Chapter 3 Regions Around You

Understanding Regions Lesson 1 Understanding Regions Objectives Understand how and why people divide places into regions Explain how transportation and communication connect regions

What are regions? Because of all the different landforms, climates, countries, people, and industries that are part of the world, it is difficult to describe them all at the same time. This is why people divide the world into regions. Regions: an area with at least one feature that makes it different from other areas.

Regions may be large or small A Variety of Regions There are many kinds of regions in the United States. Urban Coastal Spanish speaking Rural Desert Mining Regions may be large or small

Regions Depend on One Another Regions differ, but they still depend on one another. Interdependence: people and places depending on one another for resources, products, and services For example: animals in a desert region may depend on rivers that flow out of a mountain region.

Kinds of Regions 4 types of Regions Political Physical Economic Cultural

Political Regions Physical Regions A place where people share a government. Physical Regions Based on natural features. Features include: landforms, rivers, climates. May also be based on natural vegetation: plant life that grows in an area

Based on the way people in an area use resources to meet their needs. Econoic Regions Based on the way people in an area use resources to meet their needs. Cultural Regions Area where people share certain ways of life (religion, language, ethnic group) Ethnic group: people from the same country or people with a shared way of life

Regions Change and Connect Regions change and develop over time. Changes are caused by natural events or when people modify, or change the environment to meet their needs. People change Regions The United States started with 13 states now there are 50. People Connect Regions Technology: the way people use knowledge and tools to make or do something Communication: the way people send and receive information.

Summary Dividing places into political, physical, cultural, and economic regions makes it easier to understand the world. People change and connect regions. Homework: Social Studies workbook page 21

Compare and contrast the political regions in the United States Lesson 2 United States Regions Objectives Compare and contrast the political regions in the United States Understand the three levels of government and the services that each level provides

Our Country’s Regions The United States is made up of 50 states. Each state is a political region with exact borders. The five Regions Northeast Southeast Midwest Southwest West

The National Capital Washington, D.C. is our nations capital. It is called a federal district It is not part of any state

Regions Within a State Counties Every state is divided into political regions called counties. Louisiana: parishes Alaska: boroughs The town or city that is the center of a county's government is the county seat Cities Municipial: city government

The Federal Government Government Services The United States has 3 levels of government: Federal State Local Each level collects taxes to pay for services that it provides to people. The Federal Government Oversees postal service Makes treaties, agreements between groups or countries

Government Services State Government Provide services for the people who live in their state Take care of state roads and parks Oversee public schools and state college and universities Local Government Provide services to people in their communities Build and repair local streets Provide police and fire protection Oversee libraries and public schools In charge of local elections

Government Services Special Districts Voting districts School districts Police districts

Lesson 3 United States Regions Objectives Locate and describe political regions in North America Compare and contrast the physical features of North America’s regions

Canada North America’s largest region Divides nation into 13 political regions. Ten are called province: a political region similar to a state in the United States Three are territories: an area owned and governed by a county Border we Share Canada and the United States share the worlds longest unprotected border.

Mexico Like the United States, Mexico is made up of states More than 100 million people live in Mexico Most Mexicans live in cities, such as Mexico City Rio Grande: this river forms much of the border between Mexico and the United States

Central America and the Caribbean Part of North America Made up of a narrow strip of land that connects North and South America Divided into 7 countries The Caribbean Made up of hundreds of islands Island of Puerto Rico and U.S Virgin Island are both commonwealths; they are territories of the United States but governs itself. People who are citizens of Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands are also US citizens

Land and Climate Central America and the Caribbean are both located in the tropics, an area around the equator that has a warm climate all year. Because of the warmth and large amounts of rain, much of the land is covered by rain forest, a wet area, usually warm, in which tall trees, vines, and other plants grow close together.

Greenland The last region of North America Located off the Northeast coast of Canada The world’s biggest island Nearly all of it is a tundra, flat treeless plain that stays mostly frozen