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United States Regions

Our third grade students learn about the five regions of the United States. According to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, they are expected to label the states of the region on a map, and identify the land, water, climate, products, natural resources, landmarks, and culture of each region.

I created a set of materials for each region, including a 6-page reading "textbook" packet with information about the region, guided reading questions, a study guide, a 30 question quiz, and a scrapbook activity. Below, you can find a description of the activities for teaching the Southeast region. The entire sets of materials for the five regions are available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

While these materials were written to correspond to Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for 3rd grade Social Studies when I couldn't find anything else appropriate for my students, the regions materials are also perfect for 4th, 5th, or 6th graders studying the five regions of the United States.

Southeast Region

We start our journey through the regions close to home. Since we live in the Southeast Region, the students are most familiar with this region. Students begin learning about the Southeast Region by reading the 6 page packet of information we use as a textbook.

 

I assign one section of the "textbook" at a time. First, the students read the information in that section independently. As they read, they answer the guided reading questions in their Anticipation Guide.

 

Then, we read and discuss the section together. I show the pictures from the Southeast region powerpoint as we discuss. Each slide in the powerpoint goes along with the paragraphs from the textbook packet. If you view the speaker's notes, you can see how the slides match the reading.

As we finish reading and discussing each section, students complete a scrapbook about the region. They draw a picture and write a sentence about what they learned.

 

We also use a drag and drop quiz from ThatQuiz.org to practice labeling the states. Students drag the state names onto a map. If you register (free) with ThatQuiz and set up a class, the website will keep track of your students' grades. To import this test into your class list, go to "See Tests", click "Import", and type PWXQ5487 into the code box. We also use the Can You Name the State powerpoint to practice recognizing the shapes of the states.

Another fun online activity is the interactive map from EduPlace. Students use the online map to answer questions. I also give my students a study guide to help them practice labeling the states for the quiz.

 

We also do an art project with Flamingos. This project came from Painted Paper.

 

At the end of the unit, we celebrate the culture of the Southeast region with a feast of fried chicken, grits, and sweet tea.

Northeast Region

After learning about the Southeast Region, we travel up the Atlantic Coast to learn about the Northeast Region. The reading packet, Anticipation Guide, quiz, scrapbook, and study guide for the Northeast Region is available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

 

Other materials and activities for the Northeast Region include:

• PowerPoint Part 1 and PowerPoint Part 2 to use while reading. Each slide in the powerpoint goes along with the paragraphs from the textbook packet. If you view the speaker's notes, you can see how the slides match the reading. Part 1 is Land, Water, and Climate. Part 2 is Products and Resources, Landmarks and Culture.
• Online drag and drop activity of the states in the Northeast Region at ThatQuiz.org. If you register (free) with ThatQuiz and set up a class, the website will keep track of your students' grades. To import this test into your class list, go to "See Tests", click "Import", and type LMWR8908 into the code box.
• "Can You Name the State" powerpoint
• Interactive map activity from EduPlace

• Economics Lessons that relate to the Northeast Region:

• The Color of Resources -- This lesson will demonstrate the making of Crayola products to introduce natural, capital, and human resources as well as touching on some other aspects in the Crayola industry such as producers and consumers. Could tie in with study of the Northeast Region.

  Mystery Workers -- In this lesson students review the concepts of goods, services, and producers using the Internet to locate examples of each in a teacher's classroom. They learn about the three kinds of resources necessary to produce goods and provide services locating examples from a picture tour of the Crayola Factory. Through interviews they learn about the work of the people in their families and draw conclusions from their findings. Finally, they examine a picture of a farmer working in a field to identify examples of natural, human, and capital resources. Could tie in with Northeast Region.

