• You will need a blue and black colored
pencil for today. Remember, the blue is
for water and the black is for labeling.
Brown will be for mountains and green for
the “Great Plains”.
• Before you leave the class, please check the
floor for dropped colors and be sure the
boxes are neat… Thank you!
• You should have received 2 maps and 3 pages
of notes for the water forms and land forms
of the US. Be sure to enter these pages into
your “TABLE of CONTENTS”.
United States
Geography
How River Systems
and Land Forms
affect our lives
1.
Water Features of the US
Mississippi River (discovered by the French) Used as major highway north
and south. Named for the Native American tribe, the Mississippi’s.
2.
Missouri River (Major east and west water way to the Great
Northwest…traveled by Lewis and Clark).
3.
Ohio River ( creates a fertile valley that both the French and English
wanted… led to the “French and Indian War” between these two European
countries.
Hudson River ( Hudson River Valley important to early colonist for looking for
a way to the west).
4.
5.
Erie Canal (man made water system connecting the Great Lakes and Ohio
River Valley to the New York and the Atlantic Ocean).
6.
Gulf of Mexico ( Highway for Spanish and French exploration and
transporting of gold to Spain from Mexico).
7.
Atlantic Ocean ( brought many colonists from England, traders from France,
and soldiers for fortune from Spain). Also brought new religious cultures, and
devastating diseases to the Native Americans.
8.
Pacific Ocean ( goal of many American following the “American Revolution).
Wanted to expand the United States westward….Manifest Destiny.
Mississippi River
Mississippi River
•The most important river system in the United
Mississippi River
States is the ________________________.
•Because of its size and expanse, is a major
shipping _______
goods into the
water route for __________
Interior sections
_______________
of the US.
trade
•Making _______
faster
easier, _______,
cheaper
and _________is
the major benefit of
this river to history
and today.
Take out your US Map
• You will now begin mapping in the water
sources
• Use your map rules…label in print, write
in a straight line from L to R, use black
ink or pencil only.
• Use colors (map pencil only)
• Take your time to be accurate
Map in the Mississippi
1
Missouri River
Missouri
River
Mississippi
River
Missouri and Mississippi Rivers
Missouri River
Muddy
Big
The Missouri River is called the ______ ___________
because of the heavy load of silt in the water. Parts of
Gulf of Mexico are muddy because the Missouri
the _______________
flows into the Mississippi. As with most rivers, it helps
trade and
us by providing faster, cheaper ways to _______
goods and ________
people around the country.
move _______
Map in the Missouri
2
1
Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River creates a ___________
permanent and
obvious boundary between ______,
states reducing land
conflict
___________
in the area. Major settlement in
this area began because the people wanted a
fish grow _____,
crops and __________
transport
place to _____,
their goods to other people. The Ohio river
valley was a perfect place.
Map in the Ohio
1
2
3
Mississippi River
http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/
Hudson River
Hudson River
Hudson River
York
• The Hudson River links the city of New
_______
to the Great Lakes and has developed into a
settlement (it is now runs
major area for __________
through the largest city in the US!). The
river provided a natural water route for the
timber and _______-rich
beaver
_______
areas of the
Northeast. During colonization, natives,
explorers and
early Dutch, and English __________
settlers used it. Today: it is used as a
trade
MAJOR inexpensive source of ________
and ______________.
transportation
Map in the Hudson
4
1
2
3
Erie Canal
• The Erie Canal, a man made waterway, also
known as _________________,
Clinton’s Big Ditch connected
the important trade center
New York City with the developing
of_____________,
farmlands west of the Appalachian
Mountains. The canal allowed farmers to
ship their goods, via the Great Lakes, to
eastern markets quickly and cheaply. It
settlers to
also allowed westward bound _______
move through the once impenetrable
Appalachian Mountains.
Map in the Erie Canal
1
2
5
3
4
Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of
Mexico borders
southeast
the __________
coast of the
United States
(including Texas)
oil
and has large ___
deposits. People
settled this area
because of the
natural ________
harbors
allowing easy
trade and
______
transportation
_____________.
Map in the Gulf of Mexico
Color in the area
of the Gulf of
Mexico and Label
it
1
2
5
3
6
Gulf of
Mexico
4
North
America
Europe
Africa
South
America
Atlantic
Ocean
Atlantic ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
• The Atlantic Ocean is the
second largest ocean in the
_______
EAST of
world and is located _____
the United States. It runs
from the cold, rocky coasts
of ____________
New England (Maine to
New Jersey)
•to the warm, sandy
Georgia
beaches of ______
and _________
Florida
Map in the Atlantic Ocean
Color in the area
of the Atlantic
Ocean and label it
4
1
5
2
3
Atlantic
7
Ocean
6
Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
• The _____________is
the _______
Pacific Ocean
largest
ocean in the world and borders the
______
WEST coast of the United States from
__________
California to _______
Oregon and
____________
states. The Pacific
Washington
coastline is mostly ______
rocky with high,
rough seas (and waves good for ______).
surfing
8
Pacific
Ocean
8
4
1
5
2
3
Color in the area
of the Pacific
Ocean and label it
6
7
• Congratulations! You
are now finished with
your water map.
• You will need a new map for your land
features
Land Features of the US
9.
The Great Plains- Provides fertile
lands for crops and livestock.
10. Appalachian Mountains – play an
important role in early development
of the English Colonies, prevents
movement westward.
11. Rocky Mountains- a natural barrier
for settlers heading west to
overcome.
The Great Plains
Great Plains
Please get out your blank map
• You will now begin mapping in the
three physical features (land
features) on your NEW map.
• DO NOT use your water map…
Map in the Great Plains
9
Take your time
to draw in the
area correctly…
look at where
the borders are…
and label it
Great Plains
Much of the Great Plains was once covered
inland sea (like a giant lake
by a huge ___________
___).
When the fish and animals living in that
decomposed their remains
lake died and ___________,
sediment layer
created a very rich _____________at
the
lake floor. When the soil was uncovered as
rich
the water drained, it became a very _____
agriculture
source for _____________
(farming).
Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian
The ___________Mountains
are the largest
EAST coast of the United
mountains on the _____
States. The mountains are high enough to collect
snow in the winter, which becomes a fresh
______
water source in the spring. The “__________”
snow-melt
_______
forms into springs and ______,
rivers which run down the
drinking water and
mountain sides providing ________
agriculture irrigation (farming water).
water for __________
Map in the Appalachians
9
10
Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The ______________
are the _______
tallest and
longest mountain range
in the United States.
The Rockies stretch all
the way from _______
Texas
to Canada. When the
Europeans were
exploring America, they
_______
were not able to cross
the Rockies because
they were so ____.
tall
Much of the mountain
range is too ____
cold for
permanent settlement
__________________.
Map in the Rocky Mountains
11
9
10
Map in the Rocky Mountains
11
9
10
• NOW! Your task is to study
your maps and notes, and
prepare for a quiz! You will
need to locate the water
and land forms on a
map, and understand
the importance of
each to the
development
of the United States
as we know it
today.