Social Studies Alive! Florida and Its People

Florida and Its People Explore the content in these units: Unit 1: Discovering the Social Sciences Unit 5: Southwest Activity Online

Unit 2: Northeast

Unit 3: Southeast

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Unit 4: Midwest

Unit 7: Inquiry: Studying Your State

Unit 6: West

Florida and Its People Student Journal

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Unit 1

Geography Inside the outline map of Florida, there are a variety of images of physical and cultural locations found in Florida. Do you recognize any of them? What other images do you think represent Florida? Throughout this program, you’ll learn about Florida’s economics, geography, civics, and history.

1 The Four Core Social Sciences...................................................7 2 Exploring Regions of the United States...................................25 3 The Effects of Geography in the Southeast..............................49 4 Florida’s Geography.................................................................63

N E

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ATLANTIC OCEAN

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Geography

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Gulf of Mexico

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Unit Inquiry Project N E

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AT L A N T I C OC E AN

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Gathering Visual Evidence

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TCI24 04 Locating places in Florida First Proof

List five interesting details you see in this image.

What state is outlined here?

How do you know?

Where do you see something related to economics?

Geography? Civics? History?

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Unit 1 Geography

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Developing the Compelling Question Unit Storyline Inside the outline map of Florida, there are a variety of images of physical and cultural locations found in Florida. Do you recognize any of them? What other images do you think represent Florida? Throughout this program, you’ll learn about Florida’s economics, geography, civics, and history.

Unit Compelling Question How can the four core social sciences help us learn about Florida?

List three questions you have about the Unit Storyline and Compelling Question.

1.

2.

3.

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Unit 1 Geography

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3

Collecting Evidence

After you complete each lesson, return to this table and answer the questions. Record key information that will help you complete the Unit Inquiry Project.

Lesson

4

Supporting Questions

1 The Four Core Social Sciences

What is the study of economics? Geography?

Civics? History? Name one way that each relates to Florida and its people.

2 Exploring Regions of the United States

What are the five regions of the United States you learned about? In which region is Florida located?

3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

How does geography impact life in the Southeast and in Florida? What is one example of how your life is affected by geography?

4 Florida’s Geography

How has Florida’s geography affected its history? How does Florida’s geography influence its economy?

Unit 1 Geography

What I Learned

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Building Additional Content Knowledge

Gather and evaluate additional sources to answer the Unit Compelling Question: How can the four core social sciences help us learn about Florida?

Conduct outside research to learn more about Florida’s economics, geography, civics, and history. What types of sources did you find helpful?

Source Title(s)

Additional Evidence

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Constructing an Argument

Write a sentence answering the Unit Compelling Question: How can the four core social sciences help us learn about Florida? This is called a claim.

Then provide at least two pieces of evidence to support your claim. Your evidence can come from the activities you did in class, the readings you completed in your Student Journal or Social Studies Stories, or additional research that you conducted.

Claim:

Evidence:

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Taking Informed Action

Decide how you want to share what you learned. You could make a poster, a digital presentation, or a video. You might share your presentation with your classmates or with adults in the community.

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Unit 1 Geography

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Lesson 1

The Four Core Social Sciences What do social scientists do?

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Introduction Why are some people rich and others poor?

How can studying the past help us live better today? These are the kinds of questions that social scientists ask.

Social scientists study the ways people live in groups. Their field is called social science. Some social scientists study small groups, such as families, and others study large groups, such as nations. Think about some other examples of groups that a social scientist could study. Your class is an example of a small group, and your school is a larger group. Some social scientists may study the groups in schools.

How do people spend their money?

What physical features lie around us? How do political leaders use their power? What happened in the past?

By asking and answering these questions, social scientists learn about the economy, geography, politics, and history of the groups they study. Social scientists want to understand why people behave as they do. To find out, they watch people, ask questions, and study written records, such as legal documents, letters, and news stories.

Vocabulary economy geography history political science

Social scientists study how people live in society. They do so by searching for clues and asking questions.

They also study artifacts, which are things people have made. Your clothes are a kind of artifact, and so are all the things you carry in your backpack. Items in your classroom like a globe, pencil, and desk are artifacts, too. What would a social scientist learn about you by studying these artifacts? You might be surprised by the answer!

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Lesson 1 The Four Core Social Sciences

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Preview Activity Answer each question with a complete sentence.

Activity Online

Economics Why do you think it is important to study how much things cost?

Civics Why do you think it is important to study how governments make rules?

Geography Why do you think it is important to study maps and know what the world around us is like?

History Why do you think it is important to study what the past was like?

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Vocabulary Activity Activity Online

Write the name of the social science next to its definition.

Vocabulary Word Bank history

Social Science

geography

economics

political science

Definition the study of the natural and human features of Earth’s surface and its climate and life-forms

the study of governments and how they work

the study of the past

the study of the way people in a community use resources to meet their needs and wants

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Lesson 1 The Four Core Social Sciences

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Hands-On Activity Activity Online

Create a web diagram about the social sciences. Find and share artifacts from home that represent economics, geography, civics, and history.

Directions: Discovering the Social Sciences 1. Read Sections 1–4 and complete your Activity Notes with a partner.

Add words, symbols, or pictures around each social science term in your Activity Notes.

2. Follow your teacher’s directions to create three sticky notes and place them on the Activity Cards around the room.

Directions: Sharing Social Science Artifacts 1. Read Section 5. Learn about the types of questions social scientists ask.

2. Find one small artifact in your home for each social science subject.

Answer the questions in your journal about your four artifacts. Then place them in a small paper bag.

3. Follow your teacher’s directions to share your artifacts with the class. © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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1. Economics You find a dollar in your pocket. Should you spend it on a snack or save it for a new comic book? You might think that no one cares about how you choose to spend your money, but that is not true! Some social scientists are economists.

They are very interested in the choices people make about money every day.

Economists study the economy of a city, state, or country. An economy is the way people in a community use resources to meet their needs and wants. We all need food, clothing, and shelter, and we all want things that we don’t really need. You may want a new game, and your parents may want a new car. In the economy of the United States, a variety of resources meets people’s needs and wants.

Economics is the study of how people make, buy, and sell things. Economists want to know how people decide what to make and what to buy.

Think of yourself as an economist. You are studying how families decide what to buy. What artifacts might help you? Here are a few ideas: • • • • •

price tags receipts coupons advertisements items your family bought recently Analyzing prices is one way to study an economy. An economist might examine a shopping receipt to learn about spending habits.

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Lesson 1 The Four Core Social Sciences

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2. Geography You are on a trip somewhere new. Nothing looks familiar.

You don’t recognize the countryside, the buildings, or even the people. You begin to feel a little lost. Finally, you ask yourself, Where am I? You could use some help from another social scientist called a geographer.

Geographers study geography.

Geography is the study of Earth.

Geographers like to know where places are on a map.

They study Earth’s surface to find out what physical features lie around them.

They also study the climate and plant and animal life.

Geographers use maps and globes to show the features of our planet’s surface. Land, water, plants, and animals are part of nature, so they are called natural features. Towns, roads, bridges, and dams are built by people, so they are called human features.

Learning to use maps is an important part of thinking like a geographer. Geographers also study how humans impact and are impacted

by Earth.

The United States has a great range of natural and human features. It has mountains, deserts, rivers, and lakes. Our nation has large cities filled with people and buildings. It has tiny towns, miles of highways and roads, and vast empty spaces.

Think of yourself as a geographer. You are studying the natural and human features of your community. These artifacts and natural objects might help you in your studies: • • • • • •

maps weather records newspaper articles buildings wildflowers birds’ nests

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3. Civics You are riding your bike down the street when—bam!—your front wheel hits a pothole and you fall to the ground. As you pick yourself up, you grumble, “This is dangerous! Who’s in charge of fixing the streets, anyway?”

This is just the type of question a political scientist might ask. Political scientists study civics to learn how citizens interact with each other, society, and their governments. They want to know how people get the power to run a city, state, or nation. They also look at how the people in charge use their power.

Political science is the study of governments. All groups—even families—have some sort of government. A government is a system for deciding what is best for the group.

Its job is to make and carry out rules and laws.

These rules help people live together in peace. Governments also supply things people need. Your local government provides things that you need, such as schools and safe streets.

Suppose a political scientist is visiting your town. What artifacts might interest him or her?

Here are a few ideas: • • • •

election advertisements stories about government information about how and where to vote newspaper articles about laws Political scientists study all types of government. City councils like this one are an example of local government.

