Alief ISD
Social Studies Lesson Plans
4th Grade Unit 1
The Four Regions of Texas: Quick Teach
Date: _______________
Desired Results: (Unit
Understanding)
Geography affects how people live.
Assessment:
Poster of each region of Texas
Assessment: Regions of Texas Label the Map
Texas is divided into regions based on
similarities in landforms, vegetation,
and climate.
Time Allotted: 5 Days
Objective/TEKS:
I can describe the regions of Texas including
landforms, climate, vegetation, and physical
characteristics. (4.7B)
I can describe and compare different regions of
Texas and what makes them unique. (4.7A)
Anticipatory Set: (Hook) (Day 1)
In their ISNs, have students describe features of where they live, climate, animals, plants,
landforms. Students may draw a picture. Share pictures and descriptions.
Instructional Input: (Line)
Preparation: Place four poster boards together into one large board and draw a
picture of Texas. When the boards are separated, each board will have part of the
state outline on it, generally matching the four regions of Texas. Write the name
of each region on the boards to ensure the boards will be decorated in the right
orientation.
Read aloud: Armadillo from Amarillo. Explain that students will be studying the
four different regions of Texas. Divide the students into four separate groups and
assign them a region. Hand out the note-taking sheet and information sheets for
each region. The note-taking sheet can be glued, taped or stapled into the “line”
of the ISN.
Guided Practice: (Line) (Day 2)
Students will read the information sheets and specific pages in the Scott Foresman
textbook to complete the note-taking sheet. Students will use the information they
learned about their region and decorate their section of the Texas outline,
illustrating landforms, climate, animals, plants, and major cities of that region.
The
The
The
The
Topics/Concepts:
Region
Resources
Climate
Landforms
Materials:
Textbook
Information Sheets
ISN
Poster board, crayons,
markers, etc.
Access to
internet/printer
Note-taking sheets
glue
Central Plains Region: pages 52 – 55
Great Plains Region: pages 56 – 59
Mountains and Basins Region: pages 60 – 63
Coastal Plains Region: pages 64 – 68
Independent Practice: (Days 3 and 4)
Students will use the information they learned about each region to decorate their poster.
Students can use markers, map pencils, or crayons to draw landforms, animals, plants and to
mark major cities. Students can tear up construction paper or crumble up colored paper to
illustrate landforms such as forests (green), mountains (brown), deserts (yellow), or water
(blue), etc. Students can print out pictures of animals and plants found in their region via the
internet, and glue them onto the poster board.
Grade 4 Unit 3
How will you
check for
understanding?
Monitor students while
they read and take
notes about the regions.
Assist with reading and
note taking as needed.
Alief ISD
Closure: (Sinker) (Day 5)
Pose the question: Why is ____________ region a better place to live than the ___________
region. Defend your answer.
Have each group share their poster and explain the various elements illustrated on their region
of Texas. Students should listen carefully so they can choose a region to compare to the one
they researched.
Modifications/Extensions:
Circulate around to the groups helping with thinking, notes and reading if necessary.
Example of poster boards/Texas outline
Grade 4 Unit 3
Listen as students
discuss the closure
questions to see if they
understand the
Universal Generalization
and Unit Generalization.
Alief ISD
Note Taking Sheet
Name: __________________________
My region: ______________________________
Animals
Plants
Climate (rainfall and temperature)
Landforms
Major Cities
Resources
Grade 4 Unit 3
Alief ISD
Central Plains Information Sheet
(for more details read pages 28 – 43)
Animals
In the forests of the Central Plains are typical forest animals such as squirrels, rabbits, and deer. The
area is also home to cattle ranches and farms.
Plants
There are many farms in this region which grow cotton, corn, and wheat. Orchards are farms that grow
trees. Orchards in this region produce pecans and peaches. Grapes vineyards are also located in this
region. There are even flower gardens here, including roses. Tyler, Texas, is known as the “Rose Capital
of America”.
