1 | G e o g r a p h y

Unit 1: Geography

ONLINE RESOURCES

CLASS WEBSITE: HTTPS://MRYOUNGTMS.WEEBLY.COM/GEOGRAPHY.HTML

QUIZLET GAMES: HTTPS://QUIZLET.COM/JOIN/MSFYY94T5

2 | G e o g r a p h y

Continents and Oceans The Seven Continents

A continent is one of Earth’s seven major areas of land. From largest to smallest in land area, the continents are

Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.

Europe is usually considered a separate continent, even though it shares a long border with Asia. Sometimes,

Europe and Asia are grouped together as one continent called Eurasia.

Geographers use an imaginary line called the equator to divide Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern

Hemisphere. The equator is located halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole. Another imaginary line,

the prime meridian, runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. The prime meridian is used to divide the Earth

into the Western Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere.

The Five Oceans

About three-fourths of Earth is covered by water. Most of Earth’s water is in the five oceans. From the largest to

the smallest, the five oceans are the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and

the Arctic Ocean.

The Pacific Ocean is much bigger and deeper than the other oceans. It covers nearly one-third of Earth’s surface.

In fact, the Pacific Ocean is bigger that all seven continents put together. It is almost twice the size of the Atlantic

Ocean.

Like the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean is one of the world’s busiest transportation routes. For years, ships had

to go around South America to get from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Since 1914, however, ships have

been able to use the Panama Canal, which runs across the country of Panama in Central America. A canal is a

human-made waterway dug across the land.

The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean. For many years, it has formed an important transportation route that

links Africa, Asia, and Australia. Today ships from Europe and the American can reach the Indian Ocean through

the Mediterranean Sea by using the Suez Canal in Egypt.

The Arctic Ocean is the northernmost ocean. It is also the smallest and shallowest. The Arctic Ocean is

surrounded by North America, Europe, and Asia. It is located opposite from the Southern Ocean.

The Southern Ocean is the southernmost ocean. It surrounds Antarctica. The Southern and Arctic Oceans are

both covered with huge areas of packed ice. Because of these icy conditions, they are the least travelled oceans.

3 | G e o g r a p h y

Continents and Oceans Map Directions:

1. Label each continent.

2. Label each ocean.

3. Color the continents green or brown

4. Color the oceans blue

4 | G e o g r a p h y

Looking at Geographic Features Geographers uses different types of maps to show different kinds of information. Two main categories of physical

features found on maps are water-related and land-related.

Water-Related

Mapmakers add colors, markings, and symbols to show different geographic features. Water-related features are

often shown in blue on maps. Important water related features include:

Ocean – a huge body of salty water

Lakes – bodies of water which are completely surrounded by land

Rivers – large streams of water that flow along a certain path

Tributaries – rivers or streams that flow into larger bodies of water

Gulfs or bays – areas of ocean or sea that are partially surrounded by land

Land-Related

Most land-related features on maps are usually

shown by shades of green or brown. Green

indicates areas where many grasses or trees grow,

and brown indicates deserts or other dry areas.

Areas covered by ice are often shown in white.

Important land features include:

Mountains – large masses of land that rise above the surrounding land

Hills – area of land, usually rounded in shape, that is higher than the surrounding land but not as high as a mountain

Plains – large flat areas of land with very few trees

Plateaus – areas of flat land rising above the surrounding land

Islands – bodies of land which are completely surrounded by water

Peninsulas – pieces of land that are mostly surrounded by water or that extend into a body of water

Impact on History

Geographic features such as landforms, bodies of water, climate – weather over time, and natural resources –

items in nature people use to meet their need have affected the locations of many cities and towns. In the past,

most people settled in the plains or rolling hills where the soil was good for farming. Fewer people settled in

desert or mountainous regions. Cities are often found near waterways or other transportation routes such as

railroads or highways. Those transportation routes make it easier for people to travel and ship goods.

In the past, most land in the United States was used for agriculture or farming. Most farming took place on the

flat land near the Atlantic Coast, or in the middle of the United States on rolling hills. Here the land is usually

fertile, good for farming, and there is enough water for crops to grow.

Many people along waterways have worked in fishing and shipping businesses. For years, people have made their

living by catching many kinds of saltwater fish and shellfish off the ocean coasts. Freshwater fishing has been an

important business near the Great Lakes.

The location of cities and towns, agricultural areas, and fishing industries all began and grew along trade routes in

the United States. These trade routes allowed people to interact with each other and get the items the needed or

wanted.

