APIEWriting: Mountains, Rivers, and Deserts
Mountains, rivers and deserts
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
🏞️ Vocabulary: Mountains, Rivers and Deserts
Learn the words you need for your writing task.
📘 Teacher
Guide students through the vocabulary exercises first, spending about 25 minutes on the whole lesson.
Check their answers with the automated checks before moving on to the writing task.
✏️ Learner
First, read the nature words below and check their meanings with the examples.
Next, complete the four practice tasks to get ready for your message.
🌿 Words to Know
The pointed top of a mountain.
"Snow covers the high peak."
The side of a hill or mountain that goes up or down.
"We walked slowly down the steep slope."
A high, steep rock wall.
"Do not stand close to the edge of the cliff."
A hard, solid piece of stone.
"He sat down on a large grey rock."
The low land between hills or mountains.
"A quiet village sits in the green valley."
The ground along the side of a river.
"We sat on the grassy bank to watch the water."
A small, narrow river with fresh water.
"A cold stream runs through the woods."
A very dry area with very little rain and sand or stones.
"The desert is very hot in the day."
A desert plant with thick stems and sharp spikes.
"A tall cactus can store water for months."
A large animal that carries loads across deserts.
"The camel walks easily over hot sand."
Example Sentence Pattern
"The valley is about two kilometres wide, and the cliff behind it is 150 metres high."
Notice how we describe size and place in simple sentences.
Task A: Word Order
Rearrange the words to make a sentence about nature. Write the complete sentence with a capital letter and a full stop.
1. Put the words in the right order:
camel / The / walks / the / across / desert .
____ (Type your sentence here...)2. Put the words in the right order:
cold / A / stream / flows / down / slope / the .
____ (Type your sentence here...)3. Put the words in the right order:
reached / We / mountain / the / peak .
____ (Type your sentence here...)4. Put the words in the right order:
grows / A / cactus / green / rock / near / that .
____ (Type your sentence here...)Task B: Fill in the Blanks
Use words from the word bank to complete each sentence.
1. Green grass and tall trees grow down in the quiet ____ between the two mountains.
2. Birds make their nests high up on the steep stone ____ above the sea.
3. After a long walk, we sat on a flat ____ to drink some water.
4. Children like to fish and play on the grassy ____ of the river.
5. It almost never rains in this huge sandy ____ so plants are rare.
Task C: Choose the Correct Word
Select the best word to match each description.
1. A tall desert plant with sharp points that does not need much water:
2. The very highest top point of a mountain:
3. A large animal with long legs that can travel through dry deserts:
4. The slanted side of a hill or mountain:
Task D: Match Question to Answer
Match each question on the left to its correct answer on the right.
✍️ Writing Task: A Message to a Friend
Use what you learned to write a friendly note about an amazing place.
📘 Teacher
Ask learners to review the sentence starters and checklist before writing for about 10 minutes.
Check their work with the automated AI grading feedback when they finish.
✏️ Learner
First, read the task prompt, sentence starters, and checklist carefully.
Next, write your message in the box below and check your score.
"Write a short message to a friend about a place with mountains, a river or a desert. Say how big it is."
Write between 60 and 80 words. Use simple, clear sentences.
💬 Sentence Starters
Use this frame to help build your message:
- "I know a place called ..."
- "How ... is it? It is ..."
- "It is about ... long."
- "It is ... from ..."
- "You can see ..."
- "I want you to visit because ..."
📋 Checklist
Make sure your message includes each of these points:
- ✓ The name of the place and what it has
- ✓ One question with how and an adjective with its answer
- ✓ One length or height with about
- ✓ One distance with from
- ✓ One thing to see
- ✓ A reason to visit
Write Your Message
Type your message here (60–80 words). When you are ready, submit your text for instant feedback.
📖 Model Answer
Read this model to see how to write your message.
📘 Teacher
Have learners read the model answer aloud and examine the highlighted phrases together for about 5 minutes.
Check their understanding by asking them to spot each sentence starter from Module 2.
✏️ Learner
First, read the complete example message from start to finish.
Next, study the notes to see why each bold phrase works so well.
I know a place called the Green Valley. How wide is it? It is two kilometres across. A quiet river flows along the valley, and it is about fifty kilometres long. It is forty kilometres from our town. You can see a tall grey cliff and a fresh water stream near the bank. I want you to visit because the mountain air is cool and peaceful. We can walk along the rocky slope together.
💡 Useful Phrases: Why This Works
Look at each bold phrase and read the short note explaining why it works in your writing.
"I know a place called..."
Why this works
This is an easy, friendly way to introduce the name of the place to your reader.
"How wide is it? It is..."
Why this works
Asking a question and answering it right away makes your message lively and fun to read.
"...about fifty kilometres long"
Why this works
The word "about" is helpful when you want to give a size without needing an exact number.
"...forty kilometres from..."
Why this works
Using "from" lets your friend know how far they need to travel to reach the place.
"You can see..."
Why this works
This starter helps your friend picture the rocks, cliffs, or water in their mind.
"I want you to visit because..."
Why this works
This gives a clear reason why the place is special and makes your invitation warm.
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