The Regions of the United States Chapter 1 The Regions of the United States
Lesson 1: Regions and Landforms Key Vocabulary
1. region- A large area in which places share similar characteristics
2. landform - A natural feature of the earth’s surface
3. mountain- A very high landform often with steep sides
4. plain- An area of flat land that often is covered with grass or trees
5. desert- An area that receives less than ten inches of rain in one year
6. canyon- A deep valley with steep, rocky walls
7. plateau- A large, flat raised area of land
8. boundary- A line or natural feature that separates one area or state from another
Places
1. Northeast Region- Region that contains the country’s oldest mountain range- the Appalachian Mountains
2. Southeast Region- Region where the Appalachian Mountains gradually flatten to the Atlantic Coastal Plain
3. Southwest Region- Region that is very dry with many deserts, canyons, and plateaus
4. Midwest Region- Region that has flat, grassy plains and large areas of forests
5. West Region- Region that has extremes both in temperatures and landforms
6. Washington, D.C.- The capital city of the U.S. located in the District of Columbia, 39◦ N 77◦W
Notes
Regions A region is an area where places share similar characteristics, but there can be differences. There are 5 regions in the United States (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West). The Northeast has the Appalachian Mountains, the oldest mountains in North America, a rocky coastline, and good farmland the more west you go in this region. In the Southeast the Appalachians gradually flatten into the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The Mississippi and Red Rivers create rich farmland in this region. The Midwest is a flat, grassy plain, with 4 of the 5 Great Lakes in this region. The Southwest is dry, with very little rain. The Grand Canyon was carved out by the Colorado River. The West is a region of extremes. It has the highest and lowest landforms and temperatures.
Borders A border or boundary is a line or natural feature that separates one area or state from another. State borders can only be seen on maps, are legal, and are set by the government. Regional borders are not set by any rule or law and can be different from book to book.
Lesson 2: Climate Key Vocabulary
1. weather- The condition of the air at a certain time and place
2. climate- The weather patterns in one place over a long period of time
3. precipitation- The amount of moisture that falls as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
4. temperature- A measurement telling how hot or cold something is
5. humidity- The amount of moisture in the air
6. equator- The imaginary line that circles the center of Earth from east to west
7. elevation- How high a place is above sea level
8. Tropical climate- An area that is usually very warm all year
9. Polar climate- Area around the North and South poles with the coldest temperatures
10. Subarctic climate- An area with short, warm summers and ground covered in snow for most of the rest of the year
11. Temperate climate- Moderate area between the tropical and subarctic climates
Notes
Weather and Climate Weather is the condition of the air at a certain time and place. Climate is the weather of a place averaged over a long period of time. Both precipitation (rain and snow) and temperature are factors for weather and climate.
Water in the Air—The Rain Cycle Energy from the sun evaporates the water from the ground into the air and changes it into water vapor. As the water vapor rises, it cools down and forms tiny drops of water. Millions of these tiny drops join together to form a cloud. Inside the cloud, the tiny drops grow into bigger drops. When the cloud is too heavy the drops fall as rain/snow. The precipitation falls to the ground and the cycle starts over again.
Causes of Climate Distance from the equator The sun’s rays hit directly at the equator all year causing it to have a warm climate. Distance from a large body of water Land heats and cools faster than water. Elevation of a place The higher you go, the colder it will get.
Types of Climate Tropical Climate: warm all year. Subtropical Climate: warm all year, but not as warm as a tropical. Polar Climate: coldest climate found at the North and South Poles. Subarctic Climate: warm periods in summer, but covered in snow most of the year. Temperate Climate: warm in the summer, cold in the winter. (Climate we live in)
Lesson 3: Regional Resources Key Vocabulary
1. Natural resource- Something in the environment that can be used
2. Raw material- Something that is changed so that people can use it
3. process- To change something so that people can use it
4. harvest- Cut for use, as a crop
5. industry- a business that makes a product or provides a service
6. manufacturing- making things to use or sell
7. product- something that people make or grow
8. Capital resource- something people make in order to produce other products
9. agriculture- the raising of crops or animals
10. conserve- to use resources carefully
11. Renewable resource- a natural resource that can be replaced
12. recycle- to use something more than once (reuse)
13. Nonrenewable resource- a resource that cannot be replaced.
14. Human resources- A person that makes products or provides services
15. service- Job that someone does for others
Notes
Regional Resources There are 3 main kinds of resources: natural resource- something in the environment that can be used capital resources- something people make in order to produce other products human resources- a person that makes products or provides services Renewable resources can be replaced and nonrenewable resources cannot. Renewable resources: cotton, cattle, corn, fish, lumber, sugarcane, rice, wheat Nonrenewable resources: gold, silver, coal, oil, natural gas
Resources or Industries by Region Northeast: farming, fishing, coal, factories Southeast: Agriculture, sugar cane, cotton, rice, soil Midwest: corn, soybeans, wheat, cows, hogs, soil Southwest: farming, cattle, cotton, oil, natural gas, factories West: farming, soil, silver, gold, cattle, timber, fish, fruits, nuts, vegetables