Earth’s Surface

Islands
Islands are land surrounded
by water. They are smaller
than continents. Oceans, lakes,
and rivers can all have islands.

Islands are not all the same.

They can be big or small.
Some islands are the tops
Some are covered with rocks. of underwater volcanoes.
Others are green with plants.
Many islands in the middle of
an ocean are made of lava
from underwater volcanoes.
The U.S. state of Hawaii has
eight main islands surrounded But some islands near coasts
by the Pacific Ocean. or in rivers formed when
moving water piled up lots
of sand.

Some islands have only a few

kinds of animals and plants
living on them. Others have
hundreds of different kinds.

o What do all islands have in common?

o What are three ways that islands
can be different?
If it’s surrounded by water, it’s an island!
Credits: left: © iStockphoto.com/Mikanainens; right: © Luciano Corbella/DK Images

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