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Lesson 1 The Four Core Social Sciences

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4. History Your class takes a field trip to the cemetery.

Your assignment is to make a rubbing of a tombstone and report on it to the class. When you read the tombstone, you think, “I wonder how many people buried here were related to this person.” Now you are thinking like a historian.

History is the study of the past. Human beings have been around a very long time so we have a lot of past to study. Historians, however, are most interested in the last few thousand years, which is when people began leaving written records.

The first question historians ask is What happened in the past? To find out, they study all kinds of artifacts, including records made by people in the past. Once historians know what happened, they ask other questions to help them interpret or understand the past, such as Who took part in these events? How did these things happen? and Why did they happen this way?

Suppose you have been asked to write a history of your family. What artifacts would help you? Here are some suggestions: • • • • • •

This old school photograph is an artifact that might interest a historian. What do you think a historian could learn from this photo? How might the students in this picture differ from the students in your class?

birth certificates baby books family photos letters diaries family treasures

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Hands-On Activity Notes Add at least four words, symbols, or pictures around each social science

Activity Online

to help you remember what it is.

Economics

Geography

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Lesson 1 The Four Core Social Sciences

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Civics

History

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5. Thinking Like a Social Scientist Now that you know more about social scientists, can you start thinking like one? In order to think like a social scientist, you must first ask questions about what you are studying.

Try this experiment: Choose one object from your desk or backpack to study, and ask yourself, What kind of social scientist would be most interested in this artifact—an economist, a geographer, a political scientist, or a historian?

What would that person want to know about this artifact—who made it, how much it cost, where it came from, or something else?

One class of fourth graders tried this experiment with a pair of shoes. To their surprise, the shoes turned out to be a rather interesting artifact.

The students found out that all four types of social scientists could study the shoes that the class chose. The class broke up into four different groups, and each group came up with questions that one type of social scientist would ask about the pair of shoes. Read each group’s results.

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Lesson 1 The Four Core Social Sciences

The objects in your backpack are artifacts.

What kinds of questions would a social scientist ask about them?

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Social Scientist Questions An economist might ask these questions: 1. How much did the shoes cost to make?

2. How much did you pay for them?

3. Why did you choose to buy these shoes instead of another pair of shoes?

A geographer might ask these questions: 1. Where were these shoes made?

2. What route did the shoes travel from the factory to your shoe store?

A political scientist might ask these questions: 1. Are there any laws about making these shoes, and did the shoemaker follow them?

2. Who was in charge of buying this pair of shoes?

A historian might ask these questions: 1. How have shoes changed over time?

2. What is the history of these shoes? Who made them and when, and why?

What has happened to these shoes since they were made?

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Hands-On Activity Notes Activity Online

Economics Artifact Find an artifact that an economist would want to study. (Examples: advertisements, receipts, coupons) Why did you select this artifact?

Why would an economist find this artifact interesting?

Geography Artifact Find an artifact that a geographer would want to study. (Examples: maps, wooden salad bowl, shell bracelet) Why did you select this artifact?

Why would a geographer find this artifact interesting?

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Lesson 1 The Four Core Social Sciences

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Civics Artifact Find an artifact that a political scientist would want to study. (Examples: election advertisements, newspaper articles) Why did you select this artifact?

Why would a political scientist find this artifact interesting?

History Artifact Find an artifact that a historian would want to study. (Examples: old photographs, magazines, coins, stamps) Why did you select this artifact?

Why would a historian find this artifact interesting?

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Summary As you have learned, the social sciences are the study of how people live in groups.

Some social scientists study small groups like families, and others study large groups like nations.

Social scientists want to understand why people behave as they do. To find out, they watch people, ask questions, and look at written records and other artifacts.

Economists are interested in the choices people make about money, so they look at what people make, buy, and sell. Geographers want to know what lies around them, so they examine human and natural features. Political scientists study governments, so they explore political power. Historians study the past, so they analyze items like old letters and photographs to learn what happened in the past.

Social scientists help us understand society, past and present. There is a lot more to learn.

Show What You Know Choose two of the four social sciences and complete their associated writing or drawing activities.

Activity Online

Economics Activity Write a short story about ways you could make your own money.

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Lesson 1 The Four Core Social Sciences

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Geography Activity Decide which state you might like to live in when you are an adult. Draw a map of the state. Under the map explain why you might want to live in this state.

Civics Activity Write a note to your principal in which you suggest an improvement to your school grounds. In your note, explain why your opinion should matter.

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History Activity Create a timeline of your mother, father, or guardian’s past. Draw a horizontal line from left to right to represent the person’s life. On this line, include at least five important events that most explain who the person is today—for example, the day someone was born.

For each event, draw a short vertical (up-and-down) line to mark when it happened, and label it with the year it occurred. Put the events in the order in which they happened, with the first one farthest to the left. Write a brief description of each event.

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Lesson 1 The Four Core Social Sciences

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Lesson 2

Exploring Regions of the United States How do geographers study the regions of the United States?

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Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

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Introduction Because Earth is so large, geographers divide it into regions to study. A region is an area with common features that set it apart from other areas. The United States can be divided into regions, too. One way to do this is by grouping states with similar features into five different regions.

In this lesson, you will learn how geographers study regions. Geographers have identified five major themes, or topics, to help them organize the study of geography. Maps are useful for understanding these five themes of geography: • Location: Where is this place located? What is it near?

• Place: What is this place like?

• Human-environmental interaction: How does this place affect the people living here?

How do the people who live here affect this place?

• Movement: How do people, goods, and ideas move to and away from this place?

• Regions: What features about this place set it apart from other places?

Vocabulary basin coastal plain global grid inland line of latitude line of longitude map key plateau region scale special-purpose map

Try answering the questions above about your school. Now you are thinking like a geographer. Keep thinking that way as you read more about the regions of the United States.

You can use maps to explore different regions in this country.

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Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

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Preview Activity Draw an outline around the region in which your state is located.

Activity Online

Regional Map of the United States 0

50˚N

400 miles

CANADA

Alaska

DA NA CA

0 400 kilometers

N

Washington

PACIFIC OCEAN

Montana

North Dakota

E

W

Minnesota

Oregon Idaho Wyoming

WEST

130˚W

PACIFIC OCEAN 125˚W

MEXICO

150 miles 150 kilometers

Michigan

Iowa

120˚W

Hawaii

0

New York

Pennsylvania Ohio Indiana Nevada Illinois West Utah Virginia Colorado Virginia Kansas California Missouri Kentucky North Carolina Arkansas Tennessee South Oklahoma Arizona New Mexico SOUTHEAST Carolina Mississippi SOUTHWEST Georgia Texas

115˚W

Louisiana

95˚W

0

Maine

NORTHEAST

Wisconsin

MIDWEST

Nebraska

PACIFIC OCEAN

0

South Dakota

Vermont

S

150

New Hampshire Massachusetts

Rhode 40˚N Island Connecticut New Jersey Delaware Maryland 35˚N

70˚W

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Alabama

90˚W

30˚N

Florida

Gulf of Mexico

25˚N

300 miles

0 150 300 kilometers 85˚W

80˚W

75˚W

Which activities5_AP_SE_1_4_12I are you able to do in the region where you live? Think of at Second Proof/resize TCI28_1 least three activities that you can do. For example, are you able to go skiing, rafting, or swimming?

Draw a picture of one of the activities that you are able to do in your region.

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Vocabulary Activity Activity Online

Write the term next to its definition.

Vocabulary Word Bank basin coastal plain global grid

Term

inland line of latitude line of longitude

map key plateau region

scale special-purpose map

Definition an imaginary line that runs between the North and South Poles; also called a meridian an imaginary line that runs east and west around the globe; also called a parallel the grid formed by crisscrossing lines of latitude and longitude on a map a map that shows just one kind of information, such as population an area that shares similar features an explanation of what the symbols on a map stand for a diagram that shows the relationship between the distances on a map and real distances on Earth low, flat land that runs along a coast a bowl-shaped landform that is lower than the surrounding land not bordering an ocean or a large body of water by an ocean a high, flat landform that rises steeply from the land around it

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Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

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Hands-On Activity Activity Online

Learn the basic skills of a geographer and use those skills to answer questions about different regions. Use special-purpose maps to figure out where to build recreational parks in different regions.

Directions: Building Basic Geography Skills 1. Read Sections 1–6. Learn about different features of maps and globes.