5 | G e o g r a p h y

Geographic Features Illustrations

Directions:

1. Write a definition next to each word.

2. Draw and color an illustration for each geographic feature.

Lakes – Hills –

Rivers – Plains –

Tributaries – Plateaus –

Gulfs or Bays – Islands –

Mountains – Peninsulas –

6 | G e o g r a p h y

Geographic Regions Map Directions: Use the maps on pages 14-21 of the textbook to correctly label each geographic region. Follow these

steps:

1. Draw a compass rose in the square on the bottom left.

2. Color each square a different color

3. Color the map according to the key you created.

Coastal Range Interior Lowlands

Basin and Range Canadian Shield

Rocky Mountains Appalachian Mountains

Great Plains Coastal Plains

7 | G e o g r a p h y

Geographic Regions Characteristics North America is a large continent with many different regions, or areas with distinctive characteristics that make them different from other areas. A geographic region is an area that has similar geographic features.

Coastal Range

The Coastal Range region is made up of rugged (jagged) mountain ranges

that extend west of the Basin and Range region, from California to Canada.

There are large valleys that lie east of these mountains. The soil in these

valleys is fertile or good for farming.

Basin and Range

The Basin and Range region lies between the Coastal Range

region to the west and the Rocky Mountain region to the east.

This region is an area of varying elevations and isolated mountain

ranges. The Great Basin is in the middle part of this region. A

basin is a low, bowl shaped area with higher ground around it. It

contains Death Valley, the lowest point in North America. Death

Valley is also one of the hottest and driest places in the United

States.

Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountain region is between the Basin and Range region

to the west and the Interior Great Plains region to the east. They

extend from New Mexico through Canada and into Alaska. The

Rocky Mountains are much younger than the Appalachian

Mountains. They have rugged, jagged peaks that have not been

worn down. An imaginary line called the Continental Divide runs

north and south along the peaks of the Rockies. The continental

divide determines if rivers flow west to the Pacific Ocean or east to

the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.

Great Plains

The Great Plains regions lies between the Rocky

Mountains region to the west and the Interior

Lowlands region to the east. This area is known

for large grasslands and wheat fields. The Great

Plains is mostly flat and dry with few rivers and

almost no trees. Although the land if mostly flat,

its elevation or height gradually increases

westward toward the Rocky Mountains.

8 | G e o g r a p h y

Interior Lowlands

The Interior Lowland region is between the Great Plains region to the

west and the Appalachian Mountains region to the east. The land of

the Interior Lowland region is mostly flat with some rolling hills. The

region also has many river and broad or wide valleys. There are more

trees in the eastern part of this region where rainfall is more plentiful.

Farther west, the region is drier and mostly grassland.

Canadian Shield

The Canadian Shield region is a rocky, horseshoe-shaped region

that wraps around the Hudson Bay in Canada. The region covers

nearly half of Canada. The mountains of the Canadian Shield were

eroded into low hills by slow moving sheets of ice called glaciers.

In other places, glaciers carved out hundreds of lakes. Today,

evergreen trees grow in the southern part of the Canadian Shield.

The northern part of the Canadian Shield is a tundra, or a cold, dry

treeless plain.

Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachian Mountain region is located between the

Interior Lowland region to the west and the Coastal Plain

region to the east. It extends from western Alabama to

Canada. The region has tree-covered mountains. They are

the oldest mountains in North America. Over time, their

peaks have been worn down by wind, ice, and water. This

gradual wearing away is called erosion. The rolling hills and

valleys of the Piedmont area lie on the east side of the

Appalachians. Piedmont means “at the foot of the

mountain.”

Coastal Plains

The Coastal Plains region is located along the Atlantic Ocean

and Gulf of Mexico. The land of this region is mostly low and

flat and there are many pine forests. The coastline has many

excellent harbors. A harbor is a protected area of water

where ships can dock safely. Some of these harbors include

New York Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Tampa Bay, and Mobile Bay.

9 | G e o g r a p h y

Geographic Region Characteristics Flip Maps Directions: Use the notes from pages 7-8 to write the location and geographic features (characteristics) for each

geographic region.

10 | G e o g r a p h y

Important Bodies of Water to US History Map Directions:

1. Draw a compass rose in the square on the bottom right.

2. Label the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico in the correct location on the map.

3. Write the following one next to each little square on the bottom left: Great Lakes, Mississippi River,

Missouri River, Ohio River, St Lawrence River, Columbia River, Colorado River, and Rio Grande.

