1. The Northeast Lessons Review Maps Graphic Organizer
What causes a region to change?
Teacher Notes
The Big Idea: What causes a region to change?
Unit 3 The Northeast

2. Lesson 1 The Geography of the Northeast Lesson 2 The Economy of
Lessons
Review
Maps
Graphic Organizer
Lesson 1
The Geography of
the Northeast
Lesson 2
The Economy of
the Northeast
Click to choose a lesson.
Lesson 3
The People of
the Northeast
Lessons

3. The Geography of the Northeast
Lesson 1
Vocabulary
glacier
bay
fuel
fall line
tourist
Reading Skill
Main Idea and Details
Teacher Notes:
Animals and plants live in the Northeast, which was shaped by glaciers.
Cities grew around bays because they provided for ships.
The Northeast has many natural resources that include forest and water.
The Northeast has four seasons.
What is the geography of the Northeast?

4. The Geography of the Northeast
The Northeast Long Ago
Eleven states make up the Northeast region.
The Appalachian Mountains were formed more than 250 million years ago.
Glaciers covered the Northeast.
The Finger Lakes of New York were formed when glaciers melted.
Teacher Notes
Write About It! What do you think the Northeast was like when glaciers covered the region? (In their writing, students should include information about cold climates, a scarcity of animals and plants, etc.)

5. The Geography of the Northeast
A Rich Land
Coastline dotted with bays
Forests, a valuable resource
Appalachian Mountains
Many rivers and lakes
Fall lines
Energy
Food
Teacher Notes
Explain that trees have been an important resource in the Northeast since humans first settled in the region long ago.
Discuss with students some of the natural resources that mountains provide, such as stone, timber, minerals, plant and animal products, etc.
Think About It! How did European settlers’ use of forests cause the region to change? (Students may mention the building of towns and roads, the clearing of land for farms, and the use of timber and other forest products in industry.)

6. The Climate of the Northeast
The Geography of the Northeast
The Climate of the Northeast
Four seasons with differences in the region
Snow and rain in all the states
Storms called nor’easters
Fall colors attract tourists.
Teacher Notes
Explain that tourism is important to the economy of the Northeast. Many people travel to the region during the autumn months to see the beautiful scenery as trees change to fall colors.
Talk About It! Lighthouses were built along the northeastern coastline to help sailors see the land at night. Why it is important for sailors to be able to see the land when they are at sea? (Lighthouses showed sailors the location of land to keep them from damaging or sinking their ships along the rocky coastline.)

7. The Economy of the Northeast
Lesson 2
Vocabulary
industry
service
urban
suburban
megalopolis
How do people of the Northeast make a living?
Reading Skill
Main Idea and Details
Teacher Notes:
Many people still earn a living in the Northeast by fishing and farming.
People in the Northeast worked in manufacturing long ago.
Many people in the Northeast work in services jobs.
Most people in the Northeast live and work in cities and suburbs.

8. The Economy of the Northeast
Using Resources
Many people in the Northeast live in or near cities.
Natural resources are still an important part of the economy.
Fishing
Trapping crab and lobster
Dairy farms
Fruit and vegetables
Maple syrup
Timber and other forest products
Teacher Notes
Lead a classroom discussion about the importance of grassy areas to provide food for cows in areas in this region. This improves the economy of the Northeast as more dairy products can be produced.

9. The Economy of the Northeast
Building Factories
Factory machines were first used in England.
Textile factories were built all over the Northeast.
People moved from rural farms to cities and towns to work in factories.
Teacher Notes
Explain to students that the success of factories and the resulting industrialization led to the growth of cities and a booming economy in the United States
Explain to students that while many people viewed industrialization as a good thing for the United States and its people, others saw that factory work was dangerous, difficult, and unfair to workers, especially child laborers.

10. The Economy of the Northeast
Serving Others
People who work in the service industry do not produce goods, they provide services.
health care
transportation
education
protective services
food service
retail service
arts and entertainment
Teacher Notes
Explain that when we think of service jobs, we often think of customer service, such as restaurant servers or clerks. Remind students that many kinds of professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, scientists, writers, architects, travel agents, musicians, and television reporters, provide services through the work they do.
Think About It! Look at the list of services above. Can you give an example of a job in each of these service areas? (Students responses will vary. Possible responses include: health care—nurse; transportation—bus driver; education—teacher; protective services—firefighter; food service—cook; retail service—cashier; arts and entertainment—actor.)

