Free printable geography landforms and social studies activities

Do you ever hear older folks bemoaning how young kids aren't taught geography anymore? Some go so far as to eschew "social studies" as not proper geography. Well, interestingly, social studies according to leading thinkers in special education, like Dr. Maria Montessori, is the best way to teach geography. Social studies sets places within the larger world context of culture, mapwork, earth science, history, anthropology and sociology. That doesn't mean geography in and of itself is not critical learn about. But it's also not just rote "map memorizing" either. Here are free printable geography landforms to help students understand the "terroir" of our earth. 

What are landforms?

What in the world are landforms? A better question is where in the world are landforms. Landforms are geographic features that define the terrain and topography of an area. Terms for geographical landforms include: 

• mountain
• mesa
• butte
• plateau
• dune
• hill
• bluff
• cliff
• promontory
• valley
• canyon
• strait
• peninsula
• cape
• delta
• river
• tributary
• lake
• bay
• sea
• ocean
• key
• island
• isthmus
• archipelago 
• atoll

🌍 Landform Discovery Chart

Category	Landform Type	Description
Highlands	Mountain, Mesa, Butte, Plateau, Hill, Bluff, Cliff, Promontory	Elevated areas ranging from sharp peaks to flat-topped "tables."
Lowlands	Valley, Canyon, Dune, Basin	Areas that sit below the surrounding terrain, often carved by water or wind.
Water Features	River, Tributary, Lake, Bay, Sea, Ocean	Bodies of water that vary by size, salt content, and movement.
Coastal & Islands	Peninsula, Cape, Delta, Strait, Isthmus, Archipelago, Atoll, Key	Land features defined by their relationship and proximity to the sea.

📚 Montessori-Style Landform 3-Part Cards

• The Helpful Garden: Offers a fantastic free download of land and water forms using real-life photographs. These are highly recommended by Montessori educators for their clarity.

• Kid World Citizen: Provides 20 free landform posters with beautiful illustrations and definitions that can be used for a matching game or a classroom word wall.

• Landforms Match-Up Foldable: A free TPT resource that includes photos and definitions for 8 key landforms (plateau, isthmus, cape, etc.) specifically designed to be used in a graphic organizer.

🧩 Landform Matching Worksheets & Games

• Super Teacher Worksheets: A great set of 2nd-4th grade picture cards that can be used for a memory game or a classic "question and answer" review.

• Tutoring Hour Landform Pack: This site has a massive collection of free PDFs, including a "Cut and Glue" matching activity where students match picture cards to written descriptions.

• Landforms on Earth Flashcards: A set of 12 vibrant, colorful flashcards perfect for visual learners to identify key terrain features.

Enchanted Learning has free social studies lesson plans, including free printable geographyworksheets, landforms coloring pages, terrain and topography maps. worksheets, diagrams, labeling pages, coloring pages, puzzles, maps, quizzes and activities.

Teacher Planet has free printable geography worksheets with matching activities to teach geography and landforms vocabulary. There are geography worksheets for different regions, states in the United States, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome and as well as some Jewish terms are included. 

Super Teacher Resources has some free printablegeography worksheets.

ESL Tower has many free printable geography worksheets, landforms coloring pages, diagrams, puzzles and topography maps. 

Edupics has free printable social studies coloring pages, world maps, landforms coloring pages, biomes, habitats, nature scenes, political maps, topography maps to use as geography worksheets. Edupics boasts the largest, most comprehensive collection of detailed educational free printable maps, diagrams and coloring pages. 

🗺️ Omi’s Landform Challenge

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Look at the printable maps and photos in our center. Can you find the difference between a Mesa and a Butte?

• 🔎 Flat-Topped: Which landforms have flat tops like a table?
• 🔎 Wet vs. Dry: Which landforms are made by flowing water?
• 🔎 The "Big Lake": Can you find a Strait or a Peninsula on our Great Lakes map?

Homemade cardboard puppet crafts for special needs students

Hands-on, no-fail craft projects work best for all children but especially those with special needs. Here are cardboard puppet crafts that are easy for kids and free to make using simple supplies and recycled materials. For homemade puppets, you will need:

4-6 brads (also called paper fasteners) per child
stapler
assortment of recycled cardboard scraps in many shapes and sizes.

You can use scraps from projects. There should be some plain geometric shapes and also some more complicated shapes. Each piece should be no larger than 6-8 inches across and no smaller than two inches. There should be long, thin shapes as well as broader shapes. Cut some inch-wide strips of cardboard and keep those separate.