4. Color each little square a different color.

5. Color the Great Lakes the color you chose according to the key.

6. Trace each river the color you chose according to the key.

11 | G e o g r a p h y

Important Bodies of Water to US History Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean separates North and South America from Europe and Africa. It has been used like a “watery

highway” for explorers and early settlers. It was later used by immigrants from Europe as they traveled to the

United States for a new life. Africans were also transported across the Atlantic Ocean as enslaved people on slave

ships.

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean separates North and South America from Asia and Australia. It is the

Earth’s largest ocean. It was an early destination for explorers as they searched for a

shorter and faster way to reach Southeast Asia.

The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are located on the Northern border of the United

States with Canada. There are five lakes that make up the Great

Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, and

Lake Erie. Many inland, away from the coast ports grew along the

Great Lakes. A port is city or town where ships can load or unload

cargo. Some of these cities include Chicago, Illinois, Detroit

Michigan, and Cleveland Ohio.

The Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is located south of the United States between the Florida peninsula and Mexico. This body of

water was used by explorers from Spain and other European countries to explore into Mexico and the

Southwestern United States.

The Mississippi River

The Mississippi River flows south through the middle of the United States emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. It is

the most famous river in the United States. The Mississippi River was used to transport farm and industrial

products. Ships also use this river as a link to get to and from other parts of the world.

The Missouri River

The Missouri River flows southeast through the Rocky Mountains

and Great Plains becoming a tributary of the Mississippi River. The

Missouri River is the longest river in North America. Like the

Mississippi River, the Missouri river was used to transport farm and

industrial products.

12 | G e o g r a p h y

The Ohio River

The Ohio River flows southwest from Pennsylvania through Ohio also

becoming a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Ohio River was the gateway

to the west for early Americans when the western boundary of the United

States was the Mississippi River after the Revolutionary War.

The Saint Lawrence River

The Saint Lawrence River is located in the northeast area of the United States. It flows northeast towards the

Atlantic Ocean. This river forms part of the border between the United States and Canada. The Saint Lawrence

River connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.

The Columbia River

The Columbia River is located in the northwestern part of the United States. It flows west out of the Rocky

Mountains and Basin and Range region to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark explored this river as they mapped

the Louisiana Purchase when Thomas Jefferson was president of the United States.

The Colorado River

The Colorado River flows southwest towards the Pacific Ocean. The Grand

Canyon was carved by the Colorado River. It was explored and mapped by

the Spanish.

The Rio Grande

The Rio Grande is located on part of the southern border of the United States. A large number people in this area

use this river for water. It forms a natural border between the United States and Mexico.

Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana

13 | G e o g r a p h y

Important Bodies of Water to US History Chart Directions: Use the information on the pages 11-12 to complete the chart below.

BODIES OF WATER NAME/NAMES IMPORTANCE TO UNITED STATES HISTORY

MAJOR OCEANS

GULF

MAJOR RIVERS

LAKES

14 | G e o g r a p h y

Finding Location To help people find the absolute location of placed on globes and maps, mapmakers add lines that intersect or

cross each other. These lines from a pattern of squares called a grid system.

Latitude

The lines that run east to west are called parallels of latitude. These imaginary lines are measured in degrees

north and south of the equator. The equator is labeled 0ᵒ, or zero degrees. Parallels north of the equator are

marked N for north. Parallels south of it are marked S for south. Parallels of latitude never touch or intersect with

each other.

Directions: Write the latitude for each letter on the map below. Don’t for get to use ᵒ for degrees and N or S for

north or south.

A. _______________

B. _______________

C. _______________

D. _______________

E. _______________

F. _______________

G. _______________

H. _______________

I. _______________

J. _______________

Place a mark on North America for the approximate location of Virginia. Write the latitude on the line.

_____________________

15 | G e o g r a p h y

Longitude

The lines that run north and south are called meridians of longitude. These imaginary lines are measured in

degrees east and west of the prime meridian. The prime meridian is labeled 0ᵒ, or zero degrees. Meridians west

of the prime meridian are marked with a W for west. Meridians east of it are marked with an E for east. Meridian

meet at the North and South Poles and are not equidistant from each other.

Directions: Write the longitude for each letter on the map below. Don’t for get to use ᵒ for degrees and W or E

for north or south. Follow the curve of the line for an accurate measurement.

A. _______________

B. _______________

C. _______________

D. _______________

E. _______________

F. _______________

G. _______________

H. _______________

I. _______________

J. _______________

Place a mark on North America for the approximate location of Virginia. Write the longitude on the line.

