Ch. 1 & 2 Guided Reading

Chapter 1-Understanding Social Studies Lesson 2 Tools of Geography Essential Question: How does geography influence the way we live? What Is Geography? 1. True 2. False; Mountains are one of the many landforms in Texas. 3. True

4. False; More people live in an urban community than in a rural community. 5. True 6. True 7. False; Human-environment interaction refers to how the natural environment affects people as well as how people adapt to and use their surroundings.

Using Globes and Maps 1. map 2. globe 3. map 4. globe 5. globe 6. map

Human Interaction with the Environment 1. A system is a group of interconnected processes or parts. 2. Sample response: People can change an ecosystem by diverting water from rivers to meet their needs, such as watering their crops. 3. Sample response: Chemicals from factories pollute the air, land, and water. Exhaust from cars pollutes the air.

Ch. 2-Natural Texas Lesson 1-Geography of Texas 1. False; Texas is the second largest state in the United States. 2. True 3. True 4. True

5. False; Physical characteristics of a place include landforms, climate, plants, and animals. 6. False; Hamilton Pool Preserve was a natural underground pool. 7. True 8. False; The city of Galveston built a seawall after a devastating hurricane in 1900. 9. True

People and Places of Texas 1. False; There are vast differences from one area of Texas to another. 2. True 3. True 4. False; Texas’s largest cities developed in the eastern part of the state.

5. False; More than 6.7 million people live in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area. 6. False; Fort Worth was originally a military outpost. 7. False; The cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington have been expanding toward each other. 8. True 9. True

Lesson 2-Natural Resources You can learn about the geography of Texas by traveling across the state by land.  Driving east to west, you would drive about 770 miles from the Sabine River to the Rio Grande.  Driving north to south, you would drive about 800 miles from the Panhandle to the southernmost point of the Rio Grande.

You could also fly across the state to learn about Texas You could also fly across the state to learn about Texas.  If you took off from the south, you would fly across a level plain.  If you turned to look offshore, you would see a strip of land called Padre Island.  This landform protests the mainland shore from ocean waves.  In between this landform and the mainland shore is a bay called Laguna Madre.

As you travel north, you would see that the land slowly rises and is covered with plants that grow in dry, hot climates.  Turning west, you would fly over a long cliff called the Balcones Escarpment.  This landform was created millions of years ago by an earthquake.  Near this area is an elevated region called the Edwards Plateau.  The eastern part of this region is known as the Hill Country.  Over time, it has been eroded. To the northwest, the land becomes flatter and higher until it reaches the Caprock Escarpment.  This landform is in the Panhandle.  To the northwest is the Llano Estacado, which is approximately 32,000 square miles.  It covers thirty-three counties in Texas.

Then, if you were to fly southwest, you would fly over the plains of western Texas.  This area also features mountains, some of which are more than one mile high! Guadalupe Peak is the highest mountain in Texas.  It rises to 8,749 feet above sea level.  The second highest mountain range in Texas is the Davis Mountains.  Its highest peak is Mount Livermore.  Texas’s third highest mountain group is the Chisos Mountains.  Its highest peak is Emory Peak.

Traveling across Texas, you might notice some of the state’s resources Traveling across Texas, you might notice some of the state’s resources.  One resource, soil, is used for farming.  There are more than 240,000 farms in Texas.  Farmers in the state grow many types of crops.  Two examples are cotton and wheat (corn, soybeans, rice, peanuts fruits, or vegetables).  Land not used for farming is used by ranchers, who raise livestock such as cattle.

Two important resources in Texas are petroleum and natural gas Two important resources in Texas are petroleum  and natural gas.  These are the most important mineral resources in the state.  Texas has produces more of these resources than any other state.  Another mineral resource, limestone, can be used to purify water.  Three additional mineral resources found in Texas are salt, dolomite, and gypsum.

Water Resources         Like other states in the Southwest, Texas is facing challenges concerning its supply of water.  These challenges include little rain, drought, and an increasing population’s water needs.         Water resources provide more than just drinking water.  They are also vital for food production.  For example, water is used to irrigate crops, and is used in factories for production processes.

        The Gulf of Mexico is an important water resource because it provides people with fish (shrimp, oysters, crabs, or birds).  Bays are also important, because they serve as nurseries for animals such as fish and shrimp (oysters, crabs, or birds).         Another challenge to Texas’s water resources is pollution. The waterways in Texas are the fourth most polluted waterways in the nation.  However, the waterways can be protected with the help of individuals, groups, businesses and government.

One of the most important types of waterways in Texas is rivers         One of the most important types of waterways in Texas is rivers.  Texas’s longest river, Rio Grande, forms much of the state’s southern boundary.  It stretches 1,900 miles long.  However, the river does not carry much water.         Texas’s second-longest river, the Red River, is located in the Panhandle.  It flows for 1,290 miles and acts as part of the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma.  Other rivers in Texas include the Sabine, Neches, and Trinity ( San Jacinto, Brazos, Colorado, or Pecos) rivers.

Most of the lakes in Texas were created when rivers were dammed         Most of the lakes in Texas were created when rivers were dammed.  The natural lakes in Texas are mostly small in size.  One of these natural lakes is Green Lake.  It covers about 10,000 acres.         Another important water source in Texas is aquifers.  Some Texans get their water from rainfall.  Yet they have been negatively affected by humans, who pump water from them to cities and farms.  Another factor that affects these water supplies is droughts.

Lesson 3 - Climate Location and Climate: Main Idea: Texas’s location and elevation affects its climate. Detail: Breezes from the Gulf of Mexico cool the land in the summer. Detail: Since Texas is not far from the equator, it has mild winters. Detail: El Paso’s elevation makes it cooler than cities at lower elevations.

Extreme Weather: Main Idea: Texas experiences extreme weather. Detail: Northers travel south from Canada and sweep across the plains. Detail: On average, about 132 tornadoes touch down in Texas each year. Detail: Hurricanes are destructive storms that sweep in from the Gulf and can do massive damage. Detail: Long periods of drought have once again brought dust storms back to Texas