Download Physical Features of the United States

Physical Features of the
United States
Geography
Mr. Napier
Standards
• A. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact
on Canada and the U.S.
• B. Describe the major climates of Canada and the U.S. and how
they affect those nations.
• C. Explain the reasons for population distribution in U.S. and
Canada.
• D. Explain how the physical geography of Canada and the U.S.
contributed to regional growth and development.
• E. Describe the ethnic and religious groups in Canada and U.S.;
include major customs and traditions.
• F. Analyze how transportation and communications improvements
led to the growth of industry in the U.S. and the consequences of
such growth, especially environmentally, for both Canada and the
U.S.
What Information can you gather
from a map?
Performance Task #1
• You have been hired by the Chamber of
Commerce of a city in Canada.
• You have one week to prepare a tri-fold
brochure to encourage business and tourism to
the city.
• You have six panels to promote your city. One
panel is the cover. Other five panels should
include interesting sites, major businesses and
products, colleges/education, government, and
transportation infrastructure.
Cities for Performance Task
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Quebec
Toronto
Ottawa
Halifax
Winnipeg
Calgary
Vancouver
Yellowknife
Victoria
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Edmonton
Iqaluit
Thunder Bay
Hamilton
St. John’s
Whitehorse
Montreal
Regina
Hull
Collaborative Pairs
Work with your collaborative partner.
Make a list of 10 important facts you
already know about the geography of
the U.S.
Essential Question
The United States has the highest gross
national product (GNP) in the world.
GNP is the sum of all economic activity in a
country. What nation is #2?
What does being #1 mean about the role the
United States plays in the world economy?
Where are some important physical
features in the United States?
• Physical features are natural landforms
and bodies of water on Earth’s surface.
• Important land physical features in the
United States include:
– The Atlantic Coastal Plain
– The Great Plains
– The Continental Divide
– The Great Basin
– Death Valley
The Atlantic Coastal Plain
• Lowland area borders
the Atlantic Ocean in
the Eastern part of
the United States.
• Has many excellent
harbors.
• Many people live in
this region.
The Great Plains
The Great Plains
The Great Plains
• The Interior plains are a flat area in the
middle of the United States.
• The Great Plains are the western part of
the interior plains.
• The Great Plains are east of the Rocky
Mountains.
• The Great Plains consists of grasslands
with no trees.
The Continental Divide
• High peeks of the rocky
mountains form an
imaginary line called the
backbone of North
America.
• On the eastern side of
the Continental Divide,
rivers flow toward the
Atlantic Ocean or the
Gulf of Mexico.
• On the Western side of
the Continental Divide,
rivers flow toward the
Pacific Ocean.
The Great Basin
The Great Basin
• This area is west of
the Rocky Mountains
and east of the Sierra
Nevada and Cascade
mountain ranges.
• You will find isolated
mountain ranges as
well as Death Valley –
the lowest point in
North America!
Death Valley
The Lowest Point in
North America!!
Where are some important physical
features in the United States?
• Physical features are natural landforms
and bodies of water on Earth’s surface.
• Important bodies of water in the United
States include:
– The Gulf of Mexico
– The St. Lawrence River
– The Great Lakes
The Gulf of Mexico
• This body of
water is between
the eastern coast
of Mexico and
the Western
coast of Florida.
• It has warmer
water than the
Atlantic Ocean.
St. Lawrence River
St. Lawrence River
• This important river flows
through northeastern Canada.
• It is a major transportation
route for large ships bringing
goods into Canada and the
United States.
The Great Lakes
• These five lakes are
located in the
northern part of the
United States
between the U.S
and Canada.
• They are the largest
freshwater lakes in
the world.
Economic Systems Review
• Capitalism – free
enterprise
– Supply and
demand
determines prices
– Consumers are in
control
– “Laissez faire”
– AKA “Market”
• Command
– Communism –
government
controls and makes
central decisions
– Socialism –
Government makes
major decisions
Mixed Economies
Almost every economic system in the world
is a mixed economy with some capitalism
and some command or government control.
Mixed
Economies
around the
world
Essential Question?
• Which economic system is the best?
• What is the ideal economic system?
• Should the government be involved in the
economy?
Political Systems Review
• Democracy – people
make all decisions
– Town Meetings
– Ancient Greece
• Republic – People
elect representatives
– United States
– Canada
Federalism is a compromise!
• But, what is
Federalism?
• Unitary – Central
government
• Confederation –
Local governments
Federalism is a
compromise in the
Constitution which divides
powers between the
national and the state
governments.
Political Vocabulary
Sovereignty – who owns a nation
Totalitarianism – total gov’t control
Dictatorship – one person in control
Monarchy – inherited power – king/queen
Tyranny – Takes over government
Empire – One nation/ruler controls other
nations
7. Constitution – set of rules for the government
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Homework – Chapter 3 section 2
• Read Chapter 3, Section
2 Page 100-105.
• Questions 1, 3, 4.
• Due on 1/21/14
Important man-made features in New
England
• There are many things in the United States that
have been created by man.
• These man-made features include:
– Cities
– Structures like a canal or a dam.
• Some major man-made features in the United
States include:
– New York City
– Boston
– Philadelphia
– Erie Canal
New York City
New York City
• The most populated city in the United
States. 8.33 million people! 468 sq/m
• Located in New York State.
• It is the world center of finance and
business.
• It is located on a large harbor that
helped it to grow as a trade center.
Boston
Boston
• This city is the capital of
Massachusetts.
• It is located on a harbor at the
mouth of the Charles River.
• It is the largest city in the New
England region.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
• This is the largest city in
Pennsylvania.
• It is known as the “birthplace of a the
nation.”
• Both the Declaration of Independence
and the Constitution were written
there.
• The city of “Brotherly Love”.
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal
• This man-made waterway links lake Erie
with the Hudson River in New York.
• It was completed in 1825.
• It allows goods to be transported easily
along the Great Lakes and then further
west.
• It helped make New York City a major
trade center.
Man Made Features
True or False?
• New York City is the largest city in the
United States.
• New York City is not located on a harbor.
• Boston is the capital of Massachusetts.
• The largest city in the New England region
is Providence, Rhode Island.
• Philadelphia is the capital of Pennsylvania.
• The Declaration of Independence was
written in Philadelphia.
Climate of United States and Canada
Temperatures in North America
Precipitation in North America
Questions
• What area of North America receives the
most rainfall?
• How much rain does Atlanta receive each
year?
• Where does rain come from???
• How do mountains impact the amount of
rain an area receives?
• What happens when rain and cold meet?
Review
United States vs. Canada
• Let’s compare the U.S. with Canada.
– How are the nations similar?
– How are the nations different?
• Work with your collaborative partner and
list three answer to each question.
Comparing U.S. and Canada
United States
Canada
• 315,000,000 people
• President
• 35,000,000 people
• Prime Minister
• 81% white, 13% black
• 83% white, 10% Asian
• Largest GNP
• Congress
• Baseball/Football
• #13 in GDP
• Parliament
• Hockey
• 3,794,000 square miles
• U.N. and NAFTA
• 3,855,000 square miles
• U.N., NAFTA and British
Commonwealth
Homework 8-22
• Read pages 181 to 188
• Questions 3, and 6