2. Take a map quiz. Test your knowledge of maps and globes.

3. Practice map skills. Explore different regions of the country with your partner and answer questions about each region.

Directions: Building Recreational Parks in Different Regions 1. Read Sections 7–12. Learn about different regions in the United States.

2. Get into groups of four. Assign each member a specific job: Project Manager, Elevation Expert, Population Expert, or Rainfall Expert.

3. Read through the different recreational parks and their criteria.

Note the important requirements, such as elevation, population, and rainfall.

4. Examine each geographic region. Each expert should examine the appropriate special-purpose map to determine if the location works.

5. Find the best park for each geographic region. Complete the chart by listing a recreational park for each region, its coordinates, and two reasons why the location works. © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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1. Location and Direction

North Pole

Every place has its own location. A location is the site where something can be found. People describe locations in many ways. You might describe the location of your home by talking about what it is near. This is the relative location of your home. Or you might use your street address. This is the exact location of your home.

Geographers use globes and maps to show the locations of places on Earth. Globes are round like Earth. They are useful when you want to know where places are on the planet.

When you need to see where many places are all at once, maps can be more useful. Maps show all or part of Earth on a flat surface.

To use a map, you need to know the four cardinal directions. North is the direction toward the North Pole. When you face north, your back is facing south. East is to your right. West is to your left. On a map, the letters N, S, E, and W stand for the cardinal directions.

South Pole SSA4_SE_2.2a CyanPole, Magenta If you face Black the North you Yellow are facing Second Proof north. If youTCI13 face07 the South Pole, you are

facing south.

The intermediate directions are halfway between the cardinal directions. Northeast, for example, lies halfway between north and east.

The other intermediate directions are southeast, southwest, and northwest. On a map, the letters NE, SE, SW, and NW stand for the intermediate directions.

Most maps use a compass rose to show directions. A compass rose sits on a map, with N pointing toward the North Pole. This tells you which way on the map is north. Why is it important to know your directions?

If you get lost, you can use a map and a compass to find your way. Once you know one cardinal direction, you can determine the other three.

Directions on a Map

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Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

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Hawaiian Islands Kauai

22˚N

H A W

Niihau

A I I A

Kaula

S

Lanai

S

Oahu

I

L

21˚45'N

E

W

A

Maui

N

0

158˚15'W

10

158˚W

Airport

D

N

S

W

E

Hilo

Hawaii 21˚15'N

20 miles 20 kilometers

State capital

20˚N

H3

Honolulu 10

S

H1

0

City

Highway

Kahoolawe

PAC I F I C OCEAN

21˚30'N

H2

Molokai

Honolulu N

H1

N

Oahu 160˚W

PACIFIC OCEAN

PAC I F I C OCEAN

157˚45'W

0 0

100 miles

50 50

100 kilometers

158˚W

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show sizes and distances as they really are. They are always much smaller than the part of Earth they represent. A short distance on a map represents a much greater distance on Earth.

156˚W

154˚W

Maps like this one use scales and symbols.

According to the map key, where is the airport on this map?

The scale of a map shows the relationship between map distances and real distances. A map’s scale can be shown in many ways. The most common is a line scale. The scales on the Hawaiian Islands map show two measures of distance.

One is for miles, the other is for kilometers.

Maps use symbols to show other kinds of information. A symbol is anything that stands for something else. Sometimes symbols look like what they stand for. For example, mapmakers often use tiny airplane symbols to stand for airports.

Color is another important map symbol. The color blue usually stands for water. Mapmakers often use different colors to show separate states or countries.

Mapmakers use a map key to explain their symbols. (A key is also called a legend.) The map key tells what each symbol stands for. Look at the key on this map. What does the star stand for? © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

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3. Lines of Latitude Suppose you want to describe the exact location of a place on Earth. To help you do this, mapmakers invented a system of imaginary lines around the globe. Some of these lines run east and west around the globe. They are called lines of latitude. Lines of latitude are also known as parallels because they are always the same distance apart.

Lines of latitude tell us how far north or south of the equator a place on Earth is. The equator is a line of latitude. It divides Earth into two halves. They are called the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. Because the United States lies north of the equator, it is in the Northern Hemisphere.

The equator is the starting point for measuring latitude. It is labeled 0°, or zero degrees. Parallels north of the equator are labeled N. The North Pole is 90°N. Parallels south of the equator are labeled S. The South Pole is 90°S. Lines of latitude measure between 0° and 90°N or 90°S. The closer a parallel is to the equator, the smaller its number of degrees.

The closer it is to one of the poles, the greater its number of degrees. Do you live closer to the North Pole or the equator?

North Pole

A boat’s location on the ocean can be pinpointed using imaginary lines. These are called lines of latitude and longitude.

75°N 60°N 45°N 30°N 15°N 0° Equator 15°S

South Pole 32

30°S 45°S 60°S

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

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4. Lines of Longitude Lines of longitude tell us how far to the east or west we need to go to locate a place. Look at this map. It shows lines circling Earth. Lines of longitude run north and south between the North and South poles and are called meridians.

Unlike lines of latitude, meridians are not parallel to each other. All meridians meet at the North Pole and the South Pole. The distance between meridians is greatest at the equator.

That distance shrinks as you move from the equator to the poles.

Can you find the line that is labeled prime meridian on the map? This imaginary line divides the world into the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. Because the United States lies west of the prime meridian, it is in the Western Hemisphere.

The longitude of the prime meridian is 0°.

Lines of longitude west of the prime meridian are labeled W. Lines of latitude east of the prime meridian are labeled E. Lines of longitude measure between 0° and 180°. The closer a meridian is to the prime meridian, the smaller its number of degrees. The farther it is from the prime meridian, the greater its number of degrees.

Prime Meridian

15°W

30°W

45°W

75°E 60°E

45°E

30°E

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

0°

15°E

75°W 60°W

North Pole

South Pole

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5. The Global Grid

North Pole North Pole

Mapmakers combine lines of latitude and longitude to form a grid. A grid is a set of crisscrossing lines. The grid below is called a global grid because it covers all of Earth.

75˚N 60˚N

Prime Meridian

15˚W

30˚W

75˚E 60˚E

45˚E

15˚N

30˚E

75˚W 60˚W

30˚N

15˚E

Using the lines of latitude and longitude on the global grid, you can locate places anywhere in the world. Let’s find New Orleans on the map below. It is 30 degrees north of the equator, or 30°N. It is also 90 degrees west of the prime meridian, or 90°W. Geographers call the degrees of latitude and longitude a set of coordinates.

You state latitude first, then longitude. New Orleans’s coordinates are 30°N, 90°W.

45˚W

45˚N

0˚ Equator 15˚S 30˚S 45˚S

South Pole South Pole

The city of Uíge (weej), Angola, is located at 8°S, 15°E. To find this location, put your finger on the map where the equator and the prime meridian meet. Move your finger east to the 15°E meridian. So far, so good.

SSA4_SE_2.6a Black Cyan Magenta Yellow Second Proof TCI13 11

Now you have a problem. The 8°S parallel is not marked on this map. You know, though, that 8°S must lie between the equator and 15°S. If you move your finger along the 15°E meridian to the spot halfway between these two parallels, you will find the city you are looking for.

Lines of latitude and longitude help us locate places.

The Global Grid 180˚ 165˚W 150˚W 135˚W 120˚W 105˚W 90˚W

75˚W 60˚W

45˚W 30˚W

15°W

0˚

15°E 30˚E

ARCTIC OCEAN

45˚E

60˚E

75˚E

90˚E 105˚E

120˚E

135˚E 150˚E

165˚E

60˚N

NORTH AMERICA

30˚N 15˚N

PACIFIC OCEAN

New Orleans

EUROPE

SOUTH AMERICA

15˚S

45˚S

N

60˚S

City

W

E S

Uíge

INDIAN OCEAN 0 0

AUSTRALIA 2,500

5,000 miles

2,500 5,000 kilometers

SOUTHERN OCEAN

ANTARCTICA

75˚S

34

PACIFIC OCEAN

AFRICA Equator

0˚

30˚S

ASIA

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Prime Meridian

45˚N

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States SSA4_SE_2.6b

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Elevation in the United States 180˚ 170˚W

ARCTIC OCEAN

0

150

300 miles

0 150 300 kilometers Mt. McKinley

0 0

W

Elevation Feet Meters 10,000 5,000 1,000 0 Below sea level

E S

PACIFIC 400 miles OCEAN

150˚W 400 kilometers

N

CANADA

140˚W

6,200 3,100 600 0

4 135˚W 5˚N

40˚N

70˚W

130˚W

35˚N

PACIFIC OCEAN

0 0

30˚N

120˚W

125˚W

160˚W

ATLANTIC OCEAN

PACIFIC OCEAN

20˚N 150 miles 150 kilometers

75˚W

Gulf of Mexico 115˚W

110˚W

MEXICO

95˚W

90˚W

85˚W

80˚W

This special-purpose map shows the elevation of the United States. Use the elevation key to find the highest areas in the country. What is the elevation where you live?

