Download I Want It

Day
6-7
Standard
3.G.1.2 Compare the
human and physical
characteristics of places.
Essential Question
What is unique about
your community?
Lesson
Community Information
What makes NC unique?
What is unique about
each region?
NC Regions Information
What makes the United
States unique?
Day
10
3.G.1.3 Exemplify how
people adapt to, change
and protect the
environment to meet their
needs.
3.G.1.3 Exemplify how
people adapt to, change
and protect the
environment to meet their
needs.
What is an artifact?
Powerpoint:

Geography
PowerPoint;

North Carolina ;
Unique or Not?
If needed, teacher
informational Handout
US Regions
Days
8-9
Teacher Preparation
Guiding Questions for
Research
US Regions Research
Artifact Scavenger Hunt Artifacts Analysis
Worksheet
What information can
be learned from an
artifact?
What limitations could Research Activity –
affect a dream house
“I Want It!”
in the mountains?
Artifacts
Access to information
about Biltmore Estate
Assessment
Create a brochure or
advertisement to encourage
tourists to visit:
A region in NC,
Or
your community,
Or
your state - North Carolina
Or
USA
Compare/contrast artifacts. Do
these items still exist? How have
the items changed? Why do the
items change?
Research findings.
http://www.biltmore.co
m/our_story/our_histor
y/vanderbilt.asp
Teacher Information Resource – Three Regions of North Carolina
North Carolina Mountains
The Appalachian mountain chain runs through the western part of the state, forming the lush landscape of the region. The Great Smoky Mountains in
southwestern North Carolina are one of the country's top natural destinations, and visitors can enjoy 250 miles of the world-famous Blue Ridge Parkway winding
through North Carolina's mountains. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak in the state, and at 6,684 feet, it is also the tallest mountain in the eastern United States.
Two-thirds of North Carolina's mountains are covered with hardwood forests, and in autumn, the over 120 species of trees put on a brilliant display of color. There
are hundreds of waterfalls, and cold mountain streams full of trout. The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians has lived in this area for 11,000 years and native
crafts abound.
Some areas of the region see over 30 inches of snow a year, so skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports are popular activities. Summers are cool and
refreshing with low humidity.
North Carolina Piedmont
Covering nearly one half of North Carolina in the central part of the state, the Piedmont is an area of gently rolling foothills with the occasional boulder or
unexpected rock outcropping. The Piedmont region boasts of one of the most dynamic economies in the United States and is home to the state's largest cities and
biggest financial institutions. Renowned research universities, textile and furniture factories, tobacco farms, shopping meccas, top golf courses and abundant
historic sites are also part of the makeup of the Piedmont.
Here you will find Raleigh, the state’s capital, Charlotte, the largest city and Pinehurst, the Home of American Golf. There’s also the Yadkin Valley, the first
designated American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the state, covering over 1.4 million acres and reaching from the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the eastern
edge of the Piedmont.
Although the area enjoys four distinct seasons, temperatures are mild year round. The average wintertime temperature is about 42 degrees. In summer, it's 77
degrees. The area also enjoys sunshine for about 210 days a year.
North Carolina Coast
Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the North Carolina Coast is a sunny place filled with pristine beaches, giant sand dunes (including Jockey's Ridge, the highest along
the East Coast) and wetlands filled with wildlife and a variety of plants. The defining characteristic of the area is the Outer Banks, a chain of fragile barrier islands 130 miles of unspoiled coastline surrounded by 900 square miles of water.
The area is also full of history, dating back to the 16th century, when the first English settlement was built – and then vanished. There are also sites from preRevolutionary Days through the Civil War. Not to mention the historic lighthouses (including the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which at 208 feet is the tallest brick
lighthouse in the nation). The city of Wilmington is a major US seaport. And, in 1903 the Wright Brothers ushered in the era of flight at Kitty Hawk. The average
annual temperature here is 63 degrees. The growing season lasts 295 days.
“I Want It”
My name is Vanderbilt. I’m a millionaire and I want to build the largest house ever AND I want to build it in the mountains of North Carolina. I don’t care what
year it is nor do I care about the cost.
I’ve been told that it will be difficult to get the materials to the mountains because of the rugged terrain, but I don’t care. I want what I want, and I want it in the
mountains.
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Since this was his desire, what did Mr. Vanderbilt have to do in order to make his home a reality in the North Carolina mountains?
Some possible starting points to begin research:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What do you need to know about the Asheville area at the time that Vanderbuilt wanted to build?
What were some of the challenges he faced? (Size of home, location, workers...etc)
Would it have been easier to build in the piedmont or the coast? Why?
What problems did his crew encounter?
Sometimes, what we want is not always possible because the physical characteristics don’t work for the location of the structure? Share examples from your
research with your classmates.