Lesson 1: Geography of the United States

Geography

The study of our natural surroundings and how we

interact with them.

REVIEW MAP

Label all of the Continents Label all of the Oceans Label all major Rivers Label the Equator Label the Prime Meridian Label the Northern Hemisphere Label the Southern Hemisphere Label the Eastern Hemisphere Label the Western Hemisphere *In what hemispheres is North America located?

World Map

• SMART MAP

• http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/

Globe

• The most accurate map of Earth.

Lines of latitude and longitude

LATITUDE• Lines on the map that

circle Earth from EAST to WEST.

LONGITUDE• Lines on the map that run

from the NORTH POLE to the SOUTH POLE.

CHALLENGE

• Find 0 degrees latitude.

• What is this line called? ____________________

• List all of the countries that this line intersects:

CHALLENGE

• Find 0 degrees longitude.

• What is this line called? ____________________

• List all of the countries that this line intersects:

Journaling

• Why do you think the GLOBE is divided into lines of latitude and longitude?

What can you find on a Globe or Map?

Geographic Terms

Words that describe bodies of water and

landforms.

Physical Features

Bodies of water and landforms found on

Earth.

Gulf

• a large inlet of an ocean similar to a bay but often longer and more enclosed by land.

• Example: Gulf of Mexico

Find another

“Gulf.”

Bay

• Curved inlet of sea.• Example: San Francisco Bay

Find another

“Bay.”

Lake

• a large body of water surrounded by land• Example: Lake Michigan

Find another

“Lake.”

Mouth

• the place where a stream or river enters a sea or lake.

• Find: A MOUTH

Source

• the spring or fountain from which a river or stream

begins.

• Find the SOURCE of the Mississippi River.

• Where is it located? __________________

Tributary

• a stream, river, or glacier that joins a larger stream, river, or glacier, or a lake.

Mountain Range

• A series of connected mountains. • Mountain Ranges in North America:

Appalachian Mountains

And ______________

Plains

• Vast, open land.• Name the region of the US that is mainly plains.

Peninsula

• a narrow piece of land that juts out from the mainland into an area of water

• Example: Yucatan Peninsula

Where is this located?

Cape

• a point of land that juts out into water• Example: Cape Cod

Where is this located?

Valley

• a very low area of land that is surrounded by higher ground (mountains).

• Example: Sacred Valley

Where is this located?

Delta

• a triangular area of sand and soil at the mouth of a river.

• Example:

Island

• A piece of land surrounded by water.• Name other Islands!

Sea

• A great (___________) body of saltwater that covers a large portion of the Earth.

• Example: Black Sea

Where is this located?

Map Challenge

• Make your land!• Directions• Rubric