Explore Natural Features and Human Structures in Your Community!

You live in a community! Your community has two kinds of things you can see. Some things are made by nature. Some things are made by people.

When you look around, you can find natural features and human structures. You will learn to tell them apart! This connects to what you know about Community Places.

A natural feature is something nature made. No person built it. Nature made it over a very long time.

Here are natural features you might see:

• A river has moving water that flows through the land.
• A mountain is very tall land that rises up high.
• A forest has many trees growing together.
• A lake is a body of water with land all around it.
• A hill is a small raised piece of land, smaller than a mountain.
• A pond is a small body of still water.
• An ocean is very large, salty water.
• A valley is low land between two hills.
• A meadow is an open area with grass and flowers growing wild.
• A glacier is a large mass of slow-moving ice on a mountain.
• A cliff is a tall, steep wall of rock.
• A beach has sand next to the ocean.
• A stream is a small river of moving water.
• A field is a large, flat area of open land.

A human structure is something people made. Workers build it using tools and materials. You can find human structures all around your community!

Here are human structures you might see:

• A bridge helps people cross over water or roads.
• A road helps people travel by car from place to place.
• A school is a building where you learn.
• A park is an outdoor space people plan and build for the community.
• A house is a building where people live.
• A hospital is a place where sick people get help.
• A library is a building full of books.
• A store is a building where people buy things.
• A fire station is where firefighters work.
• A farm is land where people grow food.
• A playground has swings and slides for you to play on.
• A harbour is a sheltered area of water where boats are kept safe.

Natural Feature: Something made by nature, not by people. Rivers, mountains, and forests are natural features.

Human Structure: Something built by people. Roads, bridges, and schools are human structures.

River: A natural feature with moving water that flows through the land.

Mountain: A very tall piece of land that rises up high. It is a natural feature.

Forest: A natural place with many trees growing together.

Lake: A body of water with land all around it. It is a natural feature.

Hill: A small raised piece of land. It is smaller than a mountain and is a natural feature.

Pond: A small body of still water. It is a natural feature.

Ocean: A very large body of salty water. It is a natural feature.

Valley: Low land that sits between two hills or mountains. It is a natural feature.

Meadow: An open area where grass and flowers grow wild. It is a natural feature.

Glacier: A large, slow-moving body of ice found on mountains. It is a natural feature.

Cliff: A tall, steep wall of rock, often found near the ocean. It is a natural feature.

Beach: An area of sand next to the ocean. It is a natural feature.

Stream: A small river of moving water that flows through the land. It is a natural feature.

Field: A large, flat, open area of land. It is a natural feature.

Bridge: A human structure that people build to cross over water or roads.

Road: A human structure that people build so cars and people can travel safely.

Park: A human structure that people plan and build for the community to enjoy outdoors.

Harbour: A sheltered area of water where boats are kept safe. People build and use harbours.

You can look out your window and find natural features and human structures! Try to spot a tree, a hill, or a river. Then look for a road, a building, or a bridge.

Ask yourself: "Did nature make this, or did people make it?" This is a great way to practice Making Observations in your community. You can also practice Asking Questions about what you see!

You already know about your community and the people in it. Knowing about Types of Communities helps you understand where natural features and human structures are found.

You also know about Human Basic Needs: Water, Food, Shelter, and Emotional Security. Natural features like rivers give us water. Human structures like houses give us shelter!

Learning about natural features and human structures connects to many other topics you will explore!

• You learned about Community Places these are the human structures and natural spots in your community.
• You explored Types of Communities different communities have different natural features and human structures.
• You discovered Community Helpers these are the people who build and care for human structures.
• You know about Human Basic Needs: Water, Food, Shelter, and Emotional Security natural features and human structures help meet these needs.
• You practiced Making Observations you use this skill to notice natural features and human structures around you.
• You used Asking Questions you can ask questions about what you see in your local environment.
• You tried Gathering Information you collect information about your community's features and structures.
• Next, you will learn about Features of Our Community you will look more closely at what makes your community special.
• You will also explore People and Places you will see how people and their environment connect.
• Then you will learn about Caring for Our Surroundings you will discover how to take care of natural features and human structures.