Notes – Chapter 1, Lesson 2
I. Bodies of Water
Grade 5 Social Studies
A. fresh water & transportation, water for farms, factories, cities
II. Oceans
A. Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Indian
1. Pacific --- covers 1/3 of Earth’s surface
B. current = part of a body of water that flows in a different direction
1. caused by wind or temperature (GULF STREAM current in Atlantic Ocean)
C. tides = the regular rise & fall of an ocean and water connected to it
1. caused by the gravity of the moon
III. Gulfs, Bays, Inlets
A. Inlet = water going into the land from a larger body of water
B. GULF = Super-duper inlet
(Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Alaska)
C. BAY = medium-sized inlet
(Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, Hudson Bay)
D. Sound = a LONG inlet that usually separates an island from the mainland
(Long Island Sound)
IV. Lakes
A. North America -- more lakes than any other continent
1. Five Great Lakes – Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior – (HOMES)
--- Superior is largest
--- They contain 1/5 of all world’s fresh water
--- Important waterways for ships – for travel & to transport goods
2. Great Salt Lake - Utah
V. Mississippi River System
A. Any system is an organization of parts working together for a purpose
A. River system = river + all its tributaries (smaller rivers that flow into it)
1. river systems drain water from land around them (drainage basin)
B. Mississippi drainage basin = all of Interior Plains (Across middle of US)
C. Mississippi’s source (beginning) = Lake Itasca (Minnesota)
D. Mississippi’s mouth (opening at end) = Gulf of Mexico (2300 miles long)
VI. Rivers East of Appalachian Mts.
A. Big cities grow at rivers’ mouths --- easy travel & transport for goods (trade)
1. Philadelphia – Delaware River
2. New York City – Hudson River
B. Some cities built on rivers where Coastal Plain meets Appalachian Piedmont
1. called Fall Line – where land elevation drops (falls) sharply
--- causes rivers to form waterfalls or rapids
--- people use this fast water as power for machines / factories / mills
(Cooper Mill in Chester – uses the Black River)
VII. Rivers in the West
A. Continental Divide is imaginary line (north – south) highest point in Rocky Mts.
--- to west = all rivers flow to Pacific
--- to east = all rivers flow to Mississippi River / Gulf of Mexico to Atlantic