11. Cities and Suburbs in the Northeast
The Economy of the Northeast
Cities and Suburbs in the Northeast
The Northeast has less land than any other region, but about one in every six of the nation’s people lives there.
A suburb is a community near a city. Many people who work in urban areas live in suburban areas.
Some of the largest cities
Boston
New York City
Philadelphia
Washington, D.C.
Teacher Notes
Explain that many American cities started out as small towns. They grew as the nation’s population, economy, and transportation routes grew and changed.
A megalopolis is a large urban area where two or more cities overlap.

12. The People of the Northeast
Lesson 3
Vocabulary
culture
diverse
Reading Skill
What is important to the culture of the Northeast?
Main Idea and Details
Teacher Notes:
Native Americans are an important part of Northeast culture.
Immigrants contribute to the rich diversity of the Northeast.
Norteasterns hold festivals to celebrate their heritage.
The Northeast has many activities to explore.

13. The People of the Northeast
A Diverse Region
The first people were Native Americans.
Immigrants from all over the world brought their ways of life and shaped the culture.
European settlers
Africans
People from Asia and the Americas
Teacher Notes
Explain that the United States, especially the Northeast region, has been called a melting pot of peoples and cultures from all over the world. Explain that parts of many diverse cultures have combined and evolved to become the culture of the modern United States.
Write About It! Why did many immigrant groups come to the Northeast? (In their writing, students should mention some of the reasons people came to the Northeast, such as for personal freedoms, employment, education, and other opportunities.)
Many immigrants came through Ellis Island.

14. The People of the Northeast
Celebrating Cultures
One way to show pride in your culture is to share it with others.
Festivals and parades celebrate and reflect the cultures of the Northeast.
Teacher Notes
Explain that festivals are celebrations of culture. Festival activities include dancing, singing, playing music, and eating traditional foods.
Talk About It! What cultural celebrations have you seen or participated in? (Encourage students to describe festivals or other cultural celebrations they have seen or participated in. Does their family celebrate its culture in any special way? Why is this important to them?)

15. The People of the Northeast
Places to Explore
The Northeast region is full of interesting places to visit
Hiking in the mountains
Sailing along the coast
Museums
Aquariums
Gardens
Cities
Tanglewood: the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Teacher Notes
Explain that many historical events in our nation’s history happened in the Northeast. Tell students that there are many interesting historic sites and museums throughout the region.
Talk About It! What activities in the Northeast take advantage of the area’s natural resources? (Students may mention activities such as hiking and sailing.)

16. Review
Vocabulary
Once, much of North America was covered with large sheets of ice called ________.
_________ is all of the businesses that make one kind of product or provide one kind of service.
All the jobs that people do to help others are ________ jobs.
_______ means “of the city.”
A __________ area is a community near a city.
_______ includes a people’s history, language, religion, and customs.
glaciers
Industry
service
Urban
Answers
glaciers
industry
service
urban
suburban
culture
suburban
Culture
industry
culture
suburban
service
glaciers
urban

17. Review Comprehension and Critical Thinking
How did glaciers change the landscape of the Northeast?
What uses did Native Americans and early settlers have for trees?
How is the way that we get goods today different from the way people got them in the past?
Who were the first peoples to live in the Northeast region?
If a particular group has a festival in a city, what does that tell you about that culture?
Answers
Glaciers flattened the land, crushed rocks, and dug giant holes that filled with water and became lakes.
Trees were used to build homes, canoes, and ships, and were used for fuel.
In the past, people had to make everything themselves. Today, we rely on manufacturers and farmers to produce the goods and food we need.
Native Americans
Answers may mention that the cultural group has a large enough population to be able to hold a festival.

18. Map and Globe Skills Compare Maps at Different Scales
A map scale tells the actual size of an area.
A small-scale map shows a large area without many details.
A large-scale map shows many details of a small area.
Which map shows the smallest area?
Teacher Notes
Point out to students the difference in the sizes of the map scales in miles/kilometers. The actual distance from Seal Harbor to Swans Island measures the same on both maps.
Answers
Map B
Acadia National Park
Map B
Find the area on Map A that is shown in Map B.
Acadia National Park

19. Maps Click on a map to enlarge the view.

20. Graphic Organizer Main Idea and Details
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