_____________________

16 | G e o g r a p h y

Latitude and Longitude

To describe a place’s absolute location, give the parallel of latitude first and then the meridian of longitude. For

example, the place at 60ᵒN, 120ᵒW is located where the lines of 60ᵒN and 120ᵒW intersect or meet in North

America.

Directions: Write the absolute location for each United States city below. Be sure to name the parallel of latitude

first and the meridian of longitude second. Also, be certain to use the ᵒ symbol and the correct letter for N, E, S,

W.

1. Portland, Oregon: _________________________

2. Phoenix, Arizona: _________________________

3. Denver, Colorado _________________________

4. Fargo, North Dakota _________________________

5. Houston, Texas _________________________

6. Niagara Falls, New York _________________________

7. Raleigh, North Carolina _________________________

8. Miami, Florida _________________________

9. Boston, Massachusetts _________________________

10. Yorktown, Virginia _________________________

17 | G e o g r a p h y

Study Guide – Geography Quiz 1 and Test Continents and Oceans

Continents Oceans

Africa Arctic

Antarctica Atlantic

Asia* Indian

Australia Pacific

Europe* Southern

North America

South America

*Note: Europe and Asia are considered continents even though it is not entirely surrounded by water. The land mass is frequently called Eurasia.

Geographic Features

Land-Related Water Related

Mountains – large masses of land that rise above the surrounding land

Lakes – body of water completely surrounded by land

Hills – area of land, usually rounded in shape, that is higher than the surrounding land

Rivers – large streams of water that flow along a certain path

Plains – large areas of flat land with very few trees Tributaries – rivers or streams that flow into larger bodies of water

Plateaus – areas of flat land rising above the surrounding land

Gulfs and bays – areas of ocean or sea that are partially surrounded by land

Peninsulas - body of land surrounded by water on three sides

Oceans – large body of salty water

Islands – bodies of land completely surrounded by water

Geographic features have an impact on patterns of trade, the location of cities and towns, the ability to move west, and agricultural (farming) and fishing industries

Atlantic

Ocean Pacific

Ocean

Arctic

Ocean

Indian

Ocean

Southern

Ocean

Pacific

Ocean

18 | G e o g r a p h y

Study Guide – Geography Quiz 2 and Test Geographic Regions

Region Name Location and Physical Characteristics

1. Coastal Range – Located along the Pacific Coast, stretching from California to Canada – Rugged mountains and fertile valleys

2. Basin and Range – Located west of the Rocky Mountains and east of the Coastal Range – Varying elevations containing isolated mountain ranges and Death Valley,

the lowest point in North America

3. Rocky Mountains – Located west of the Great Plains and east of the Basin and Range – Rugged mountains stretching from Alaska almost to Mexico; high

elevations – Contains the Continental Divide, which determines the directional flow of

rivers

4. Great Plains – Located west of the Interior Lowlands and east of the Rocky Mountains – Flat lands that gradually increase in elevation westward; grasslands

5. Interior Lowlands – Located west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Great Plains – Rolling flatlands with many rivers, broad river valleys, and grassy hills

6. Canadian Shield – Wrapped around the Hudson Bay in a horseshoe shape – Hills worn by erosion and hundreds of lakes carved by glaciers

7. Appalachian Mountains – Located west of the Coastal Plain, extending from eastern Canada to western Alabama; includes the Piedmont

– Old, eroded mountains (oldest mountain range in North America)

8. Coastal Plains – Located along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico – Broad lowlands providing many excellent harbors

The numbers on the map below go with the numbers on the chart above.

6

1 3

5

2 4

7

8

19 | G e o g r a p h y

Important Bodies of Water to United States History

BODIES OF WATER NAME/NAMES IMPORTANCE TO UNITED STATES HISTORY

MAJOR OCEANS

1. Atlantic Served as the highway for explorers, early settlers, and later immigrants.

2. Pacific Early exploration destination.

GULF 3. Gulf of Mexico Provided the French and Spanish with exploration routes to

Mexico and other parts of America

MAJOR RIVERS

4. Columbia River Explored by Lewis and Clark

5. Colorado River Explored by the Spanish

6. Rio Grande Forms the border with Mexico

7. Missouri River Used to transport farm and industrial products and links to United States ports and other parts of the world

8. Mississippi River Used to transport farm and industrial products and links to United States ports and other parts of the world

9. Saint Lawrence River Forms part of the northeastern border with Canada and connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean

10. Ohio River gateway to the west for early settlers

LAKES 11. Great Lakes Inland port cities grew where ships can load and unload

cargo

The numbers on the map below go with the numbers in the chart above.

1

9

2

6

5

4 8 7

11

10

3

8