There are also several forested areas sweeping across the central area of Texas. Many different trees
including oak, pine trees, and even maple trees can be found here.
Climate and Weather
The Central Plains is usually hot in the summer and can get pretty cold in the winter. Sometimes it might
even snow! The region can get anywhere from 20 to more than 40 inches of rain a year.
This region is part of “Tornado Alley” which means that sometimes bad storms can bring tornados. A
tornado is a fierce and swirling funnel of wind.
Grade 4 Unit 3
Alief ISD
Great Plains Information Sheet
(for more details read pages 28 – 43)
Animals
In the western areas of Texas, it would be common to see big horned sheep, goats, coyotes, and of
course long-horn cattle. Other wild animals include rattlesnakes, jack-rabbits, and prairie dogs.
Plants
The great plains are flat and perfect for cattle. Grasses, such as sorghum, grow easily in this area,
providing food for the cattle. There are many farms in this region including cotton, when, corn and grain.
Not many trees or forests are found in this region of Texas which makes it ideal for farming or raising
cattle without having to clear the land.
Climate and Weather
The Great Plains is hot in the summer, but can get very cold in the winter. During the fall and winter,
storms from Canada can blow through the area bringing a type of weather called a “blue norther”. A
“norther” is a powerful mass of cold air. These freezing blasts turn the sky a bluish-black color. It can
make the temperature drop 50 degrees in just two hours!
These “northers” can often bring blizzards, a storm with high winds, snow and ice. Between 1886 and
1887, a severe blizzard hit the area and nearly ruined the cattle industry by freezing many cows to death.
This area can also see tornados as it is part of an area of the country called “tornado alley”.
Grade 4 Unit 3
Alief ISD
Gulf Coastal Plains Information Sheet
(for more details read pages 28 – 43)
Animals
In the southern, marshy areas of the coastlands, you would find fish and other creatures living in the
ocean and lakes. Alligators can be found as well turtles and cranes. Ranches and farms are located all
over Texas, housing farm animals of all types. In the woodland areas you would find deer, rabbits,
squirrels, and birds of all kinds including the screech owl and bald eagles.
Plants
On the beaches of Texas you would find seaweed and dark green vines growing along the shore. Up the
coast in East Texas are the pine forests and big thickets filled with many types of trees including cypress
and pecan. The wet weather in this area makes tall trees and thick forests easy to grow. Farms in this
region grow corn, cotton and fruits such as grapefruits and oranges.
Climate and Weather
The Gulf Coastal Plains is very hot during the summer, reach temperatures over 100 degrees. It also gets
the most rainfall of all the regions of Texas. The region can get anywhere from 20 to more than 50
inches of rain a year.
Because the region is right along the coast, the Gulf Coastal Plains will sometimes be hit by hurricanes.
Hurricanes are violent storms with high winds and heavy rains. In 1900, a huge hurricane wiped out the
city of Galveston, destroying buildings and killing more than 6,000 people. More than 100 years later,
many consider it to be one of the worst natural disasters in United States history.
Grade 4 Unit 3
Alief ISD
Mountains and Basins Information Sheet
(for more details read pages 28 – 43)
Animals
Many animals are designed to live in drier environments including rattlesnakes, golden eagles, mountain
lions, small brown bears, deer of all kinds, javelinas, scorpions, tarantulas, coyotes, jack-rabbits, and
horned lizards. Cattle ranches are also common in this area, and horses are often used for transportation.
Plants
Very dry weather makes desert plants like cactus and the spiky yucca plants more common in this region.
In the mountain areas, you would find plants and bushes that grow well in higher elevations and in dry
air including pine and pinion trees.
Climate and Weather
The Mountains and Basins region is the driest area of Texas. Desert covers much of the region. Up in the
mountain areas, the temperature can get really cold in the winter and mild in the summer, but down in
the desert, it can reach well over 100 degrees in the summer. The area receives less than 10 inches of
rain a year.
Grade 4 Unit 3