Challenge 1: Learning About The Physical Geography Of .

G u i d et oS t u d e n tH a n d o u trcleArctic CiArctic Ocean70 N80 N70 NrcleArctic Ci170 E80 NChallenge 1: Learning About the Physical Geographyof Canada and the United States10 W60 N20 W180 60 N30 W170 WMount McKinley40 W160 W50 NHudsonHudsonBayBay50 W N50150 WCanadian ShieldVancouver Island40 NGreatGreatLakesLakesRocky MountainsPacificOcean140 WGreatBasinBasinSierra Nevada30 NColorado River60 W eanN30 Mississippi RiverNTropicWof CancerEpicSTro20 Nerancof CN20 70 W05001,000 miles70 W05001,000 kilometersLambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection10 N130 W120 W Teachers’ Curriculum Institute10 N110 W100 W90 W80 WCanada and the United States1

G u i d et oS t u d e n tH a n d o u trcleArctic Ci70 N80 N80 N70 NArctic CircleChallenge 2: Learning About the Human Geographyof Canada and the United States170 E60 NA R C T I C10 WO C E A N20 W180 60 N30 W170 WAlaska(U.S.)40 WYukonTerritory160 WNunavutNorthwest TerritoriesNewfoundlandand Labrador50 NBritishColumbia150 W50 W 0Vermont MaineWashington NMontanaOregonIdahoWyoming140 WP A C I F I CNorthDakotaUtahCalifornia30 WisconsinNew YorkMichiganSouthDakotaPennsylvaniaIowaUNITED STATESNevadaColoradoKansasNArizonapicWof LouisianaWestVirginiaVirginiaMassachusettsRhode IslandConnecticutNew JerseyDelawareMarylandWashington, D.C.NorthCarolinaSouthCarolinaN30 GeorgiaAT L A N T I ppiNTroNewMexico60 WNova ScotiaN0 New Hampshire 4MinnesotaNebraskaO C E A NPrinceEdwardIslandNewBrunswickpicSTro20 Nerancof CN20 70 W010 N5001,000 miles70 W05001,000 kilometersLambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection130 W120 W10 N110 W100 W90 W80 WTCI5 424GA ML LG 02-GCH-2.epsThird proof Teachers’ Curriculum InstituteCanada and the United States2

G u i d et oS t u d e n tH a n d o u tChallenge 3: Using Geography Skills to Answer “Where?”Question1Circle the thematic map you used. Then answer the question in complete sentences.Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityThe northeastern coast of the United States is the largest densely populated area in thisregion. It includes Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.2Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityCalifornia is the state that has arid, semiarid, Mediterranean, highlands, and marine westcoast climates.3Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityPetroleum (oil) is the resource that is most abundant in Texas, Alaska, and Alberta. Texasappears to have the most of this resource.4Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityAlaska, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut all have subarctic and tundraclimates and include land that is both north and south of the Arctic Circle.5Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityTemperate grassland is the most common type of vegetation in the central area of southernCanada and the United States. The United States has more land with temperate grasslands.6Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityForestry, trade and manufacturing, commercial farming, and commercial fishing occur alongboth the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Canada and the United States.7Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityVancouver Island on Canada’s west coast has a population density that ranges from under2 to as many as 250 people per square mile.8Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityThe Great Lakes (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario) makeup the largest body of fresh water in North America.9Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityOntario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island are entirely covered in forests.They have deciduous forests, mixed forests, and coniferous forests.10Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityThe Rocky Mountains run through Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, British Columbia,Alberta, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas(students may list any ten of these). Teachers’ Curriculum InstituteCanada and the United States3

