Discovering the World of Geography Grades 6 7 By Myrl Shireman COPYRIGHT 2003 Mark Twain Media, Inc. ISBN 978-1-58037-790-4 Printing No. 1575-EB Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers Distributed by Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc. The purchase of this book entitles the buyer to reproduce the student pages for classroom use only. Other permissions may be obtained by writing Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
Table of Contents Table of Contents Introduction...1 National Geography Standards...2 Unit 1: Political Geography of Western Hemisphere Nations...3 A. Western Hemisphere...3 B. Canadian Provinces/Territories and Capitals...4 C. The United States and Capitals...7 D. Central American Countries and Capitals...13 E. West Indies (Caribbean) Countries and Capitals...15 F. South American Countries and Capitals...17 G. Identifying and Locating Countries...20 Unit 2: Population and Area of Western Hemisphere Nations...21 A. Area...21 B. Population...21 C. Comparing the Areas of Countries...23 D. Comparing the Populations of Countries...23 E. Comparing the Populations and Areas of Countries...26 Unit 3: Physical Features of the Western Hemisphere...28 A. Rivers...28 B. Mountains and Volcanoes...30 C. Plains and Valleys...33 D. Plateaus...33 E. Lakes, Seas, Gulfs, and Bays...35 F. Physical Features Pretest Practice/ Test...37 Unit 4: Using Latitude and Longitude...39 Unit 5: Climate in the Western Hemisphere...44 A. Tundra Climate...44 b. Subarctic Climate (Taiga)...46 C. Humid Continental Climate...47 D. Humid Subtropical Climate...48 E. Steppe or Semiarid Climate...51 F. Desert Climate...52 G. Highland Climate...52 H. Mediterranean Climate...54 I. West Coast Marine Climate...56 J. Tropical Rain Forest Climate...58 K. Tropical Savanna...58 L. Identifying Climates...60 M. Climates Pretest Practice/Test...61 Unit 6: Major Cities of the Western Hemisphere...63 Unit 7: Agriculture in the Western Hemisphere...69 A. Tropical Crops...69 B. Mid-latitude Crops...73 Unit 8: Natural Resources of the Western Hemisphere...78 A. Oil...78 B. Iron Ore...78 C. Copper...79 D. Bauxite...79 E. Coal...79 F. Forests...79 Unit 9: Central America and the West Indies...83 A. Central America...83 B. The West Indies...85 Unit 10: Which Country, State, Province, or Territory Is Described?...89 Unit 11: Where Are You? What Are the Physical and Human Characteristics?...97 Unit 12: Solve These Problems (Problems Relating to Standards)...101 Answer Keys...118 Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers ii
Introduction Introduction The eighteen National Geography Standards identify the skills and knowledge needed by United States students. The standards are designed to make students in the United States competitive on an international basis. This book is written to support teachers efforts to help students in grades six or seven become more competitive on an international level. Because the book is only 128 pages, it has been necessary to design learning activities that are teacher-friendly and develop a selected skill and knowledge base that can be applied to selected performance standards. Additional skills, knowledge, and performance standards will be incorporated in a book on the Eastern Hemisphere for grades seven or eight. The first nine chapters are devoted to building the students skills and knowledge as they apply to the nations in the Western Hemisphere. Student activities, followed by pretest practice and a test format, are used to ensure student mastery of a solid skill and knowledge base. The pretests and final tests are designed to be administered following students completion of each chapter. Individual teachers may choose to use the tests in a different manner. The pretest is designed to prompt students to the correct answer. The final test for each chapter is in a traditional multiple-choice format. To successfully complete Chapters 10, 11, and 12, students must apply the skills and knowledge learned in the first nine chapters. These chapters are designed to develop each student s ability to question the relationship among people, places, and the environment. These chapters will hopefully help students become more competent in geography by learning to ask appropriate questions, analyze geographic information, present geographic information, and to form generalizations. Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers 1