• Art Projects:

• Lighthouses	Cherry Blossoms
  Statue of Liberty	City Skylines

Midwest Region

After learning about the Northeast Region, we travel to America's midsection to learn about the Midwest Region. The reading packet, Anticipation Guide, quiz, scrapbook, and study guide for the Midwest Region is available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

 

Other materials and activities for the Midwest Region include:

• PowerPoint Part 1 and PowerPoint Part 2 to use while reading. Each slide in the powerpoint goes along with the paragraphs from the textbook packet. If you view the speaker's notes, you can see how the slides match the reading. Part 1 is Land, Water, and Climate. Part 2 is Products and Resources, Landmarks and Culture.
• Online drag and drop activity of the states in the Midwest Region at ThatQuiz.org. If you register (free) with ThatQuiz and set up a class, the website will keep track of your students' grades. To import this test into your class list, go to "See Tests", click "Import", and type KEKT5578 into the code box.
• "Can You Name the State" powerpoint
• Interactive map activity from EduPlace

• Economics Lessons that relate to Midwest Region:

• The Mystery of the Amazing Farmers -- In this lesson you will be taking on the role of an an investigative reporter to solve the Amazing Farmer Mystery. The goal will be to use seven clues provided throughout the lesson in order to figure out how so few farmers can produce enough food and fiber for the nation.

• Art Projects:

• Barns and Silos

 

Southwest Region

After learning about the Midwest Region, we travel south again to learn about the Southwest Region. The reading packet, Anticipation Guide, quiz, scrapbook, and study guide for the Southwest Region is available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

 

Other materials and activities for the Southwest Region include:

• PowerPoint to use while reading. Each slide in the powerpoint goes along with the paragraphs from the textbook packet. If you view the speaker's notes, you can see how the slides match the reading.
• Online drag and drop activity of the states in the Southwest Region at ThatQuiz.org. If you register (free) with ThatQuiz and set up a class, the website will keep track of your students' grades. To import this test into your class list, go to "See Tests", click "Import", and type UKYD9734 into the code box.
• Art Projects:

• Grand Canyon Paintings

West Region

After learning about the Southwest Region, we travel to the Pacific Coast to learn about the West Region. The reading packet, Anticipation Guide, quiz, scrapbook, and study guide for the West Region is available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Other materials and activities for the West Region include:

• PowerPoint Part 1, PowerPoint Part 2, and PowerPoint Part 3 to use while reading. Each slide in the powerpoint goes along with the paragraphs from the textbook packet. If you view the speaker's notes, you can see how the slides match the reading. Part 1 is Land, Water, and Climate. Part 2 is Products and Natural Resources. Part 3 is Landmarks and Culture.
• Online drag and drop activity of the states in the West Region at ThatQuiz.org. If you register (free) with ThatQuiz and set up a class, the website will keep track of your students' grades. To import this test into your class list, go to "See Tests", click "Import", and type FZVR3394 into the code box.
• Interactive map activity from EduPlace

• Economics Lessons that relate to the West Region:

• Cowboy Bob Builds A Community -- A cowboy rides into a ghost town and decides that it needs to be rebuilt. Students will select the necessary things that a town needs in order for it to function and grow.

  Economic Spotter: Supply and Demand During the Gold Rush -- During the Gold Rush, people paid exorbitant prices for ordinary objects. Why? Because of the laws of supply and demand, that's why! In the lesson, students will see how these laws fit into this great historical time.

  Hawaiian Economics: From the Mountains to the Sea -- Ancient Hawaii was ruled by chiefs, who were responsible for the well-being of their people and for managing the islands' resources. The chiefs divided the islands into land districts shaped like pie slices called Ahupua'a (ah-who- pu-ah-ah.) Each Ahupua'a covered the three main regions of the islands: the mountains, the valleys, and the shore. This system was designed to allow all Hawaiian communities equal access to the limited natural resources of the islands. Students will recognize that an island has limited natural resources, will understand that the Ahupua'a system was one method for allocating resources, and complete a Cost/Benefit Analysis of this method. Students will also come up with own method for distributing Hawaii's natural resources and compare it with the Ahupua'a method.