The Southwest Region Mr. Spence Social Studies

Social Studies Mr. Spence The Southwest

States of the southwest Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Mr. Spence

The Southwest Region Objectives 1. Describe the physical geography/climate of the Southwest United States 2. Identify landforms of the region. 3. Know the states and their capitals that make up the region. Mr. Spence

What do you think? Examine the photograph and discuss what you see with a partner. Mr. Spence

Picture: Monument Valley – Arizona Southwest Region picture study Sunny/dry climate Few plants Unusual Landforms Formed by wind erosion Mr. Spence

Characteristics of the region Canyons Plains Deserts Resources: Helped attract people to the area Oil Open land Rugged beauty *From what you know so far, would you want to live in this region? Why? Mr. Spence

Vocabulary Canyon Mesa Butte Erosion *What do they mean? Mr. Spence

Vocab. defined Canyon: Deep, narrow valley with steep sides. Ex: Grand Canyon Mesa: A hill with a flat top. Butte: Like mesas, but smaller Erosion: Slow wearing away of land by wind, water, or ice.’ *Canyons, mesas, and buttes are all formed by erosion Mr. Spence

Lets watch a video! The southwest Region Answer these questions to be able to watch the video: 1. What four states make up the Southwest Region? 2. How are a mesa and a butte similar? How are they different? Mr. Spence The southwest Region

Answers: Q1: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas Q2: Both are hills with flat tops, Buttes are smaller. Mr. Spence

Assignment 1. Draw a picture of each of the vocabulary words. Butte, erosion, canyon, mesa 2. Describe the landforms and climate of the southwest region. 3. List the states that make up the southwest region. 4. How do you think the Grand Canyon was formed? Mr. Spence

Research Name and describe 2 landmarks in the southwest region. Name 3 natural resources located in the Southwest Region and what they could be/are used for. Mr. Spence

Landmarks Grand Canyon (AZ) – Steep canyon formed by the Colorado river made up of many layers of rock and soil. Carlsbad Caverns (NM) – Underground limestone caves that are some of the oldest in the world. Johnson Space Center (TX) – NASA’s home for mission control, which leads all space shuttle missions. Astronauts train here. Turner Falls (OK)- One of Oklahoma’s tallest waterfalls dropping 77 feet into a natural swimming pool. Mr. Spence

Natural Resources Oil (Texas & Oklahoma are 2 of the largest producers of oil.) Used for fuel Minerals (Copper, Iron, Silver) Making jewelry, tools, coins. Cattle Sheep Provide meat to the world. Mr. Spence

4 states and their capital Oklahoma (OK) – Oklahoma City Texas (TX) – Austin New Mexico(NM) – Santa Fe Arizona(Az) - Phoenix Mr. Spence

Can you….. Objectives 1. Describe the physical geography/climate of the Southwest United States 2. Identify landforms of the region. 3. Know the states and their capitals that make up the region. Mr. Spence

Capitals Quiz ____1. Arizona ____2. Texas ____3. Oklahoma ____4. New Mexico A. Austin B. Santa Fe C. Phoenix D. Oklahoma City Bonus Point: Write each states abbreviation. Mr. Spence

Southwest Continued/Reviewed On the next slides we’ll take a more in depth look at each state as well as the Grand Canyon while reviewing our previously learned vocabulary. Mr. Spence

Regions of the United States of America The Southwest Regions of the United States of America

States of the southwest region Oklahoma Texas New Mexico Arizona

Vocabulary Canyon Mesa Butte Erosion What do you think these terms mean?

Vocab Defined Canyon – A deep, narrow valley with step sides. Ex. Grand Canyon Mesa – A hill with a flat top that is smaller than a plateau. Butte – Like mesas, but smaller. Erosion – Slow wearing away of land by water, wind, or ice. (Canyons, Mesas, and Buttes are all formed by erosion)

Try this! Erosion Experiment

The Grand Canyon Stretches 217 miles through northern Arizona. More than a mile deep If you could walk across its widest point, it would take you about 6 hours. (18 miles) The Colorado river flows out of the Rocky Mountains carving out the canyon (Erosion).

Video! Answer the questions correctly to watch a video. 1. What three landforms have we discussed? 2. What is similar between these landforms?

Answers and video Q1: Canyon, Mesa, Butte Q2: Flat tops and were formed through erosion. Click for video

Climate of the southwest region Climate is the average pattern of weather for a particular region. The Southwest generally has a hot, dry climate with very little rain. It is known as the hottest region in the United States. Mr. Spence

Oklahoma Climate: Seasonally varied climate throughout the year. Summers are sunny and warm, winters are bright and cold, autumn is crisp, and springs are often wet. During the average year, skies are clear or partly sunny 65 percent of the time. The climate is heavily influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. The average annual temperature is 58-62 degrees F. 

Texas Climate Texas's climate varies widely, from arid in the west to humid in the east. The huge expanse of Texas encompasses several regions with distinctly different climates

Arizona Climate Arizona has a dry climate, with little rainfall. Temperatures vary greatly from place to place, season to season, and day to night. Average daily temperatures at Yuma, in the southwestern desert range from 43° to 67°F in January, and from 81° to 106°F in July.

New Mexico Climate New Mexico has a mild, arid or semiarid, continental climate characterized by light precipitation totals, abundant sunshine, low relative humidities, and a relatively large annual and diurnal(During the day) temperature range.

Assessment – Label states/capital

Test Questions: 1. list 2 landforms that are from our region that we have discussed. 2. What state is the Grand Canyon Located? 3. Describe the climate of the Southwest Region. 4.What river carved out the Grand Canyon? 5. The slow wearing away of land by water, wind, or ice is known as what?

Grand Canyon Documentary Click the picture

Mr. Spence

Mr. Spence