Landforms

This set of 10 landform cards is a great introduction to the various combinations of land and water that make up our planet.  The set includes system of lakes, archipelago, cape, bay, lake, island, peninsula, gulf, strait, and isthmus.  Each card is made of two different colored layers to provide both visual and tactile reinforcement of the land and water forms.  Children can observe the similarities between corresponding land and water forms (lake vs island) and feel the different land/water boundaries on each card.  A corresponding digital print-at-home file is included with 3-part cards of the landform names and definitions and 3-part cards with actual pictures and descriptions of all 10 landforms around the planet.  Children can match definitions and imagery to the wooden landform cards and then check for accuracy with the laser engraved landform name on the back of each card.

The cards are made from 2 layers of birch plywood, stained blue on the bottom layer, then all sealed.  The blue stain allows the beautiful wood grain to show through, mimicking water waves and currents.  Each card is about 3.5" square and 1/4" thick.  Each landform name is directly laser engraved on back.

After working with this material, my son started naming landforms while we were out and about or looking at our globe.  The connections that children make between their observations and the world around them is amazing!