Final answer:
Ice is not necessary for the formation of periglacial landforms, which are shaped instead by freeze-thaw cycles in cold environments without the current presence of glaciers.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer the student's question about the element that is not necessary for creating periglacial landforms: Glaciers play a significant role in shaping the land by altering soil composition, depositing various soil materials, and carving out different topographies.
However, the presence of ice itself is not necessary for the actual formation of periglacial landforms, since these features are by definition formed in areas adjacent to glacial regions but which are not currently covered by ice. Periglacial processes are more about the effects of freezing and thawing cycles on the landscape, which can occur without the current presence of a glacier.
These processes lead to characteristic landforms such as patterned ground, solifluction lobes, and pingos. Therefore, we can deduce that the presence of a glacier is not required; instead, cold temperatures and freeze-thaw cycles are the crucial elements for periglacial landform formation.