The National Geography Standards
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Climate and geomorphic physical processes (e.g., weathering, erosion, diastrophism) help us to understand landforms large and small. Knowledge of these processes becomes a tool we can use to understand physical landscapes wherever we go. |
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Ayers Rock, or Uluru, Australia - In the "red heart" of Australia, Ayers Rock (sandstone known as arkose) is one of many inselbergs, or isolated mountains, that characterize the landscape because they are comparatively resistant to differential erosion, how different rocks erode away at different rates. |
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Near Lebanon, Pennsylvania - In Pennsylvania, a diabase outcrop called Dinosaur Rock is a world away from Australia, but the same physical processes are at work in both areas. Diabase is hard, erosion-resistant igneous rack. Dinosaur Rock's relief derives from the same process as Ayers Rock: differential erosion. |
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Physiographic Provinces of the Contiguous United States - The boundaries of the physiographic provinces or land form regions, of the 48 contiguous states are shown on this map without names. How many provinces can you name? What you get out of a map depends on the knowledge you bring to the map. Source: Redrafted from USGS, Landforms of the United States by John T. Hack. |
A Sample Question from the National Geography Challenge 1996 (Grades 5-6) which illustrates . . .
STANDARD 7 - EARTH'S PHYSICAL PROCESSES
Recently Ms. Tafano's fourth graders walked to the shopping area near the downtown section of their city. It is about eight blocks from the school. The purpose of the trip was to visit the new supermarket that recently opened. Along the way, Ms. Tafano asked the students to identify at least one physical feature they observed. Which of the following is an example of a physical feature the children might have seen on their walk?