1. North America 6 th Grade Western Hemisphere Mr. Hackney

2. Countries on the North American Continent Canada, U.S., and Mexico are largest countries on continent. Caribbean islands are part of North America.

3. Isolated Continent North America is almost completely surrounded by water. 12,000-35,000 years ago, the earliest settlers arrived.

4. Crossing Barriers Settlers learned shipbuilding and navigation to get to North America. In the 1900s, the distance from other countries helped protect Canada and the U.S.

5. Regions of the U.S. & Canada Atlantic Coastal Plain –Area along Gulf of Mexico and east coast of North America with rich farmland with swamps and wetlands. Appalachian Mountains –400 million old mountain range. Forested and mountains have been weathered down by erosion.

6. Atlantic Coastal Plain

7. Appalachian Mountains

8. Regions of the U.S. and Canada Central Lowlands –Generally flat and has rich soil. Many farms can be found here. West of Appalachian mountains. Great Plains –Grasslands and few trees. Farmers grow crops and raise cattle.

9. Central Lowlands

10. Great Plains

11. Regions of the U.S. and Canada Rocky Mountains and Coastal Ranges –Area of North America’s highest mountains. –Runs from Mexico to Alaska. Intermountain Region –Location between Rocky and coastal mountain ranges. –Contains plateaus, basins, and deserts. –Cattle raised here.

12. Rocky Mountain and Coastal Ranges

13. Intermountain Region

14. Regions of the U.S. and Canada Canadian Shield –Flat lands with hills and lakes. –Rich in minerals like gold, iron, copper, uranium. –Not very good for farming.

15. Canadian Shield

16. Physical Processes That Shape North America Glaciers –Were much larger in last ice age. –As they retreated north, they carved out the land. –When ice melted, all the large holes, and valleys filled with water giving us lakes and rivers. Erosion –Constant wind and water wear down rock into formations. –Grand Canyon is an example.

17. Waterways North America has extensive river system. –Longest rivers in the U.S. are the Mississippi and the Missouri. –Longest river in Canada is the Mackenzie River –River systems empty into oceans, lakes, and seas.