SSA4_SE_2.7 Black Cyan Magenta Yellow Second Proof TCI13 13

6. Kinds of Maps Geographers make different kinds of maps for different purposes. Maps that show natural features are called physical maps. Physical maps show landforms, such as mountains, valleys, and plains. They also show bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. Other maps show human features. For example, a political map shows cities, capitals, states, and countries.

Special-purpose maps show just one kind or type of information. Rainfall maps, for example, show how much rain falls in different parts of the world. Population maps show how many people live in different areas. Language maps show what languages people speak in different places.

One example of a special-purpose map is an elevation map of the United States. Elevation is the height of the land above the ocean. The surface of the ocean, called sea level, is at zero elevation. The highest point in North America is Denali, or Mt. McKinley, in Alaska. Its elevation is 20,320 feet. What does the map show about your state’s elevation? © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

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Hands-On Activity Notes Complete the table. Answer each question about the different regions.

36

Region

Question

Northeast

Along which line of longitude would you find location A?

Southeast

Which three locations are very close to 80°W?

Midwest

Which state is north of Wisconsin and Ohio?

Southwest

Which location is west of location Q?

West

Which state are you in if you are at 45°N, 120°W?

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

Activity Online

Answer

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

7. Regions in the United States Now that you know how to read maps, you can use them to study different areas in the United States. Certain areas may have similar characteristics. An area that shares similar features is called a region.

Geographers can divide the United States into many different regions. In this map, the United States has been divided into five regions.

They are the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West. As you can see on the map, each region has a different group of states.

In which region is your state located?

Each region is named after its location in the United States. For example, suppose you are standing in the middle of this country with a compass. In which direction can you find Florida? If you use your compass, you can see that Florida is toward the south and east.

So, Florida and the states around it are in the Southeast region.

The other four regions are also named after where they are found in the United States. Find the regions on the map. How would you describe their locations?

Regional Map of the United States 0

50˚N

400 miles

CANADA

A AD

Alaska

N CA

0 400 kilometers

N

Washington

PACIFIC OCEAN

Montana

North Dakota

E

W

Minnesota

Wyoming

WEST

130˚W

PACIFIC OCEAN 125˚W

MEXICO

150 miles 150 kilometers

Iowa

120˚W

Hawaii

0

New York

Michigan

Pennsylvania Ohio Indiana Nevada Illinois West Utah Virginia Colorado Virginia Kansas California Missouri Kentucky North Carolina Arkansas Tennessee South Oklahoma Arizona New Mexico SOUTHEAST Carolina Mississippi SOUTHWEST Georgia Texas

0

150

Institute

New Hampshire Massachusetts

Rhode 40˚N Island Connecticut New Jersey Delaware Maryland 35˚N

70˚W

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Alabama

90˚W

30˚N

Florida

Gulf of Mexico

25˚N

300 miles

0 150 300 kilometers 85˚W

115˚W

5_AP_SE_1_4_12I Second Proof/resize TCI28_1 © Teachers’ Curriculum

Louisiana

95˚W

Maine

NORTHEAST

Wisconsin

MIDWEST

Nebraska

PACIFIC OCEAN

0

South Dakota

Vermont

S

Oregon Idaho

This map shows five regions in the United States. How do these regions differ?

80˚W

75˚W

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

37

Other than location, how else do these regions differ? Often part of what makes a region special is an important natural feature, such as an ocean coast, a chain of mountains, a desert, a series of lakes, or a great river. The West region, for example, borders the Pacific Ocean, while the Northeast region borders the Atlantic Ocean.

The features in a region can affect the people living there. For example, the Midwest is mostly made up of flat plains covered with rich soil. So, many people who live there are farmers. People can also affect the environment in good ways and bad. Farmers in the Midwest, for instance, might protect the environment by growing crops on terraces to prevent erosion. But they might also use pesticides that can pollute soil.

Climate also varies from region to region.

In the Southwest, winters are mild, but in the Midwest and Northeast, winters are harsh and snowfall is common. Climate also affects how people live. It shapes how we dress, what we eat, and how we spend our spare time.

Each region also has its own history and way of life. People in different regions eat different foods. They celebrate different holidays. They wear different kinds of clothing. They tell particular stories and honor special heroes.

People interact with their environment. For example, there are many farmers who grow corn on the flat plains of the Midwest.

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Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

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8. The Northeast The Northeast region is located close to the Atlantic Ocean. There are 11 states in this region. You can see these states on this map.

Despite its many states, the Northeast region is the smallest region. With big cities such as New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia, the Northeast region is the most densely populated region in the United States.

The region includes a variety of landforms. A low, flat plain known as a coastal plain runs along the coast of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. The Coastal Plain has sandy soil and marshy land. The Appalachian mountain range runs through the entire region. This range has many forests. Large rivers flow out of these mountains. The rivers that flow east cut across the Coastal Plain to the Atlantic Ocean.

This is what fall looks like in Vermont, a state in the Northeast region.

The Northeast region has a different climate than the other regions in United States. The climate of a place is the kind of weather it has over many years. Temperature, rainfall, and wind conditions are parts of climate.

In the Northeast region, winters are long and cold. Snowstorms are common. Summers are warm and sometimes can be hot.

This map shows the Northeast region in the United States. It is the most densely populated region.

The Northeast 0

300 miles

150

0

150

300 kilometers

CANADA

Maine

N

Conne

New York

S

T

rie

New Hampshire

N

eh squ ann

Maryland

Potomac River

AI

A

AS CO

40˚N

PL

P

TA

L

A

P

Massachusetts

New Jersey

Delaware 75˚W 75˚E

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute SSA4_SE_2.8a Black Cyan Magenta Yellow

S

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Rhode Island Connecticut

a

Su

L

A

C

H

IA

N

Pennsylvania

Ri ver

M

eE

Lak

E

W

.

Hudson River

Lake Ontario

cticu t

Rive r

Vermont

Feet

65˚W 65˚E

Elevation Meters

10,000 5,000 1,000 0 Below sea level

6,200 3,100 600 0

70˚W 70˚E

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

39

.

TS M

West Virginia

ive oR

IA

N

r

South Carolina

A O

Mobile River

Mississippi

ATLANTIC OCEAN

C

ve Ri r

ST

r ve Ri

Georgia Alabama

Louisiana

Feet Florida

0

150

300 miles

150 300 kilometers 90˚W

85˚W

E

W S

30˚N

75˚W

Elevation Meters

10,000 5,000 1,000 0 Below sea level

Gulf of Mexico

0

N

AI

Sa v

PL

PP

A

35˚N

N

AC

AL

North Carolina

L

r

r ve

h na an

ve

Tennessee se s

nsa

Te nn e

Arkansas

Arka

i eR

Virginia

H

Kentucky

Potomac River

A

Ohi

i sR

Like the Northeast, the Southeast is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east. The Appalachian mountain range and Coastal Plain found in the Northeast also extend into the Southeast. Which states in the Southeast region include these features?

The Southeast

d Re

Just south of the Northeast region is the Southeast region.

This region is composed of 12 states and includes big cities like Atlanta and Miami.

The Southeast does not have as many big cities as the Northeast, but the two regions do share a number of features.

Mis siss ipp iR ive r

9. The Southeast

6,200 3,100 600

0

80˚W

SSA4_SE_2.8b Black Cyan Magenta Yellow Second Proof TCI13 15

The Southeast has other features, too. The Gulf of Mexico, for example, with its warm ocean water lies to the south of the region. The Southeast also has forests, beaches, swamps, and rivers. One of those rivers is the Mississippi River, which is one of the largest rivers in the United States. The Mississippi River starts way up north in Minnesota and flows south more than 2,300 miles before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

This is a map of the Southeast region of the United States. How many features do you recognize in this region?

The Southeast region has a mild winter climate. Winters there are usually warmer than in the Northeast. Summers are hot and humid.

Humid means damp or moist.

