THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE U.S.A. AND CANADA

AGENDA APRIL 27, 2010

Political Cartoon Analysis Review the expectations for your homework (map

of U.S. territorial expansion). Quick-writes #1 and #2. Review weathering & erosion from earlier in the

semester. Review the important Key Terms and landforms

for this section in Cornell Notes. Assignments and Homework; Add Geographic Setting and Themes (page 92),

Read to Discover (page 93), & reading notes from 93-97 in your notebook.

Ques. Page 95 and Ques. 2-5, Page 97, in your notebook.

OBJECTIVES APRIL 27, 2010

Students Shall;

Review the results of yesterday’s notebook evaluation.

Demonstrate their ability to list the physical features of the USA.

Examine the physical characteristics of the USA and Canada.

QUICK-WRITE #1, APRIL 27, 2010 Expectations;

In a moment I will show you a photo of a famous American landmark.

When you see it you will 2 minutes to write down as much as you about this landmark.

We will then review your work.

QUICK-WRITE #2, APRIL 27, 2010 With he Grand Canyon, you saw an

example of the great physical features of the United States.

For your second quick-write, you must list as many of the physical features found in this country as you can think of.

So list as many lakes, rivers, mountain ranges, desert, etc. that you can think of.

When you finish this add Geographic Setting and Geographic Themes from page 92 and Read to Discover from page 93.

KEY TERMS AND LANDFORMS REVIEW

Plateau High level surfaces. Examples include the Columbia in the state of Washington and the Colorado Plateau in the 4 corners region.

Mesas Created by erosion and weathering. Natural formations which are high in elevation with a flat top.

Continental Divide

A line which separates the flow of rivers , which flow to opposite ends of the continent. In North America the Rocky Mountains are the continental divide.

Headwaters The source of a river.

Tributaries Small rivers and streams that join into a larger river.

Mountain Ranges

Taller than hills and much more steep and have peak.

Great Plains Is a flat elevated area with no major change in landforms. It begins just east of the Rocky Mountains & continues to the east of North America, covering much of the middle of the continent.

THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE USA & CANADA

Similar Landforms

The USA & Canada combined cover more than 7 million square miles and they share much of the landforms.

Western Mountain Ranges

Running parallel to the Pacific coast of the USA & Canada are a series of mountain ranges, including our local Sierra Nevada mountains.

The Rocky Mountains

Another western mountain range. It stretches across Canada and the USA, from Alaska in the north to New Mexico in the south. Many of its mountains are more than 12,000 feet tall.

Plateaus and Mesas

The area between the Pacific and Rocky Mountains contain many of these high, elevation, surfaces.

Plains Areas A flat, high elevation, region in the middle of the continent.

Eastern Mountain Ranges

The Appalachians, the continents 2nd largest mountains. The oldest mountains in North America, but they have been eroded & weathered away. East of these mountains are lowlands of the Atlantic coast.

THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE USA & CANADAThe Mississippi River

One of the world’s largest rivers and the largest river in North America. It begins near the border of the USA & Canada and after 2,340 miles it ends in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Ice Age and North America’s water supply

Huge glaciers carved and changed the surface of North America. The flow of rivers changed as they followed glaciers. Glaciers also carved out lakes from the Earth’s surface. The Great Lakes are a great example.

Natural Resources of the USA & Canada

Examples of the natural resources include;Gold, copper, silver, iron , oil, natural gas, coal, timber, farmland, and water.

How would you define the term natural resources?