You'll also need decorations: (these are all optional; use whatever you have available). Suggestions include wallpaper sample books, recycled bin paper scraps--gift wrapping paper scraps, tissue paper scraps, recycle bin construction paper scraps. recycled paper tubes, ribbon, crepe paper and yarn scraps, faux feathers and gems, glitter or glitter glue, markers, paint, silk flowers, pipe cleaners and buttons.

Procedure: Children will assemble a puppet from found scraps. Found means children must use recycled cardboard scraps as they are, no cutting or reshaping. The idea is to teach creativity using whatever is available. Puppets may represent people, animals, fantasy creatures, aliens or even non-living things like vehicles.

Lay out puppet pieces before assembling. Puppets should have at least two body parts, preferably 3-5. Cover or decorate each individual piece before assembling homemade puppets. Children should trace and cut paper or fabric to fit puppet pieces and glue paper on. They may paint or color puppet pieces. Feathers, gems, flowers or other embellishments should be attached after puppets are assembled.

Assemble puppets in this way: Attach moving parts--arms, tail, head, legs--with brads. Punch holes through the fixed and moving part of cardboard. Push fastener through and fold metal prongs back. Attach stationary parts with tape or stapler. Attach embellishments with stapler, glue or tape. Attach two recycled cardboard strips, sticks or rulers to use as handles to move the puppet. Children should work together in groups to create a story using incorporating each of their homemade puppets into the plot.

Snowflake patterns to print and cut for special education, OT, PT

Paper snowflakes make great educational tools for science and math lesson plans. Cutting paper snowflakes is also fun! Here are free printable snowflake patterns, templates and stencils. 

Snowflake cutting is a great activity for special needs kids. Children learn math skills by exploring symmetry, shapes and geometric patterns in six-sided snowflakes. Students explore art concepts by cutting snowflakes. They learn pattern, line, shape and design. Children learn about earth science by creating snowflake patterns that simulate ice crystal formations. Students improve motor skills by cutting paper snowflake patterns. They improve perceptual skills by folding paper to create the six-sided snowflake patterns.

Get free snowflake templates  here. Marcel's Kid Crafts has free printable snowflake patterns and paper snowflakes to print and color. Easy folding and cutting instructions printed on snowflake pattern. Use these patterns for ages 9 and up. First Palette has more free paper snowflake templates to print.

Paper Snowflakes has free printable snowflake stencils and templates. Directions are more complicated. You can find free printable snowflake games, puzzles and patterns on this site. These patterns work well for younger children or special needs children. They are easier and less frustrating.

While students are cutting their snowflake patterns, explain the water cycle. Here are free printable water cycle worksheets, plus snow and crystals lesson plans. Use the printable water cycle poster to teach the three states of matter, using steam, water and ice to demonstrate.

Read "Snowflake Bentley" by Jaqueline Briggs Martin. This beautifully illustrated Caldecott Medal winner, tells the story of Wilson 'Snowflake' Bentley, photographer who first captured snowflakes on film and showed their unique hexagonal patterns. For a great closure to your snowflakes lessons, serve fruit juice snowcones as a classroom treat!

Hands-on patriotic crafts for special needs kids: wheelchair or bike decorating for Labor Day, Memorial Day

Labor Day, Memorial Day and 4th of July meant one certain thing for us as children: decorating bikes and riding in the parade. Here's a patriotic themed bike decorating guide. Decorate your bicycle easy and cheap with recycled items. These hands-on no-fail activities work very well as lesson plans for special needs kids. Disabled children might decorate wheelchairs!

Materials (you don't need all of them if you're doing this on a budget). Save money and use recycled scraps whenever possible.

Recycled bin! (very important source for homemade decorations)
1 package of each of red, white and blue tissue paper (or scraps from Christmas wrapping supplies or recycling)
Metallic wrapping paper in patriotic colors (or scraps)
Christmas bows in red, blue, white, gold and silver.
1 roll each of red, white and blue crepe paper streamers (or pink and blue tissues)
several small American flags (here are free printable American flags. Color and attach to popsicle sticks or pencils)
silver, red, white, gold and/or blue curling holiday gift wrap ribbon
scrap wrapping paper, ribbon and bows in patriotic colors
fake flowers from craft bin
Mardi Gras or Christmas beads (red, white, blue, silver, gold)
blow out party noisemakers in patriotic colors
aluminum foil
Scotch tape
rubber bands, twist ties or cable ties
scissors
markers and recycled cardboard cereal box