Wetlands and swamps are common in the Southeast region.

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Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

10. The Midwest The Midwest is one of the regions that lies in the center of our country. There are 12 states in the Midwest region. The largest city in the region is Chicago, which is the third largest city in the United States.

The Midwest is an inland region. This means it does not border any ocean. However, the Great Lakes form part of the Midwest’s northern border. The five Great Lakes are Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. These lakes are so large that they hold one-fifth of all the fresh water on Earth.

Most of the Midwest region is flat plains. The Central Plains and Great Plains are covered with some of the best soil on Earth. That soil makes the Midwest an important farming region. The region is known for growing crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat.

The Midwest region has some of the best conditions for farming in the United States.

The Mississippi River also runs through the Central Plains. It is a busy water highway that connects to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Many boats and barges travel on this river.

The climate varies greatly by season in the Midwest. Winters are bitter cold, and snowfall is common. However, summers are hot and humid.

This is a map of the Midwest region. What do you notice about the water features in this region?

The Midwest 105˚W

100˚W

95˚W

90˚W

85˚W

80˚W

75˚W

CANADA North Dakota

La

Minnesota

ke Superior

La

Lake Michiga

CENTRAL PLAINS

N

Michigan

ke La

Indiana

ie Er

E

W S

Ohio

ve Ri

r

kansas R Ar

er iv

Missouri

35˚N

0 0

150

300 miles

300 kilometers

©Black Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Cyan Magenta Yellow Second Proof TCI13 16

Lake Ontario

Illinois

Kansas

SSA4_SE_2.9a

k

uron

er Riv

tte R r ive

i

Pla

40˚N

Iowa

PLAINS

Nebraska

Wisconsin

p ip

ri R

South Dakota

Mi ssi ss

eH

Missou

n

AT G R E iver

45˚N

io Oh

Feet

Elevation Meters

10,000 5,000 1,000 0 Below sea level

6,200 3,100 600 0

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

41

110˚W

105˚W

100˚W

95˚W

No r th

Arizona

COLORADO PLATEAU

ka ns Ca as Riv na dian Rive er Ca r na dia n Riv er

New Mexico

35˚N

Oklahoma Red River

6,200 3,100 600 0

MEXICO

d ran

10,000 5,000 1,000 0 Below sea level

Colorado R ive r G Rio

S Elevation Feet Meters

er Riv

E

Texas

Ri v er

W

Peco s

e

0 0

CO AS

r G

an de

os az Br

N

o Ri

One of them is Texas, the second largest state in the United States. The coastal plain extends from the Southeast into Texas, and the Gulf of Mexico borders the state. Texas also has three of the ten most populated cities in America. One of those is Houston, the largest city in the Southwest region and the fourth largest city in the country.

115˚W

Ar

The Southwest region is positioned just south of the Midwest region. The Southwest is made up of only four states.

The Southwest

Colo rad o River

11. The Southwest

150

L TA

PL

AI

N 30˚N

Gulf of Mexico 300 miles

25˚N

300 kilometers

Plains cover the eastern part This is a map of the Southwest region of the SSA4_SE_2.9b of the Southwest. Farther west, the land to Yellow Blackrises Cyan Magenta United States. What features does it share Second Proof form the Colorado Plateau. A plateau is a high, TCI13 17 with other regions? flat landform that rises steeply from the land around it.

Most of the Colorado Plateau is crisscrossed by many deep canyons. The largest and most famous is the Grand Canyon, which is in Arizona. The Grand Canyon is carved by the Colorado River, which is the second longest river in the region behind the Rio Grande.

The Southwest region has a dry climate with high temperatures. In the summer, it is not uncommon for the temperature to reach triple digits in some places. Winters are cooler, but snow is rare.

It is difficult for many plants to grow in the dry climate of the Southwest region.

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Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

12. The West The West region is to the west of the Midwest and the Southwest. It borders the Pacific Ocean.

The West is made up of 11 states. One of the states is Alaska, which is the biggest state in the United States. Another state is California, which is the most populous state. California’s biggest city, Los Angeles, is the second most populous city in the country.

Mountain ranges stretch across much of the West. The Rocky Mountains begin far to the north in Alaska. From there they stretch south through Canada, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado.

The Great Basin lies to the west of the Rockies. A basin is a bowl-shaped landform that is lower than the land around it. Ranges of mountains circle around the Great Basin.

This map shows the West region of the United States. Based on the scales, which state is the largest in the region?

The West 135˚W 135˚W

130˚W 130˚W

125˚W

6,200 3,100 600 0

160˚W 160˚W

PACIFIC OCEAN 0

75 150 miles

0

150 kilometers

Hawaii

COAS T RA CAS CAD NGES ER AN GE

S

100˚W

Utah Co

r lo

50˚N

souri River

Montana

ton ows Yell

v er e Ri

45˚N atte Ri Pl ve

North

GREAT BASIN

95˚W

Wyoming

Nevada

San Joaquin River

Mis

o ad

r ve Ri

INS

10,000 5,000 1,000 0 Below sea level

Snake Riv

River

E NG RA

Elevation Meters

Idaho

A AD EV AN RR

PACIFIC OCEAN

SI E

140˚W 140˚W

0 150 300 kilometers Feet

Oregon

KLAMATH MTS. Sacramento

300 miles

150

E

COAST

0

Columbia River

TA UN MO

PACIFIC OCEAN

150˚W 400 kilometers 150˚W

0

105˚W

CANADA

Y CK

W S

200 400 miles

110˚W

RO

CANADA

170˚W 170˚W

0

115˚W

Washington

N Alaska

120˚W

r

hP

latte

Rive

Sou t

140˚W 140˚W

ARCTIC OCEAN

er

145˚W 145˚W 180˚ 180˚

r

40˚N

Colorado

Arkan sas River

California 35˚N

20˚N 20˚N

MEXICO

SSA4_SE_2.10a Third Proof TCI13 18

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

43

There are several mountain ranges along the Pacific coast. The Coast Ranges are mountains that seem to rise right out of the Pacific Ocean.

The Cascade Range and the Sierra Nevada are further inland. (Sierra Nevada means “snowy range” in Spanish.)

Oregon’s Willamette Valley lies between the Coast Range mountains and inland mountains. The soil here is rich enough to plant many crops.

Between the Coast Range mountains and the inland mountains are two rich farming valleys.

One is California’s Central Valley. The other is Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

Hawaii is also mountainous. Volcanoes formed its islands long ago. A volcano is an opening in Earth’s surface through which hot, melted rock and ash may pour out. As the liquid rock cools, it forms a cone-shaped mountain.

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Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Hands-On Activity Notes Activity Online

Swingin’ Amusement Park

Aquarium and Sea Life Park

Must be located somewhere where there is over 250 people per square mile and no more than 64 inches of rain falls annually

Must be located by an ocean or gulf where the population is greater than 250 people per square mile and no more than 96 inches of rain falls annually

Highland Skate and BMX Park

Roarin’ Whitewater Rafting Park

Must be located at an elevation no higher than 5,000 feet where the population is greater than 50 people per square mile and no more than 32 inches of rain falls annually

Must be located on a river along a path with at least two elevation ranges, in an area that gets 32−96 inches of rain fall annually

Wild Slide Water Park

Winter Wonderland and Ski Park

Must be located somewhere that gets no more than 32 inches of rain falls annually and that has a population of 250 per square mile or more

Must be at least 5,000 feet in elevation and have a population of no more than 49 people per square mile

Zippin’ Zipline Park

Sunset Trampoline Park

Must be located at an elevation of at least 1000 feet, in a forested area with a population density of no more than 49 people per square mile

Must be located somewhere with a population density of at least 50 people per square mile and an elevation no higher than 599 feet

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

45

Complete the table by choosing the best park for each region. Provide the coordinates and at least two reasons why that park works well in the region.

Region

Park

Coordinates

Two reasons why this location and region work

Northeast

Southeast

Midwest

Southwest

West

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Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Summary You now know that there are different kinds of maps. Some maps show locations of places around the world. Lines of latitude and longitude help us find exact locations of places and measure distances north to south and east to west. Map scales also help us measure distances from place to place. Did you remember to think like a geographer as you looked at the maps of each region?

As you read about each region of the United States, you considered the five themes of geography: location, place, human-environmental interaction, movement, and regions. You looked at physical maps of each region to see where a place is located and what it is like. There are many other kinds of maps, including special-purpose maps. To compare climates around the country, you might use a climate map. A product map might show what each region grows or manufactures.

