Landscape Features
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| mountain | A very high, steep area of land. We climbed the mountain. |
| hill | A raised area of land, smaller than a mountain. The house is on a hill. |
| valley | Low land between hills or mountains. The river runs through the valley. |
| cliff | A steep, high rock face, often near the sea. Stand back from the cliff edge! |
| desert | A large area of dry, sandy land. The Sahara is the world's largest desert. |
| island | An area of land surrounded by water. Hawaii is a volcanic island. |
| field | An open area of flat land. Cows grazed in the field. |
| plain | A large flat area of land. The Great Plains stretch for miles. |
Water Features
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| river | A large natural flow of water. The Thames is a famous river. |
| lake | A large area of still water surrounded by land. We swam in the lake. |
| sea | A large area of salt water. The sea was calm today. |
| ocean | The largest bodies of salt water on Earth. The Pacific Ocean is enormous. |
| waterfall | Water flowing over a cliff or edge. Niagara Falls is a famous waterfall. |
| stream / brook | A small, narrow river. Fish live in the stream. |
| pond | A small body of still water. Ducks swim on the pond. |
| wave | A ridge of water moving across the sea. Big waves crashed on the shore. |
Tip Notice these opposites: mountain ↔ valley, sea ↔ land, desert ↔ rainforest, island ↔ continent. Learning vocabulary in pairs of opposites helps you remember words much faster.
Plants and Ground
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| forest / wood | A large area with many trees. A dense forest covered the hillside. |
| tree | A large plant with a trunk and branches. Oak trees live for hundreds of years. |
| flower | The colourful part of a plant. She picked a bunch of flowers. |
| grass | The green ground cover in gardens and fields. Keep off the grass! |
| rock | A hard, solid mineral material. She sat on a rock by the river. |
| soil / earth | The ground in which plants grow. The soil here is rich and fertile. |
| bush / shrub | A small, woody plant smaller than a tree. Roses are flowering bushes. |
Sky and Space
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| sky | The space above the Earth. The sky is bright blue today. |
| cloud | A white or grey mass of water vapour in the sky. Dark clouds mean rain. |
| sun | The star that gives Earth light and heat. The sun rises in the east. |
| moon | Earth's natural satellite, visible at night. A full moon tonight. |
| star | A distant sun visible as a point of light at night. Count the stars! |
Environmental Vocabulary
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| environment | The natural world around us. We must protect the environment. |
| nature | The living world of plants and animals. She loves spending time in nature. |
| wildlife | Wild animals and plants in their natural habitat. The wildlife reserve. |
| species | A group of similar living things. This species is endangered. |
| habitat | The natural home of an animal or plant. Pandas' habitat is under threat. |
| pollution | Harmful substances in the environment. Air pollution is a serious problem. |
| climate change | Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather. We must act on climate change. |
Real world: Describing a natural place
"The hike took us through a dense forest, past a rushing waterfall, and up to the top of a hill with an incredible view of the valley below and the glittering lake in the distance."
"Many species of wildlife are threatened because their natural habitat is being destroyed by pollution and deforestation."
"On a clear night, far from the city, you can see thousands of stars, the Milky Way, and sometimes even a shooting star."
Practice Problems
What is the difference between a river and a lake?
Show answer
A river flows (moves); a lake is still and surrounded by land.
What is 'habitat'?
Show answer
The natural home or environment where an animal or plant lives.
Which word describes a very large flat area of dry land with little rain?
Show answer
desert
Name three things you can see in the night sky.
Show answer
moon / stars / clouds / shooting star (any three)