US Physical Map

August 26-August 30, 2013

This week we are studying the land form regions of the United States. Students have learned the six land form regions and characteristics of each. We have also reviewed the bodies of water associated with North America. Lastly, students created a physical map of the United States. Any of the following images can be saved to a word document and printed.

Blank US physical map

List of labels and questions to answer



Notes for Chapter 1 lesson 1

Landform Regions	Details
1. Coastal Plains	One of the largest landform regions in the U.S. with low flat land.
2. Appalachian Mountains	Oldest Mountains in North America. Tree Covered Peaks are worn downed.
3. Interior Plains	Located across the middle of North America. Central Plains in the East; Great Plains in the West. Extends from Mexico, through the US into Canada Includes the Ozark Plateau (which is in Northwest Arkansas) and the Black Hills.
4. Rocky Mountains	Extend more than 3,000 miles from Mexico through Canada and into Alaska, in the Western United States. Sharp peaks and higher elevations.
5. Intermountain Region	Great Basin Climate is hot and dry – Mojave Desert and Death Valley located here
6. Coastal Ranges	Cascade Range-Western Oregon & Washington Coast Ranges-Western California Sierra Nevada-Eastern California

Notes for Chapter 1 Lesson 2

River system is made up of a river and its tributaries.

Mississippi River System drains most of the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains.

Tributaries of the Mississippi are:

•         Illinois River

•         Missouri River

•         Tennessee River

•         Ohio River

•         Arkansas River

Landform Regions

Details

1. Coastal Plains

One of the largest landform regions in the U.S. with low flat land.

2. Appalachian Mountains

Oldest Mountains in North America.

Tree Covered

Peaks are worn downed.

3. Interior Plains

Located across the middle of North America.

Central Plains in the East; Great Plains in the West.

Extends from Mexico, through the US into Canada

Includes the Ozark Plateau (which is in Northwest Arkansas) and the Black Hills.

4. Rocky Mountains

Extend more than 3,000 miles from Mexico through Canada and into Alaska, in the Western United States.

Sharp peaks and higher elevations.

5. Intermountain Region

Great Basin

Climate is hot and dry – Mojave Desert and Death Valley located here

6. Coastal Ranges

Cascade Range-Western Oregon & Washington

Coast Ranges-Western California

Sierra Nevada-Eastern California

US Physical Map labeled

US Physical Map labeled and colored - end result


Notes for Ch 1 Lesson 3 & 4

¢  Using the Land

l  ½ of the land in the US is used agriculture.

l  1/3 of the land is used for forests (national and state parks).

l  The rest is used for transportation, businesses, and housing.

¢  Settlement Patterns

l  Most people tend to settle where soil is good for farming.

l  Where trees for housing are abundant and waterways are easily accessible.

l  Also near crossroads to exchange goods.

¢  Kinds of settlement

l  4/5 of all Americans live in urban areas.

l  Some areas are centered around a town square, religious buildings, or based on a grid pattern.

¢  Where people live and work

l  New cities are formed along transportation routes.

l  People move to cities to find work in manufacturing or other businesses.

l  Most of the larger cities are located near waterways.

¢  Environment affects people:

l  How they dress – wear warmer clothes.

l  What they eat

l  How they build their homes – steeper roofs in the North.

l  What type of job they have – farmers in the Plains region.

l  What they do for recreational activities – snow skiing or mountain climbing.