Geographic Regions of Virginia
Geographic Regions of Virginia Worksheets | |
File Size: | 1247 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Five Tab Foldable | |
File Size: | 79 kb |
File Type: |
Science Extension Worksheet | |
File Size: | 34 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Materials:
Objective: The student will be able to locate and describe the regions of Virginia (Virginia’s Coastal Plain /Tidewater, Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau).
Day 1: Introduction and Coastal Plain/ Tidewater Region
Day 2: Piedmont Region
Day 3: Blue Ridge Mountains
Day 4: Valley and Ridge Region
Day 5: Appalachian Plateau and Summary Lesson
Key Questions:
- Regions of Virginia labeled (teacher copy)
- Regions of Virginia blank (student copy)
- Piedmont Region Graphic Organizer (teacher- labeled, student blank)
- Coastal Plain Graphic Organizer (teacher- labeled, student blank)
- Blue Ridge Mountains Region Graphic Organizer (teacher- labeled, student blank)
- Valley and Ridge Region Graphic Organizer (teacher- labeled, student blank)
- Appalachian Plateau Region Graphic Organizer (teacher- labeled, student blank)
- Pictures of each region
- Example of a pre-made five tab foldable
- Overhead document camera
Objective: The student will be able to locate and describe the regions of Virginia (Virginia’s Coastal Plain /Tidewater, Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau).
Day 1: Introduction and Coastal Plain/ Tidewater Region
- Explain that Virginia has five different regions. Each day in the next week they will be learning about a different region of Virginia.
- Put up a region map of Virginia on the overhead. Point out the different regions of Virginia on the map. Point to the fall line. Explain what a “fall line” is and where it lies on the map.
- Go over the region of the Coastal Plain/ Tidewater Region. Explain that the land in this region is flatter. Bring up a picture using the overhead camera and computer of a place in this region.
- Using the map of Virginia on the overhead, point to the Coastal Plain/ Tidewater Region. Explain the location as east of the fall line. If necessary, remind students what North, South, East and West are. Draw a compass using on the map of Virginia to give students a visual.
- Have the students return to their seats and independently fill out the “Coastal Plain (Tidewater) Graphic Organizer” sheet at their tables, and then store it in their social studies folder for reference.
Day 2: Piedmont Region
- Refer to yesterday’s lesson, reviewing what was learned about the Coastal Plain/ Tidewater Region. Point to it on the map. Then point to the second region, the Piedmont Region.
- Go over the region of the Piedmont Region. Explain that the land in this region has rolling hills instead of the flat land in the Coastal plain. Bring up a picture using the overhead camera and computer of a place in this region.
- Using the map of Virginia on the overhead, point to the Piedmont Region. Explain the location as west of the fall line. If necessary, remind students what North, South, East and West are. Draw a compass using on the map of Virginia to give students a visual.
- Have the students return to their seats and independently fill out the “Piedmont Graphic Organizer” sheet at their tables, and then store it in their social studies folder for reference.
Day 3: Blue Ridge Mountains
- Refer to previous two days’ lessons, reviewing what was learned about the Coastal Plain/ Tidewater Region and the Piedmont Region. Point to it on the map. Then point to the third region, the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Go over the region of the Blue Ridge Mountains region. Explain that the land in this region has old, rounded mountains instead of the rolling hills like the Piedmont or the flat land in the Coastal plain/ Tidewater. Bring up a picture using the overhead camera and computer of a place in this region.
- Using the map of Virginia on the overhead, point to the Blue Ridge Mountains Region. Explain the location as west of the fall line. If necessary, remind students what North, South, East and West are. Draw a compass using on the map of Virginia to give students a visual.
- Have the students return to their seats and independently fill out the “Blue Ridge Mountains Region Graphic Organizer” sheet at their tables, and then store it in their social studies folder for reference.
Day 4: Valley and Ridge Region
- Refer to previous three days’ lessons, reviewing what was learned about the Coastal Plain/ Tidewater Region, the Piedmont Region and the Blue Ridge Mountain Region. Point to it on the map. Then point to the fourth region, the Valley and Ridge Region.
- Go over the region of the Valley and Ridge Region. Explain that the land in this region has great valleys separated by ridges instead of the old, rounded mountains of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the rolling hills like the Piedmont or the flat land in the Coastal plain/ Tidewater. Bring up a picture of the Great Valley of Virginia using the overhead camera.
- Using the map of Virginia on the overhead, point to the Valley and Ridge Region. Explain the location is west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If necessary, remind students what North, South, East and West are. Draw a compass using on the map of Virginia to give students a visual.
- Have the students return to their seats and independently fill out the “Valley and Ridge Region Graphic Organizer” sheet at their tables, and then store it in their social studies folder for reference.
Day 5: Appalachian Plateau and Summary Lesson
- Refer to previous four days of lessons, reviewing what was learned about the Coastal Plain/ Tidewater Region, the Piedmont Region, the Blue Ridge Mountain Region and the Ridge and Valley Region. Point to them on the map. Then point to the fifth region, Appalachian Plateau.
- Go over the region of the Appalachian Plateau region. Explain that the land in this region has great valleys separated by ridges instead of the old, rounded mountains of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the rolling hills like the Piedmont or the flat land in the Coastal plain/ Tidewater. Bring up a picture of the Great Valley of Virginia using the overhead camera.
- Using the map of Virginia on the overhead, point to the Appalachian Plateau Explain that the Appalachian Plateau is located in Southwest Virginia. If necessary, remind students what North, South, East and West are. Draw a compass using on the map of Virginia to give students a visual.
- Have the students return to their seats and independently fill out the “Appalachian Plateau Graphic Organizer” sheet at their tables, and then store it in their social studies folder for reference.
- Summarize the lessons for the week. Have students make a five tab foldable (download file above) that contains the name of each region on the outside of the tabs and the location and the land attributes on the inside of the tabs (http://www.0y7.net/pkk/virginia-studies-foldables-susie-orr).
Key Questions:
- What are the five geographic regions of Virginia?
- How do these regions’ terrain differ from one another? How are they similar?
- Where are they located?
- What are some key crops that are produced in each of these regions? (extension)
- What key plants/ animals were essential to the survival of the early settlers in each of these regions? (extension)