A Van and Airplane Tour of the West
Essential Question: What are the features that have drawn people to the West?
Overview
Students take a “van and airplane tour” of the West region of the United States. In the Preview activity, a Geography Challenge introduces students to the West. Then, in a Writing for Understanding activity, students listen to a tour guide and view nine images of places in the West. The tour stops at three sites, where students learn more through interactive experiences that teach key concepts of the chapter. Students then use their notes to write a letter about their excursions in the West. In Reading Further, students create a brochure to promote the Pacific Crest Trail. The letter-writing activity serves as the Processing assignment for the chapter.
Objectives
Social Studies
• Identify reasons why the West has attracted people.
• Apply map skills to locate nine important sites in the West.
• Trace the path of a tour through the West on a map of the region.
• Describe the physical and human features of the West.
Language Arts
• Gather information from an audio tour. (listening)
• Synthesize information into letter form. (writing)
Social Studies Vocabulary pass, expedition, geyser, technology, gorge, sawmill
Essential Question: What are the features that have drawn people to the West?
Overview
Students take a “van and airplane tour” of the West region of the United States. In the Preview activity, a Geography Challenge introduces students to the West. Then, in a Writing for Understanding activity, students listen to a tour guide and view nine images of places in the West. The tour stops at three sites, where students learn more through interactive experiences that teach key concepts of the chapter. Students then use their notes to write a letter about their excursions in the West. In Reading Further, students create a brochure to promote the Pacific Crest Trail. The letter-writing activity serves as the Processing assignment for the chapter.
Objectives
Social Studies
• Identify reasons why the West has attracted people.
• Apply map skills to locate nine important sites in the West.
• Trace the path of a tour through the West on a map of the region.
• Describe the physical and human features of the West.
Language Arts
• Gather information from an audio tour. (listening)
• Synthesize information into letter form. (writing)
Social Studies Vocabulary pass, expedition, geyser, technology, gorge, sawmill