G u i d et oS t u d e n tH a n d o u tChallenge 4: Using Geography Skills to Answer “Why There?”Question1Circle the thematic map you used. Then answer the question in complete sentences.Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityMost hydroelectric power in Canada and the United States is produced in Washington,British Columbia, and Quebec. All three states and provinces have rivers where dams canbe built to produce power.2Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityCalifornia has several mild climate zones, so it is mostly warm year-round. California also has avariety of economic activities (trade and manufacturing, farming, fishing, and livestock raising). Both factors might attract a large population. Nunavut, on the other hand, is very cold, withsubarctic and tundra climates. There is little work for people, since the land is used mainly forhunting and gathering.3Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityThe least populated area of the continental United States is the Rocky Mountains andGreat Basin. This area has a very high elevation, generally over 5,000 feet and sometimesover 10,000 feet. The areas of lower elevation are in a desert scrub vegetation zone, whichmight not be very habitable.4Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityToronto, with a population of over 4 million people, is Canada’s largest city. The city has a fairlymild humid continental climate, which is warmer than much of the rest of Canada. The cityis located within a trade and manufacturing area of Canada, which would provide a lot of jobsfor people.5Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityThe farmer likely lives near New Orleans, which has a humid subtropical climate and tropicalgrassland for growing warm-weather crops like sugarcane. New Orleans is a densely populatedcity on the Mississippi River, near the Gulf of Mexico, where a person can sail year-round.6Physical FeaturesClimate ZonesVegetation ZonesPopulation DensityEconomic ActivityThe person might live in Los Angeles, which matches the description: an urban area of morethan 4 million people, and a major trade and manufacturing center, with commercial fishingoffshore. The city is surrounded by the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada, with beaches onthe Pacific Ocean. The Mediterranean climate makes the area mild with some rain. The vegetation zone is chaparral. Teachers’ Curriculum InstituteCanada and the United States4

G u i d et oS t u d e n tH a n d o u tChallenge 5: Using Maps to Analyze a Field PhotographThematicMapLocation ALocation BLocation C(40 north, 74 west)(76 north, 80 west)(60 north, 147 west)PhysicalFeatures located on New Jerseycoast located on flat coastal plainalong the Atlantic Ocean elevation between 0 and1,000 feet above sea level located on Ellesmere Island located on Baffin Bay, insidethe Arctic Circle mountainous area, withelevation between 2,001and 5,000 feet abovesea level located near an island in theGulf of Alaska surrounded by the AlaskaRange elevation between 0 and1,000 feet above sea levelClimateZones located in humid subtropicalclimate zone located in tundraclimate zone located in subarcticclimate zoneVegetationZones located in coniferous forestvegetation zone located in ice capvegetation zone located in coniferous forestvegetation zone, surrounded by ice cap zonePopulationDensity population density over250 people per square mile large urban centers nearby(New York, Philadelphia,Washington, D.C.) population density under2 people per square mile no urban centers nearby population density under2 people per square mile no urban centers nearbyEconomicActivity trade and manufacturing commercial fishing alongthe coast little or no economic activity hunting and gathering petroleum nearby forestry nearby Teachers’ Curriculum InstituteCanada and the United States5

G u i d et oS t u d e n tH a n d o u tChallenge 5: Using Maps to Analyze a Field PhotographC .We think the field photograph best matches LocationSupporting-evidence statements:climate zones1. From themap, we learned that this location is in a subarctic climate zone.In the field photograph, we see that even though it seems to be a nice day, the man is wearing a sweater,scarf, hat, and gloves. Also there is snow on the mountains.vegetation zones2. From themap, we learned that this location is near an island with coniferousforests, but surrounded by ice cap.In the field photograph, we see mountains with trees, but also with snow.economic activity3. From themap, we learned that this location is near petroleum resources.In the field photograph, we see a man holding an oar covered in oil. He appears to be cleaning up an oil spill.The red float is containing the oil-covered water. Outside the float, the water looks clean.population density4. From themap, we learned that this location has a population density of under2 people per square mile. Another possible answer: From the physical features map, we learned that thislocation is near an island with an elevation between 0 and 1,000 feet, surrounded by mountains, near theGulf of Alaska.In the field photograph, we see no buildings or houses on the land beyond the boat, suggesting that notmany people live in this area. Another possible answer: In the field photograph, we see a man in a boat on alarge body of water, with low mountains behind him. Teachers’ Curriculum InstituteCanada and the United States6

Challenge 1: Learning About the Physical Geography of Canada and the United States Great Basin Rocky Mountains Colorado River Canadian Shield Hudson Bay Great Lakes Great Plains Mississippi River Arctic Ocean Great Plains Sierra Nevada Great Lakes Bay Mount 40 WMcKinley Vancouver Island Appalachian Mountains 30 N 40 N 50 N 20 N Tropic of .