Midwest United States


Social Studies American History Geography of the United States Midwest United States
Students make observations about a thematic map. Then they learn about the physical geography of the Midwest, focusing on climate, plains and bodies of water, and tornadoes. Next they learn about the human geography and explain the nickname “the Rust Belt.” Finally, they prepare a thematic map of the region.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

1:1 Devices
Teacher Pack

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Here are the teacher pack items for Midwest United States:

Preview - Scene 1
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Overview

In this experience, students make observations about a thematic map. Then they learn about the physical geography of the Midwest, focusing on climate, plains and bodies of water, and tornadoes. Next they learn about the human geography and explain the nickname “the Rust Belt.” Finally, they prepare a thematic map of the region.

Students will collaborate in small groups for scene 4.

Estimated duration: 30–40 minutes for the core content; one or more sessions for the thematic map, depending how much time you want to dedicate to teaching students about thematic maps in general, and then how much time you give groups to research and prepare their maps

Vocabulary words:

  • severe
  • tornado
  • column
  • nomadic
  • bison
  • decline
  • rust

Objectives

  • Identify major physical characteristics of Midwest United States.
  • Describe human activity in the region.


Engage


The United States is often divided into geographic areas. In this experience, you will learn about the Midwestern region, which contains the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Objectives

  • Identify major physical characteristics of Midwest United States.
  • Describe human activity in the region.


Tall buildings and a park in downtown Chicago alongside the bank of Lake Michigan

Downtown Chicago Overlooking Lake Michigan


Look at the map shown below. What does it show? How is it different from other maps that you have used?


A thematic map of the United States showing the total population

Post an observation you have about the map. If someone has already posted your observation, try to think of a different one.



Explain to students that the map is a thematic map. Instead of showing where places are located, it shows data about a theme. In this case, the map shows how many students age 3 and older each state has.

Students may have made the following observations:

  • The map includes a title, a legend, and a scale. It does not have a compass rose or a grid.
  • The data is color-coded.
  • The data is presented by state, not by region or city.
  • From the map we can tell how many students each state has, but not how many schools.
  • The map is giving us information about number of students, not about locations.
  • Most of the states have fewer than 1.8 million students aged 3 or older.
Before moving on, point out the location of the Midwest states on the map.


When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

End of Preview
The Complete List of Learning Experiences in Geography of the United States Unit.
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