Regions: Our Country’s Regions
Big Idea Activity: How does geography affect the way people live?
Students should choose the sites they would most like to visit because of the surrounding geography. Have the students mark these destinations on a map of the United States. As they learn about other regions, ask students to think about how a state’s landforms affect its citizens’ lives.
Explore the regions of the United States.
Visit this site for a printable map of the United States.
Ask students how many regions there are in the United States. What defines a region? Discuss the physical features, natural resources, climates, industries, and cultures of each of the six regions. Ask students if they think people in different regions have had to adapt to their environment. How is life in each of the six regions similar and unique?
Writing Activity: Writing Activity
Students will write a 2 paragraph essay answering the Big Idea Question – How does geography affect the way people live?
1. The graphic organizer will be used to list the main ideas that will be in the essay. Complete the graphic organizer as a class or have the students complete it themselves.
2. The writing activity will focus on the regions of the United States. Students should think about how the geography of these regions affect communities in general as well as their own community specifically.
3. Once the graphic organizer has been completed by the students individually or as a group, assign the type of essay that they will write: Descriptive, Narrative or Persuasive.
