1

Core

2

-the center of the Earth

3

Mantle

4

the middle of the Earth made up of molten (melted) rock

5

Crust

6

the surface layer of the Earth that includes the continents and oceans

7

Continental Drift

8

-the theory of how Earth’s continents move over its surface

9

Plate Tectonics

10

-the theory of how the continents move on giant crustal plates over

the mantle of the Earth

11

Earthquake

12

-a sudden movement of the Earth’s crust

13

Landform

14

-a natural feature of the surface of the Earth that has a particular

shape

15

Mountain

16

-a landform caused by the uplift of the Earth’s crust; created when two crustal plates press against

each other; this landform can also be caused by volcanoes

17

Growth

18

-creation of new landforms (by crustal movements, harden lava

flow and/or deposition of sediments)

19

Flow

20

-movement of material (such as lava, mud or water/ice)

21

Constructive Forces

22

-actions that build up or construct landforms

23

Destructive Forces

24

-actions that wear down or destroy landforms

25

Volcano

26

-an opening in the Earth’s crust through which lava, ash and gases

flow

27

Magma

28

-the melted rock under Earth’s surface; magma flows in the mantle

29

Lava

30

-melted rock flowing on the surface of the Earth, usually from volcanoes

31

Weathering

32

-the process of breaking rock into soil, sand and other tiny pieces

33

Erosion

34

-the process of moving sediments from one place to another

35

Deposition

36

-the process of dropping (depositing) sediment in a new location

37

Beach

38

-gently sloping shore next to a body of water, washed by waves or tides, often covered by sand and pebbles.

39

Dune

40

-a mound, hill or ridge of wind-blown sand

41

Glacier

42

-a large river of ice that moves very slowly; will create a u shaped valley

between mountains

43

Valley

44

-a low area between hills and mountains; v-shaped valleys are formed by rivers; u-shaped are

formed by glaciers

45

Plain

46

-a nearly level area that has been eroded or where material has been

deposited

47

Plateau

48

-a nearly level area that has been uplifted

49

Flood

50

-when water get higher than normal and flows onto dry land

51

Floodplain

52

-the land that gets covered by water from a stream or river during a flood

53

Canyon

54

-a long, narrow, deep valley with steep walls that is formed by running

water cutting into the Earth

55

Meander

56

-a curve or loop in a river

57

Delta

58

-a fan shaped deposit at the mouth of a river

59

Groundcover

60

-small plants that grow on the forest floor or in a field (mosses,

ferns and grasses)

61

Sediments

62

-pieces of rock or earth that have been broken down by weathering

63

Sedimentary Rock

64

-rock formed by the deposit of sediments that undergo pressure over time

65

Fossils

66

-a trace of a plant or animal from long ago (millions of years) that is

embedded in the Earth’s crust.

67

Soil

68

-the top layer of the Earth’s surface that is made of rocks, minerals and

plant material

69

Bedrock

70

-the rock layer that is under the soil

71

Topsoil

72

-the upper, dark soil where plants grow

73

Humus

74

-the decomposing remains of dead plants and animals

75

Natural Resources

76

-materials found in the environment that are not

manmade

77

Renewable Resource

78

-a resource that CAN be replaced in a short amount of time

examples: plants, animals, water, oxygen, soil, wind, ocean tides)

79

Nonrenewable Resources

80

-a resource that CANNOT be replaced in short time

examples: oil, natural gas, coal, minerals, rock

81

Recycle

82

-to reprocess discarded material (aluminum cans, plastic, paper)

to form new products

83

Fossil Fuels

84

materials formed from decayed remains of ancient plants and

animals that are burned to produce heat; coal, oil, and natural gas