Which region do you live in? How is it different from the others? Each region of the United States varies by location, natural features, climate, and way of life.

Show What You Know Find a recreational park in the United States and fill in the information about it. You can choose from any of the types of parks listed.

Activity Online

Name of Park: Type of Park:

Location of Park (Region):

❏ Whitewater rafting ❏ Trampoline park

Latitude/Longitude:

❏ Skate and BMX park ❏ Aquarium and sea life park ❏ Winter activity and ski park

Average Rainfall:

❏ Amusement park ❏ Water park

Elevation:

❏ Zipline park Population Density:

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

47

Draw a quick sketch of one interesting feature of this region.

Give at least two reasons why this region is well-suited for this type of park.

Use evidence from special-purpose maps to back up your answer.

48

Lesson 2 Exploring Regions of the United States

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Lesson 3

The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast How has geography helped shape daily life in the Southeast?

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

49

Introduction If you brought your lunch to school today, what did you bring? For some of you, the answer may be “a bit of the Southeast.”

Start with the paper lunch bag itself. It may be made of paper that came from a southern pine tree. These trees are used to make paper.

Papermaking is important throughout the Southeast, and the paper products that are made there are sold around the United States.

What’s in your lunch bag? Maybe you brought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to school today. You may have also packed some orange juice or a piece of fruit. Much of the contents of a typical lunch could have come from the Southeast. Georgia grows more peanuts than any other state. Florida grows more than half of our nation’s oranges. Even the plastic wrap around the sandwich may have been made from oil found in the Southeast.

Vocabulary agriculture fall line floodplain foothills industry natural resource navigable tornado

In this lesson, you will find out why so many of the things we use or eat every day are from the Southeast.

At the same time, you will see how geography shaped life in the Southeast long ago and continues to do so today.

Geography affects where cities are in the Southeast. Many cities in the Southeast are near rivers.

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Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Preview Activity Papermaking is important in the Southeast. Circle some items in the picture that were made from trees.

Activity Online

What are some other items you might find in a classroom that were made from trees? Write or draw at least three items.

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

51

Vocabulary Activity Activity Online

Write each vocabulary term in the correct spot on the picture.

Vocabulary Word Bank agriculture industry

52

fall line natural resource

Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

floodplain navigable

foothills tornado

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Hands-On Activity Activity Online

Create titles and captions for videos of geography in the Southeast.

Directions: Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast 1. Read Sections 1–6. Learn how geography affects life in the Southeast.

2. In pairs, watch each video. Explore different areas in the Southeast.

3. Give each video a title by matching it with a section title. Which section of the text reminds you of each video?

4. In your Activity Notes, create captions for each video by including vocabulary terms.

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

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1. Elevation: Lowlands and Highlands The Southeast is a region of lowlands and highlands. The low Coastal Plain stretches along the southeastern coast from Virginia to Louisiana. The water level of the rivers and swamps in this region rise and fall with the ocean tides each day. When the ocean rises at high tide, seawater flows onto this lowland area.

When the tide pulls back, water levels drop.

The Coastal Plain ends at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. This area of low, rolling hills is called the Piedmont. Piedmont, in French, means “foot of the mountains.” Beyond the Piedmont rise the Appalachian Mountains.

Some of the peaks in this mountain chain are more than 6,000 feet high.

Lowlands are common in the Southeast.

During high tide, seawater flows onto these lowlands.

Elevation affects life here in many ways. For example, elevation affects climate. The higher the elevation of a place, the colder it is. Plants that grow well in the warm lowland freeze in the cool highland. Elevation also affects soil.

Lowland soil is rich and good for farming.

Highland soil is rocky and not easy to farm.

Elevation affects travel, as well. Travel in the lowlands is faster and easier, while travel in the highlands is slower and more difficult. People from the mountains sometimes joke that the only way to get to some of the tiny Appalachian towns is to be born there!

The Appalachian mountain range stretches through many states. These mountains are in North Carolina.

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Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Geographic Features of the Southeast Poto

Riv

Alabama

.

TS R M ID TS GE .

BL UE

N

IA

H

L

T

IN

N

L

TA

see River

av a

Georgia

r ve Ri ah nn

Mississippi

C

O

C OA S TA L P L A I N

A

S

ATLAN T I C OCE AN

Louisiana

Lake Ponchartrain

35˚N

P

sip pi

Te nnes

Miss is

Arkansas

North Mt. Mitchell Carolina O P . 6,684 ft.

A T SMTS EA M M R D G IE Brasstown P South Bald Carolina 4,784 ft.

S

P

LA

er

Tennessee

Mt. Rogers 5,729 ft.

O

OZARK PLATEAU

mbe rland River

AL

Virginia

A

Cu

LE G KY A C HE NY

Oh io R

ive

r

M

West Virginia

Kentucky

er

M

TS .

ma

cR iv

Okefenokee Swamp

30˚N

Florida

Gulf of Mexico

N

EVERGLADES

E

W

25˚N

S 80˚W

Elevations Feet Meters 90˚W

0 0

300 miles

150 150

300 kilometers

SSA4_SE_07-2c Black Cyan Magenta Yellow © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Fourth Proof TCI13 49

85˚W

5,000 1,000 500 0 Below sea level

1,500 300 150 0

Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

55

Shipping by boat is important for cities in the Southeast. These cargo ships are carrying goods along the Mississippi River.

2. Rivers and Ocean The Southeast has a long coastline and many rivers. Most of its rivers begin in the Appalachian Mountains. On the eastern side of the Appalachians, rivers flow across the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain to the Atlantic Ocean. In the southern Appalachians, rivers flow into the Gulf of Mexico. On the western side of the mountains, they flow into the Mississippi River.

Southerners use their rivers and the ocean for fun. Swimming, fishing, and boating are popular water sports.

People in the Southeast also use their waterways for transportation. Shipping by boat is an inexpensive way to move crops and goods over long distances.

Many port cities developed along the coast where rivers reach the sea. One of the busiest port cities is Miami, which is located near the southern tip of Florida. Much of its trade is with countries in Central and South America. For this reason, people of Miami call their city the “Gateway of the Americas.”

The port of Miami is also home to many cruise ships. Each year, millions of people leave Miami on cruise ships for vacations at sea.

No wonder Miami is also known as the “Cruise Capital of the World.”

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Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

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3. The Fall Line Many of the rivers that cross the Coastal Plain are navigable. A navigable river is one that is both deep and wide enough for ships to use. But when ships reach the Piedmont, they stop. The place where they stop is called the fall line. A fall line is an imaginary line at the point where rivers drop from higher land to lower land.

In this case, the fall line is where the Piedmont meets the Coastal Plain. The edge of the Piedmont drops sharply at this point. As rivers flow over this drop, they form waterfalls.

Ships cannot continue to sail upstream beyond these falls.

For early settlers in the Southeast, the fall line was a problem. Settlers on the Coastal Plain depended on rivers to send their crops to market.

But when settlers moved up to the Piedmont, they had no good way to ship their crops to the coast.

Some people saw this problem as an opportunity. Traders set up trading posts right on the fall line, where goods that arrived by boat from the coast could be traded for meat and crops raised in the highlands.

This powerful rapids area of the Potomac River shows the presence of a fall line.

Ships cannot travel past the fall line to trade goods.

Other people settled on the fall line because they knew how to use falling water to run machines. They built sawmills, flour mills, and workshops that ran on waterpower.

Many fall-line towns—such as Richmond, Virginia; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Macon, Georgia—grew into large cities.

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4. Natural Resources While a lot of people choose to live in the Southeast for its many rivers, others live in the area because it is rich in natural resources.

Natural resources include land, oceans, forests, minerals, and fuels.

Land was the first natural resource that attracted people to the Southeast. Growing crops and raising animals were two of the largest industries for many years. An industry is all the businesses that produce one kind of good or provide one kind of service.

Today, many industries are important to the economy of the region. On your tour of the Southeast, you learned about two industries that developed from resources hidden under the ground. One is the coal mining industry.

Another is the oil industry.

The Southeast’s steel industry is built on another hidden resource. In the 1800s, people discovered iron at Red Mountain in Alabama.

Iron ore is used to make steel. Built at the foot of Red Mountain, Birmingham, Alabama, became a steelmaking center.

Some industries are based on the Southeast’s large forests. Sawmills cut trees into lumber.

Paper mills grind wood into gooey wood pulp.

