1. The Southwest
A big rig tour…

2. Map of the Southwest

3. Monument Valley The largest reservation in the United States
Flat-topped hills in the area are called mesas
Little rain falls in the area which keeps the land dry, creating a desert
People and animals who live in the region have to adapt, or change in order to survive

4. Video: The Long Walk (short)
Navajo Indians
Inhabited areas of the Midwest
Were forced out of their land by the U.S. by forces
During the 18 day “Long walk”, at least 400 died
The plantation faced raids, tribe conflicts, and famine
The Navajo were eventually relocated to their own reservation
Video: The Long Walk (short)
Video: The Long Walk 1 of 4
Video: Navajo Song

5. Three Sisters
Millions of years ago layers upon layers of sediments that wore down slowly revealed the natural wonders of Monument Valley today.

6. Phoenix, Arizona Video: Water Distribution The three A’s
Phoenix is known as America’s hottest city
Temperatures can reach 115 degrees in the summer!
More people moved to Phoenix with the invention of the air conditioner
Aqueducts in the region are large pipes that carry water long distances
Sixth largest city in the U.S.
The three A’s
Air Conditioning
Automobiles
Aqueducts
Video:
Water Distribution

7. Hoover Dam, Arizona A dam is a wall built across a river
Reasons the dam was built:
It controls flooding along the Colorado river
It stores water
It makes electricity for the surrounding areas
Built during depression (provided jobs)
Video: Hoover Dam
Video: Water Power

8. How the Hoover dam was built
Video: Construction of Hoover dam
Times:
Tunnels-4:50 Concrete Pouring-8:00
Complete Dam- 15: Lake Mead 21:00
Video: New Hoover Dam Video

9. The Grand Canyon, Arizona
A canyon is a deep, narrow valley with deep sides
The Grand Canyon has been formed over many years by the erosion of the Colorado river and wind
The canyons is a mile deep in some parts and 277 miles long!
Video: Grand Canyon

10. El Paso, Texas & Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
A border is a line that people agree on to separate two places
The border between the U.S. and Mexico is the Rio Grande river
Juarez is home to many U.S. factories where workers are paid much less than American workers
The factories are called maquiladoras

11. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
A cave is a natural hole found under the earth
A cavern is a large cave
Bats inhabit many of the caverns
The largest room in the caverns could hold 14 football fields!
There are more than 85 caves in total
Video:
Cavern Tour

12. Video: The Alamo Deconstructed Video: Battle for North America
San Antonio, Texas
A mission is a settlement where priests teach the native people a new religion
The Alamo is San Antonio’s most famous mission
Texas declared independence from Mexican rule in 1836
In the Alamo a small band of rebels fought a large army of Mexican troops
Video: The Alamo Deconstructed
Video: Battle for North America
Video: The Alamo

13. Math trivia
If there were 6,000 troops sent to crush a rebellion of 188 Texans, how many troops would each Texan have to kill in order to win the fight?
(Estimate)
6,000 Mexicans divided by 200 Texans means they would have to kill more than 30 Mexican troops EACH!

14. Austin, Capital of Texas
A Capital is a city where the government of an area is located
States governments have three branches in the same way that our national government does

15. Three branches of government
Legislature- Makes the laws and controls spending
Executive- is headed by a governor, and this branch makes sure laws are carried out
Judicial- judge people who are accused of breaking laws, and judge if laws are good laws

16. Guthrie, Oklahoma This city was settled in a day
Original Sooners
This city was settled in a day
On April 22, 1889 the first person to claim a piece of land would get to own that land
Some settlers entered the land sooner than they were supposed to earning them the nickname “Sooners”
Modern Sooners
Video:
Far and Away