)
Entomologist: Education & Careers
Careers in Palaeontology and Postgraduate Opportunities
Careers in the Biological Sciences
So You'd Like to be a Marine Biologist..."
Careers in Zoology
Atmospheric Scientists (Meteorologists) (Also see Meteorologist: Job profile, where you'll learn about the work of a climatologist)
Careers in Geology
Archeologist: Job Profile

Middle Search Plus
This database of full-text articles from more than 140 magazines selected for middle school students features several articles about careers, including:

"Where Do I Go With Algebra?", by Charles Piddock. Career World, Oct. 2005. vol. 34:no.2, pp.14-16.

Career Kids: My First Résumé
Respond to questions about your academic strengths and extracurricular interests, responsibilities, special achievements, and jobs you may have had, to create your first résumé.