This pulp is then used to make paper. Furniture makers turn trees into tables and chairs. Right now, you may be sitting on a chair that was made in the Southeast.

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Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

A forest is an important natural resource in the Southeast. Industries, such as the paper industry, use this resource to make goods we want.

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

5. A Long Growing Season The business of growing crops and raising animals is called agriculture. Agriculture is an important part of the economy of the Southeast.

Most farmers need three things from nature: good soil, plenty of rain, and a long growing season. The Southeast has all three.

Citrus fruits and cotton are important crops in the Southeast. People around the United States use these crops every day.

Many crops grow well in the Southeast, cotton being a good example. Cotton plants need plenty of water and six months of warm weather, and the Southeast meets these needs perfectly.

In the 1800s, cotton was the main crop grown in the Southeast. Then disaster struck when a little bug called the boll weevil invaded cotton fields. The boll weevil destroyed the cotton before it was ready for harvest, leaving many farmers ruined. Those who survived learned a hard lesson. No longer could they depend on just one crop.

Today, the Southeast is a region of mixed agriculture. Farmers on the Coastal Plain grow rice, cotton, peanuts, and other warmweather crops. Orange groves cover large parts of Florida. Piedmont farmers raise dairy cattle, peaches, and tobacco. Farmers in Appalachia grow corn and apples in mountain valleys.

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6. Dangerous Weather Not every day is sunny in the Southeast. This area has many different types of weather. Some weather is dangerous and can hurt people or destroy property.

Rain falls all year long in the Southeast.

Sometimes, storms bring too much rain, which can result in a flood. During a flood, a river fills with more water than it can hold. The extra water flows over the river’s banks onto its floodplain, or a low, flat land along a river.

Most rivers flood from time to time, but floods become dangerous when people live and work on floodplains. Floods do much more than cover the floodplain with muddy water. The water can destroy homes, crops, and people’s lives.

Floods can cause a lot of damage to buildings in towns and cities. In Miami, store owners put sand bags in front of doors to prevent water from getting inside.

Though floods can cause a lot of damage, the most dangerous storms are hurricanes.

Hurricanes are powerful storms with winds of 74 miles per hour or more. They form over warm water but can move onto land. As a hurricane grows, it produces heavy rain and high waves.

Almost every year, at least one hurricane strikes the Southeast.

Tornadoes are another threat to the Southeast. A tornado is a violent and powerful windstorm shaped like a funnel. Tornadoes form over land and can have wind speeds of 300 miles per hour. The winds of powerful tornadoes are strong enough to lift cars and destroy houses. The people of the Southeast have to prepare for several tornadoes each year.

Tornadoes are very dangerous. They can cause a lot of damage to property and nature.

It is hard for scientists to predict the paths of hurricanes and tornadoes. Many cities in the Southeast have tornado and hurricane warning systems so that people can do their best to be ready for them.

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Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Hands-On Activity Notes Give each video a title using one of the section titles. You may use each title only once. Then, using one of the vocabulary words, complete a short caption for each video depicting how geography affects life.

Title:

Title:

Title:

Title:

Title:

Title:

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Activity Online

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Summary No matter where you go in the Southeast, you will find that geography helps shape how people live in the region. You will also find that geography affects people differently based on where they live.

In Miami, Florida, people might talk about the importance of the ocean. But in New Iberia, Louisiana, people might talk about dangerous weather. You might hear some scary stories about floods and hurricanes.

People in Dawson, Georgia, might tell you about the importance of a long growing season. Meanwhile, in High Point, North Carolina, people might mention the importance of forests. Though geography affects everyone in the Southeast, different types of geography affect people differently.

Show What You Know Select three of the following geography topics you have just studied: • climate • elevation • natural resources • bodies of water How do these factors affect your life and the lives of people around you?

Activity Online

In the boxes on the left in the table below, draw illustrations showing three geography features in your area. Then, in the matching boxes on the right, explain how each feature affects life in your area.

Geography in My Area

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Lesson 3 The Effects of Geography on Life in the Southeast

Effects of Geography in My Area

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Lesson 4

Florida’s Geography What geographic features make Florida a special place?

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Lesson 4 Florida’s Geography

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Introduction Why is Florida called the Sunshine State?

People who live there know the reason. Warm sunshine fills the air most days of the year.

The Sunshine State is Florida’s official nickname. Some people also call it the Orange State because of Florida’s many orange groves.

Others call it the Alligator State because many alligators live there.

Vocabulary hurricane metropolitan areas peninsula population density

These nicknames relate to geographic features of the state. Florida could also be called the Water State. Did you know that Florida has more than 7,800 lakes and 50,000 miles of rivers and streams? Water is a major geographic feature of Florida. Water surrounds the state on three sides.

In this lesson, you will learn about the physical features that make Florida a special place. You will also learn how geography affects Florida’s history and economy.

This is a picture of the Florida Everglades. Often described as a wetland or swamp, the Everglades is really a very slow-moving river surrounded by tall grasses. Native Americans of the Seminole Nation call the Everglades Pahayokee, which means “grassy waters.”

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© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Preview Activity Draw a map of the street your school is on as if you were looking down on it from above. Label three or more interesting or important features on your map.

Activity Online

Then answer the question below.

Map of My School’s Street

What makes your school’s street special?

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Vocabulary Activity Use the word bank to match each vocabulary term to the image it best represents. Then, in your own words, write a definition for each term.

Activity Online

Vocabulary Word Bank hurricane

metropolitan areas

Image

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Lesson 4 Florida’s Geography

peninsula

Vocabulary Term

population density

Definition

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Hands-On Activity

87˚W

86˚W

85˚W

84˚W

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82˚W

81˚W

80˚W

79˚W

N

St. Marys R.

Tallahassee

Pensacola

Activity E Online S

W

Jacksonville

30˚N

St. Augustine

Suw an

.

St. Johns R

nee R.

Panama City

AT L ANT IC OCEAN Orlando

28˚N

Tampa Bay

K i s si m

a c e R.

R.

27˚N

e

Sarasota

me

Gulf of M e x ic o

Cape Canaveral

Tampa

Pe

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29˚N

Daytona Beach

Lake Okeechobee

West Palm Beach

Fort Myers

Pembroke Ft. Lauderdale N Hollywood 26˚ Pines Hialeah Miami Beach Miami The Everglades Biscayne Bay

Naples City State capital

25˚N

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Complete a fast-paced Geography Challenge to discover and map some of the physical features that make Florida special. Then, put your map skills to the test by finding the coordinates for some places in Florida.

Directions: Geography Challenge A – Physical Features 1. Read Section 1.

2. Review your map skills as a class. Make sure to ask any question you might have.

3. With a partner, complete Geography Challenge A. Complete your Activity Notes as you work through each Geography Challenge A card.

4. Check each answer and get a new Geography Challenge A card.

Directions: Geography Challenge B – Places 1. Read Section 2.

2. Review your map skills as a class. Ask questions! You will use these map skills to complete Geography Challenge B. 3. With a partner, complete Geography Challenge B. Complete your Activity Notes. For each Geography Challenge B card, make sure to record your answer next to its matching numbered line.

4. Check each answer and get a new Geography Challenge B card.

5. Read Sections 3–4. © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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1. Florida’s Physical Features Florida has two main parts: the peninsula and the panhandle. A peninsula is land that has water on three sides. Florida’s peninsula is easy to see on a map. It extends hundreds of miles into the water. The panhandle makes up northern Florida. The panhandle shares a border with Georgia and Alabama.

Most of the land in Florida is flat. A wide plain extends inland and goes all the way around Florida’s coast. Higher land lies across the northern panhandle. Higher land can also be found in central Florida. Florida has no mountains. The highest point in the state, Britton Hill, is in Walton County, in northwest Florida, along the panhandle. It is just 345 feet above sea level.

Florida has some physical features that are bodies of water. The Atlantic Ocean lies along Florida’s east coast. To the south is the Straits of Florida. The Gulf of Mexico lies along the west coast. Florida’s largest lake is Lake Okeechobee.

Most of the state of Florida is a stretch of land surrounded by water on three sides. This feature is called the Florida peninsula.

Florida 87˚W

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ATL ANTI C OCEAN Orlando

28˚N

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a c e R.

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me

Gu l f of Mexi co

Cape Canaveral

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Daytona Beach

Lake Okeechobee

West Palm Beach

Fort Myers

Pembroke Ft. Lauderdale N Hollywood 26˚ Pines Hialeah Miami Beach Miami The Everglades Biscayne Bay

Naples City State capital

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Near the tip of the Florida peninsula is a chain of islands. They are called the Florida Keys. They begin just south of Miami Beach in the Atlantic Ocean. They curve to the southwest into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Florida Keys are a chain of islands located just south of the Florida peninsula.

