US Geography
(.5 elective credit)
This course can NOT replace a Social Studies Grad requirement
When you are done with this course you will know your way around the United States: you'll be able to name and find each state as well as know a few facts about each of them, you'll know the major land and water features in our country, you'll understand how those effect the weather and climate, you'll know where many of our major landmarks are located and you'll be able to use the basic vocabulary of geography.
This social studies elective meets the following WA State Standards:
Geography 3.1: Understands the physical characteristics, cultural characteristics, and locations of places, regions, and spatial patterns on the Earth's surface.
Reading 1: Understands and uses different skills and strategies to read.
Reading 2: Understands the meaning of what is read.
Reading 3: Reads different materials for a variety of purposes.
Writing 1: Writes clearly and effectively.
Writing 2: Writes in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes.
Writing 3: Understands and uses the steps of the writing process.
Writing 4: Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of written work.
To earn credit in this course you must:
FIRST!
Get a blank US outline map and label all the states. Start studying for the map test. You will be making at least a dozen maps during this course and you will need to know the states to make that go faster. Click here for the details on the map test. It might be designed for younger students, but this website has a game that will help you learn the states and another one that will help you learn the capital cities. Give it a try...Geography Games.
NEXT...
Use this list of A+ lessons as your guide. We STRONGLY recommend you do the projects when you are doing the matching A+ lesson(s) so you don't have to go back later.
A+ Lesson |
Project |
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Earth and Its Weather |
Weather Underground |
National Landmarks 1 |
American Landmark Map (for all 5) |
National Landmarks 2 |
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National Landmarks 3 |
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National Landmarks 4 |
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National Landmarks 5 |
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Physical Features 1 |
Physical Features of the World Map (for all 3) |
Physical Features 2 |
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Physical Features 3 |
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The Great Lakes Region 1 |
US Regions Map Project (for all regions) |
The Great Lakes Region 2 |
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The Great Lakes Region 3 |
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The Mountain Region 1 |
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The Mountain Region 2 |
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The Mountain Region 3 |
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The Northeast Region 1 |
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The Northeast Region 2 |
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The Northeast Region 3 |
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The Northeast Region 4 |
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The Pacific Region 1 |
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The Pacific Region 2 |
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The Pacific Region 3 |
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The Plains Region 1 |
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The Plains Region 2 |
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The Plains Region 3 |
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The Southeast Region 1 |
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The Southeast Region 2 |
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The Southeast Region 3 |
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The Southwest Region 1 |
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The Southwest Region 2 |
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The Southwest Region 3 |
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The Study of Geography |
Longitude & Latitude Project |
The Territories |
US Territories Around the World Map |
The Tools of Geography |
Map Making |