Procedure:

Tape end of crepe paper streamers to top of bar of bike frame. Wrap streamer around the bar to cover it. Tape end securely. Repeat with all bike frame bars, handlebars and wheel covers. Weave streamers around the wheel spokes. Tape securely so nothing gets caught. Alternate red, white and blue. If you don't have streamers use any scrap paper, tissue paper, wrapping paper or foil. Be creative.
Stick bows and tissue paper roses in various spots. Keep packaged tissue paper folded. Cut three inch pieces (cutting through all layers). Gather at center with twist tie, yarn scrap or rubber band. Tie or cable tie to bike. Pull folds open, trim edges and fluff to make flowers. Make a row of along handlebars like a bouquet of patriotic flowers.
Curl ribbon by carefully pulling along blade of scissors. Tie bunches of curled ribbons to ends of handlebars. Tape bunches to bike seat and helmet. Cut beads apart and hang from basket. Avoid getting decorations caught in gears or chain.
Decorate sign "Happy Memorial Day" "Happy Fourth of July!" "Thank you, Veterans" "Happy Birthday America!" Attach to bike front. Tie flags crisscross to front of bike. Remember you are carrying the flag, so give it due respect. If its allowed, toss wrapped candies, pencils, rubber balls or toys from your basket. Or fill with flowers. Wear red and/or blue shirt, pants, socks, shoes, bandanna. Paint a flag tee-shirt. Blow your noisemaker as you ride.

Free Printable Coloring Mini Books for Children

Educator Jonathon Holt says children learn best when they are actively involved.  Anytime a child can interact with material, he understands it better. This is particularly true for special needs kids. Here are free printable mini booklets for children to color. Subject include letters, words, seasons, animals, science, Bible, holidays and lots more. These books make excellent classroom, homeschool and supplemental lessons for ages 4-7 years (grades preschool through second). These free printable activities are especially good for special needs children.
Free Printable Coloring Mini Books for Children

Free Printable Color Coding Phonics, Spelling Rules Chart

Free Printable Color Coding Phonics and Spelling Rules Chart I'm a trained special education teacher. Every lesson I create focuses on hands-on, interactive instruction. Here is a free printable phonics and spelling chart I developed to teach all of the basic phonics sounds, syllable and spelling patterns, using a color 'code'. When teaching Montessori, I developed this color coding system to teach spelling and phonics. I've used color coding very successfully with adult education students also. Read on

Free Printable Calendars, Checkbook Registers, Business Templates for Life Skills

I write a great deal about free printable items and am known for being able to find just about any kind of printable imaginable. Consequently, I get requests for specific internet printables. Several months ago, I was asked by a reader if I could find free printable BB gun targets. This was the most challenging request I'd had and at the time, I wasn't able to find much for him. Generally free printables websites are limited to coloring pages, crafts or business forms. I've recently stumbled upon a free printable clearinghouse that covers just about every imaginable kind of free printable document, craft activity, or template you could ask for. For special needs kids, there are printable calendars, planners, checkbook registers and business forms. I recommend using these for math, life skills, practical life and personal organization. The calendars are particularly helpful for new year's planning. Read on

Free Printable Coloring Mini Books for Preschool, Early El, ECSE

Educator Jonathon Holt says children learn best when they are actively involved. Here are free printable mini booklets for children to color. Subject include letters, words, seasons, animals, science, Bible, holidays and lots more. These books make excellent classroom, homeschoool and supplemental lessons for ages 4-7 years (grades preschool through second). These free printable activities are especially good for ECSE and special needs children. Free Printable Coloring Mini Books for Children 

Free Fire Safety, Environment, Emergency Preparedness Lesson Plans

One thing special needs children struggle with is decision-making. Lessons on safety and emergency preparedness are vital in special education curriculum. Here are free lesson plans to teach students about wildfires, fire prevention and environmental science from Sparky, Smokey and more. These are just in time for Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, 2012. Lesson Plans About Wildfires, Fire Prevention and Environmental Science 

Free Printable Bugs Coloring Pages and Activities

 Insects, bugs and spiders make the perfect unit for school or homeschool in autumn. Many special needs kids love bugs, but some are afraid of them. These lesson plans can help children understand insects and learn how to explore them safely. Caterpillars, butterflies and cocoons are a perfect topic to explore in fall. Insects are a fascinating subject for life science and biology classes. For your lessons on insects or just for coloring page fun, here are 150 free printable insect and spider coloring pages. Free Printable Bugs Coloring Pages