Another physical feature in Florida is the Everglades. The Everglades is a vast wetland that covers more than 4,000 square miles. The Everglades covers Florida’s southern tip from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.

In Florida, climate is an important physical feature. Florida has a warm, sunny climate.

People can grow crops all year because of the warm temperatures. Florida’s warm climate also attracts tourists. Tourists often choose to spend a vacation on one of Florida’s many beaches.

Florida’s climate includes weather that can bring hurricanes. A hurricane is a storm with heavy rains and high winds. It forms over the ocean and often moves toward land. Hurricane season is from June to November. Hurricanes have caused great damage in Florida. They have killed people too. The deadliest hurricane in Florida was in 1928. It killed thousands of Florida residents. Hurricane Irma, which struck Florida in 2017, was the costliest. It cost the state about $50 billion in damages.

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2. Where People Live in Florida Water bodies, landforms, and climate are all part of Florida’s physical geography. People often choose where to live based on physical geography. People also shape the places where they live. They build towns and cities. They create a human landscape.

People have been settling in Florida for a long time. Florida is one of the most populated states today. Most of Florida’s residents live in urban areas. Urban areas include cities and towns.

Florida has one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country: Miami-Fort LauderdalePompano Beach. More than six million people live in this metropolitan area.

Most of Florida’s cities are located along the coast. Throughout history, people have settled near water. Oceans and rivers offer an easy way to move people and goods. This helps businesses and settlements grow.

This population density map shows densely populated areas in purple. Areas with low population density are yellow.

Not all Florida residents live near the coast.

Some people live inland. You will find fewer cities in these areas. In much of inland Population of Florida Florida, population density is lower. Population density is a measure of how many Tallahassee people live in a given area, such as a square mile. The more people per square mile, the higher the population density. In large cities with apartment buildings, for instance, the population St. Petersburg Gulf of density will be greater than Mexico in open farmland dotted with only a few houses.

City

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Lake Okeechobee

Pembroke Pines Hialeah

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Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood Miami rida

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Lesson 4 Florida’s Geography

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its

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0 150 300 kilometers

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Over 1,000 200 to 1,000 50 to 200 15 to 50 Under 15

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People per square mile

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Hands-On Activity Notes Activity

Online Directions For each Geography Challenge A card, you and a partner will: 1. Read the card, and use the map below to find the requested information.

2. Label the Geography Challenge A map as instructed by the card, and write the number of the Geography Challenge next to it.

3. Check your work.

For each Geography Challenge B card, you and a partner will: 1. Read the card, and use the map below to find the requested information.

2. Record your answer on the numbered line.

3. Check your work.

87˚W

86˚W

85˚W

84˚W

83˚W

82˚W

81˚W

80˚W

79˚W

N St. Marys R.

Tallahassee

Pensacola

E

W S

Jacksonville St. Augustine

Suw an

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St. Johns R

nee R.

Panama City

AT L ANTI C OC E A N 28˚N

Tampa Bay

K i s si m

a c e R.

R.

27˚N

e

Sarasota

me

G u l f o f M e x i c o

Cape Canaveral

Tampa

Pe

Clearwater St. Petersburg

Lake Okeechobee

West Palm Beach

Fort Myers

Pembroke Ft. Lauderdale ˚N Hollywood 26 Pines Naples Hialeah Miami Beach Miami The Everglades Biscayne Bay

City State capital

25˚N

15

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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Key West

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Orlando

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Geography Challenge A Label this map of the Florida as instructed by the Geography Challenge A cards.

Include the number of the Geography Challenge in front of each answer.

87˚W

86˚W

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84˚W

82˚W

83˚W

81˚W

80˚W

79˚W

N E

W S

30˚N

29˚N

28˚N

27˚N

26˚N

25˚N

0

150

300 miles

0 150 300 kilometers TCI24 03 B/W Forida Elevation and Relief

First Proof Geography Challenge B Use the map of Florida to help you complete Geography Challenge B. Record your answers below.

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B1.

B5.

B2.

B6.

B3.

B7.

B4.

B8.

Lesson 4 Florida’s Geography

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

3. Connecting Florida’s Geography to Its History When you study geography, you unlock lots of information. The history of a place is closely linked to its geography. The land and its features help tell the story of a place because they shape how people live and how communities grow.

Tourism is important to Miami, but that was not always true. Weather and climate helped shape Miami’s tourism industry. In the winter of 1894 and 1895, a bad freeze killed most of the citrus crop in northern Florida. The freeze did not reach Miami, however. The good weather convinced railroad builder Henry M. Flagler to build a railroad to Miami. He dug out the harbor and cut through pristine wilderness to begin work on a hotel. It was the start of the tourism industry in Miami.

Henry Flagler built the Ponce de Leon Hotel in St. Augustine in the 1880s. The hotel later became a part of Flagler College.

Miami became a city in 1896. The city grew quickly until the mid-1920s. Then, in 1926, Florida’s climate brought a major hurricane that struck Miami. Large areas of Miami were flooded or destroyed. Over time, people rebuilt the city.

Hurricanes are part of Florida’s history. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit southern Florida. It caused great damage, but Miami itself was mostly unhurt. In 2004, Florida endured four hurricanes. Florida residents know how to prepare for hurricanes. The state government helps people plan ahead to protect their families, homes, and businesses.

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4. Connecting Florida’s Geography to Its Economy Geography also helps us understand economics. Geography helps explain how certain industries have grown, as well as how and why people work the way they do.

If you live in central Florida, you may have heard of Bone Valley. This region has a lot of phosphate, which is a mineral. It is used to make fertilizers for soil. Phosphate mining is a huge industry in Florida because there is so much of it in the land. In fact, most of the phosphate used in the United States comes from Florida.

The phosphate industry has a big impact on Tampa. Millions of tons of phosphate are shipped from Tampa’s port each year. Phosphate shipping has helped make Tampa one of the largest ports in the country. Thousands of people in the Tampa Bay area have jobs related to the phosphate industry.

Some businesses such as mining can negatively impact the land, water, and wildlife.

Some people in Florida have been concerned that phosphate mining will hurt water supplies.

Obtaining, as well as using, resources wisely remains an important issue in Florida.

Another major industry in Florida is tourism. People from around the world come to Florida for its climate.

Florida has warm weather all year. Tourism provides jobs for Florida residents. They help take care of the millions who visit Florida each year.

Florida’s minerals contribute to the economy.

Millions of tons of phosphate are shipped from Tampa's port every year.

Think about the geography of your area. What natural features exist? How have people changed the land? What does the human geography tell you about the economy there?

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Lesson 4 Florida’s Geography

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Summary Florida is mostly flat. Physical features include the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Lake Okeechobee. Other physical features are the Everglades and the Florida Keys. Climate is an important physical feature of Florida.

Most of Florida’s residents live in urban areas. Most of Florida’s cities are located along the coast.

Geography has shaped the history of Florida. Geography has also shaped the how people live and the work they do.

Show What You Know What physical features are located in or near you community? Name at least two.

Activity Online

Create a symbol that you feel best represents the physical features of your community. Draw it in the space below.

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Lesson 4 Florida’s Geography

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Find your community on the map. You may need to do some research and look at other maps of Florida. Circle your community on the map, or mark and label it.

87˚W

86˚W

85˚W

84˚W

83˚W

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81˚W

80˚W

79˚W

N St. Marys R.

Tallahassee

Pensacola

E

W S

Jacksonville St. Augustine

Suw an

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St. Johns R

nee R.

Panama City

AT L AN TI C OC EAN 28˚N

Tampa Bay

K i s si m

a c e R.

R.

27˚N

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Sarasota

me

G u l f o f M e x i c o

Cape Canaveral

Tampa

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Lake Okeechobee

West Palm Beach

Fort Myers

State capital Elevation Meters

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Pembroke Ft. Lauderdale ˚N Hollywood 26 Pines Naples Hialeah Miami Beach Miami The Everglades Biscayne Bay

City

250 200 150 100 50 0

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Daytona Beach

Orlando

Feet

30˚N

Use the map to find your community’s absolute location (closest latitude and longitude). Complete the sentence by writing the absolute location.

My community is located

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Lesson 4 Florida’s Geography

.

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute