Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Map Skills activities 3
Longitude and Latitude Skills
 http://www.jeffreyrbrown.info/qiblih/latlong_us.html
Use the above link to identify the latitude and longitude of the capital cities in the
Coastal Range region.
State
Capital
Latitude
Longitude
1. Washington
Olympia
2. Oregon
Salem
3. Idaho
Boise
4. California
Sacramento
5. Nevada
Carson City
6. Utah
Salt Lake City
7. New Mexico
Santa Fe
8. Arizona
Phoenix
9. Colorado
Denver
10. Alaska
Anchorage
 Road To Nowhere
Using the link below and map below, create a road map of Route 66 through the Basin and
Range. Include a title, compass rose, scale and the cities that Route 66 passes through. In
each state, draw symbol to represent something of interest on that section of Route 66.
http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/route66/route66.html
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Bodies of Water Activities 2
Using the links below, fill in the Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the 3 major
rivers of the Basin and Range. Be sure to include which states the rivers run through,
what function they provide the region and what resources they provide the region.
Rio Grande http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-9276735/Rio-Grande
Columbia River http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/article-390240/Columbia-River
Colorado River http://www.bobspixels.com/kaibab.org/misc/gc_coriv.htm
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Climate Characteristics 2
Deserts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Arizona#Deserts
The Basin and Range region is made up of four different deserts. Create a poster that
shows the differences between each desert. Your poster should be divided up into four
different sections and each section should tell you what area of Arizona that desert
covers, a map of the area, the altitude, precipitation, wildlife and terrain of the desert.
Include pictures to help show the differences. The four deserts are:
The Sonoran Desert http://www.pima.gov/cmo/sdcp/kids.html
The Mojave Desert
http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Mojave_desert
The Painted Desert http://www.2coollizards.com/painted_desert/painted_desert.html
The Chihuahan Desert http://www.nps.gov/cave/naturescience/deserts.htm
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Name that State 2
State Flag Foldable
Choose any 5 states from the Basin and Range Region and design a foldable with a
picture of the flag and a description/explanation. Be creative!!
Example: Arizona State Flag
The 13 rays of red and gold on the top half of
the flag represent both the 13 original colonies
of the Union, and the rays of the Western
setting sun. Red and gold were also the colors
carried by Coronado's Spanish expedition in
search of the Seven Cities of Cibola in 1540. The
bottom half of the flag has the same Liberty
blue as the United States flag. Since Arizona
was the largest producer of copper in the nation, a copper star was placed
in the flag's center.
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Make That Money!! 4
 Choose two states from the Basin and Range region. Create a Venn diagram to
compare and contrast the major sources of revenue for each state.
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Physical Processes 2
Flash Floods
Using the below resources, create a Safety Brochure for someone moving into a high
flood area. The brochure must describe what a flash flood is, how to recognize when a
flash flood might occur, the dangers of a flash flood, and safety measures to take in a
flash food. Be sure to include pictures.
http://www.kcet.org/updaily/the_back_forty/weather/rain-in-the-desert.html
http://www.in-the-desert.com/safety.html
Sequence of events leading up to a Flash Flood.
Upstream flooding starts - not raining here.
Water just approaching the road.
The wash is starting to fill.
Water just approaching the road.
Water has now crossed the road.
Road is no longer passable. 4 minutes elapsed.
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Scavenger Hunt 3
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona,
Colorado, and Alaska
 Directions: Match the correct state to the description provided each state can be
used more than once. If you need help use an atlas or use www.50states.com
Dog mushing is my official state sport.
I am the home of Smokey the Bear.
I have the deepest lake in the U.S.
I am home of the world’s largest building.
In my state, it is illegal to give someone a
box of candy that weighs more than 50
lbs.
My official state fossil is the ichthyosaur.
I am home to Death Valley, the hottest and
driest place in the U.S.
I am the leader of Copper Production.
I am home of the world’s largest flat top
mountain.
I am home of the Grand Canyon.
My name means the color “red”
My original name was Columbia from the
Columbia River.
¾ of my roads are unpaved.
My official state mineral is gold.
I have more mountain ranges than any
other state.
I have the highest literacy rate in the U.S.
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Answer Key
Dog mushing is my official state sport.
I am the home of Smokey the Bear.
New Mexico
Alaska
I have the deepest lake in the U.S.
Oregon
In my state, it is illegal to give someone a
box of candy that weighs more than 50
lbs. Idaho
My official state fossil is the ichthyosaur.
Nevada
I am the leader of Copper Production.
Arizona
I am home of the world’s largest building.
Washington
I am home to Death Valley, the hottest and
driest place in the U.S.
California
I have the highest literacy rate in the U.S.
Utah
I am home of the world’s largest flat top
mountain.
Colorado
I am home of the Grand Canyon.
My name means the color “red”
Arizona
My original name was Columbia from the
Columbia River.
Colorado
¾ of my roads are unpaved.
New Mexico
Washington
My official state mineral is gold.
Alaska
I have more mountain ranges than any
other state. Nevada
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Color by state 3
Directions: Locate all of the states that belong to the Basin and Range region using the
link below. If the state is Democratic color it BLUE, if the state is Republican color it RED.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_coll
ege_map.html
Extension Activity: Using the link below, create a campaign poster about what you
would do if you were president. Be sure to answer each question carefully, record your
answers on a separate piece of paper and print out the newspaper review of yourself to
turn in with your answers. Be ready to defend your choices.
http://www.scholastic.com/kids/president/
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Scouting Report 4
 http://www.collegeswimming.com/poll1/
 Use the above links to identify the logo of 5 college swimming teams.
 Choose your favorite from the Basin and Range region and create an
advertisement to encourage an athlete to join the team. Be careful to identify
which state in the Basin and Range region the team comes from. Your
advertisement should include 3 reasons why an athlete should join the team. For
example you may choose to identify tourist attractions in the area, the major
industry in the area, and possible family activities.
Activity Extension
 If you are not a swimming fan you can use the same link and choose a sport of
interest to complete this activity.
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Presentation 4
Power Point Presentation Instructions
o Your travel agency has been selected to give a presentation about the Basin
and Range Region. Design a presentation that would encourage tourists to
take a tour of this region. Your presentation should include all 19 states of
this region, the major bodies of water, sources of revenue, and popular
attractions. A sample slide is shown below:
Come visit Minnesota
Although Minnesota is known as the” gopher state”, it is
the leading state in the computer industry. It is also
home to the headquarters of several popular brands like
Nabisco and Pillsbury.
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Weather Phenomenon 2
Tornado Watch
Each year about a thousand tornadoes touch down in the US. Only a small percentage actually strike
occupied buildings, but every year a number of people are killed or injured. The chances that a tornado
will strike a building that you are in are very small, however, and you can greatly reduce the chance of
injury by doing a few simple things.
–From the Tornado Project Online
You will research the safety precautions for surviving a tornado. You will then create a
classroom Tornado kit that contains the supplies we will need to prepare our classroom
in case of a tornado (see teacher for supply needs). You must also make a safety
awareness poster that could be posted in the school. The poster must tell students how
to recognize if a tornado is possible, where to go and what to do if they are inside,
outside or at home.
http://www.tornadoproject.com/
http://www.weather.com/life/safety/homesafety/article/disaster-supply-kit_2011-1010
http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a
0/?vgnextoid=62a7da30df3ea110VgnVCM10000030f3870aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Creative Writing Prompts 4
Choose 2 of the following writing prompts
 Imagine your family is going to drive on US-83 from Texas to North Dakota. Using
your map resources, create a journal recording each day of your trip, what you
needed to bring, what you see, where you went and how you got there.
 Write a story from the viewpoint of a capital city located in this region (“I am the
capital city of ____________”). Write the story of how this city became important
enough to be chosen as the capital. Be sure to include specific examples.
 Imagine that you are a member of one of the Native American nations of the
Basin and Range. Europeans have recently arrived in your territory and your tribal
leaders are holding meeting to decide whether to help, hurt, or ignore these new
people. Prepare an oral presentation to forward your opinion at tonight.
 The Dust Bowl: Now and then
Using the pictures from the 1930’s Dust Bowl and the 2012 drought below discuss
the impact the Dust bowl and drought had on the lives of the people and the
economy.
 Colorado was engulfed in fires this last year due to the lack of rainfall and the
ensuing drought. Pretend you are a resident in Colorado Springs and you have just
been told you need to evacuate your home. You have only 30 minutes to pack
and don’t know where you are going to stay. Write a letter to your friends telling
them what happened, how you felt, and what you decided to take with you.
Unit 9: The Basin and Range Activities
Slide Rocket 3
Required Task
Directions: View the SlideRocket Presentation using the link below. Then you must
choose from one of the activities at the end. http://portal.sliderocket.com/CCNAT/GreatPlains
The activities are as follows:
 Visit at least 5 of the links that provide more information about each state. Read
the section on their major industries carefully. Pick a product that is common to
most of the states in this region. Create an advertisement for this product or
service. You may use technology or art supplies to create your ad.
 Explore the link about the Missouri River. Consider a body of water in our area of
Virginia. Create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the 2 bodies of water.
 Choose one of the interesting landmarks in this region and research it. Create a
brochure for this landmark.
 View this “commercial for the Interior Lowlands. Create your own commercial
with a partner using what you’ve learned in this presentation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dp4Vf__CgU
 Complete one or more of the Microsoft Word Templates Located in your Hand
Out folder. You will need to revisit several links in the presentation. The templates
are:
o Economy Template
o Geography Template
o Cultural Template