National Geography Standards National Geography Standards Teachers leading discussions while completing units and activities is a prerequisite for accomplishing the standards. Inquiry discussion is important: What do you know? How are things alike and not alike? Why do you think that? National Standard 1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information This standard is addressed through map, chart, and graph activities in a number of chapters. Unit 4 and Unit 12: Problems 1, 4, and 13 specifically address this standard. National Standard 4: The physical and human characteristics of place This standard is addressed in activities throughout the book. Unit 10, Unit 11, and Unit 12: Problems 2, 7, and 11 specifically address this standard. National Standard 9: The characteristics, distributions, and migrations of human populations on Earth s surface Activities in Unit 2 address this standard as students learn about the populations of Western Hemisphere nations. Unit 12: Problem 10 specifically addresses this standard. National Standard 10: The character, distribution, and complexity of Earth s cultural mosaics This standard is specifically addressed in Unit 12: Problem 13. National Standard 11: The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth s surface This standard is addressed in Unit 7 and Unit 8 as students learn of the agriculture and natural resources of Western Hemisphere nations. Unit 12: Problems 8 and 9 specifically address this standard. National Standard 12: The process, patterns, and functions of human settlement Throughout the book, students address this standard as they learn how physical features, natural resources, agriculture, and climate affect human settlement. The standard is specifically addressed in Unit 12: Problems 5 and 6. National Standard 15: How physical systems affect human systems This standard is addressed in Units 3 and 5 as students learn how physical features affect the climate and the desirability of a region for settlement, transportation, commerce, and agriculture. Unit 12: Problems 3, 6, and 12 specifically address this standard. Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers 2
Name: Date: Unit 1: Political Geography Unit 1: Political Geography of Western Hemisphere Nations A. Western Hemisphere Using Map 1 and an atlas, complete the following. You will need colored pens or pencils for this activity. 1. The number 1 locates Canada. Color it blue. 2. The number 2 locates the United States. Color it red. 3. The number 3 locates Mexico. Color it yellow. 4. The number 4 locates Central America. Color it orange. 5. The number 5 locates the West Indies (Caribbean Islands). Color it brown. 6. The number 6 locates South America. Color it purple. Map 1 2 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers 3
Unit 1: Political Geography Name: Date: Unit 1: Political Geography of Western Hemisphere Nations B. Canadian Provinces/Territories and Capitals Canada is a nation made up of provinces and territories. Each province and territory has a capital city. Using Map 2 and an atlas, complete the following about Canada s provinces and territories. Place the number by the province or territory on the map to show its location. Provinces and Territories 1. British Columbia 2. Ontario 3. Prince Edward Island 4. Alberta 5. Quebec 6. Nova Scotia 7. Saskatchewan 8. Newfoundland 9. Manitoba 10. New Brunswick 11. Yukon Territory 12. Northwest Territories 13. Nunavut Territory A dot on Map 2 locates the capital of each Canadian province or territory. Place the letter of the capital city next to the corresponding dot on the map. Capital Cities a. Charlottetown b. St. John s c. Halifax d. Fredericton e. Quebec f. Toronto g. Winnipeg h. Regina i. Edmonton j. Victoria k. Whitehorse l. Yellowknife m. Iqaluit Pretest Practice Use the names of the above capital cities to fill in the blanks. 1. The capital of British Columbia is. 2. The capital of Ontario is. 3. The capital of Prince Edward Island is. 4. The capital of Alberta is. 5. The capital of Quebec is. 6. The capital of Nova Scotia is. 7. The capital of Saskatchewan is. 8. The capital of Newfoundland is. 9. The capital of Manitoba is. 10. The capital of New Brunswick is. 11. The capital of the Yukon Territory is. 12. The capital of the Northwest Territories is. 13. The capital of Nunavut Territory is. Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers 4
Name: Date: Unit 1: Political Geography Unit 1: Political Geography of Western Hemisphere Nations B. Canadian Provinces/Territories and Capitals (cont.) Map 2 B. Canadian Provinces/Territories and Capitals Test Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers 5
Name: Date: Unit 1: Political Geography Unit 1: Political Geography of Western Hemisphere Nations Circle the letter of the correct answer. 1. The capital of British Columbia is a) Edmonton b) Victoria c) Quebec d) Yellowknife. 2. The capital of Ontario is a) Toronto b) Regina c) Quebec d) Fredericton. 3. The capital of Prince Edward Island is a) Iqaluit b) Toronto c) Halifax d) Charlottetown. 4. The capital of Alberta is a) Edmonton b) Victoria c) Whitehorse d) Yellowknife. 5. The capital of Quebec is a) Quebec b) Regina c) Iqaluit d) Toronto. 6. The capital of Nova Scotia is a) Edmonton b) Halifax c) Quebec d) St. John s. 7. The capital of Saskatchewan is a) Quebec b) Winnipeg c) Iqaluit d) Regina. 8. The capital of Newfoundland is a) Yellowknife b) Regina c) Victoria d) St. John s. 9. The capital of Manitoba is a) Iqaluit b) St. John s c) Halifax d) Winnipeg. 10. The capital of New Brunswick is a) Edmonton b) Victoria c) Fredericton d) Quebec. 11. The capital of the Yukon Territory is a) Whitehorse b) Winnipeg c) Iqaluit d) Regina. 12. The capital of the Northwest Territories is a) Regina b) Victoria c) Quebec d) Yellowknife. 13. The capital of Nunavut Territory is a) Quebec b) Winnipeg c) Iqaluit d) Regina. Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers 6