All About California
Where in the world is California located?
Read Social Studies Text pages 13-15
Write a paragraph (6 sentences) to describe the geography of California. Explain why the location is important.
1. Cite evidence from the text.
2. You have to use these key words:
Pacific Ocean, continent, Pacific Basin, northern and western hemisphere, prime meridian, North America
3. Add an image and a caption when you are done writing.
Teacher Model:
California: The Pacific Coast State
(Copy this title onto your website)
Topic Sentence: California is located in the continent of North America along the Pacific Ocean.
Detail #1: It is in the Northern and Western Hemisphere on the globe.
Support #1: East of California are the states of Nevada and Arizona while Oregon is up north.
Detail #2: Since California is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, it provides easy access for ships to sail in from other states and countries.
Support #2: This makes California one of the places that is part of the world region called the Pacific Basin.
Concluding Sentence: Ultimately,people from all over the world can travel to California to exchange ideas and goods.
The Natural Regions of California
Watch this video. Take notes on your graphic organizer.
1. Read pgs 20-45 in your Social Studies textbook.
2. Identify important facts from each region to add to your notes from the video.
3. Use the evidence from the video AND your textbook to write an informative paragraph about your region that matches your perspective art.
4. Paraphrase and summarize. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE.
5. Make sure to include all of the vocabularies for each region.
6. Type up the draft paragraph on Google Doc in your TUSD account.
2. Identify important facts from each region to add to your notes from the video.
3. Use the evidence from the video AND your textbook to write an informative paragraph about your region that matches your perspective art.
4. Paraphrase and summarize. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE.
5. Make sure to include all of the vocabularies for each region.
6. Type up the draft paragraph on Google Doc in your TUSD account.
The Coastal Region
Key words to include:
Coast Ranges coastal plain San Francisco Bay San Diego Bay
northern coast southern coast precipitation redwoods
The Mountain Region
Key words to include:
Sierra Nevada Mount Whitney Yosemite Valley Yosemite National Park
Lake Tahoe Cascade Range precipitation Sequoia National Park
natural resource
The mountain region stretches across the eastern part of California. The largest mountain range is________________ and the highest mountain is ________________. The Yosemite Valley lies ____________________, which is part of the Yosemite National Park.
Another great feature of the mountain region is Lake Tahoe. It is the deepest natural lake that is more than 1,600 feet deep in the Sierra Nevada. Lastly, in the states of Oregon and Washington lies the Cascade Range. Two volcanoes named Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak are on its peaks.
Sierra Nevada Mount Whitney Yosemite Valley Yosemite National Park
Lake Tahoe Cascade Range precipitation Sequoia National Park
natural resource
The mountain region stretches across the eastern part of California. The largest mountain range is________________ and the highest mountain is ________________. The Yosemite Valley lies ____________________, which is part of the Yosemite National Park.
Another great feature of the mountain region is Lake Tahoe. It is the deepest natural lake that is more than 1,600 feet deep in the Sierra Nevada. Lastly, in the states of Oregon and Washington lies the Cascade Range. Two volcanoes named Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak are on its peaks.
The Central Valley Region
Key words to include:
San Joaquin River Sacramento River tributaries delta fertile soil
San Joaquin River Sacramento River tributaries delta fertile soil
The Central Valley region has low land between the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada.
The Desert Region
Key words to include:
Mojave Desert Colorado River Imperial and Coachella Valleys
irrigation Death Valley sea level scarce (pg.44)
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Mojave Desert Colorado River Imperial and Coachella Valleys
irrigation Death Valley sea level scarce (pg.44)
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Climate and Vegetation
Read pgs. 28-33 in your textbook.
Answer the following questions in COMPLETE sentences.
Copy the questions just like this onto your website and write the answers below each question.
1. What is the climate like in each region? *Write at least 2 summary sentences about each region.
Ex. In the coastal region, the weather is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. There is more rainfall in the northern coast, such as in San Francisco, as opposed to drier climates down in San Diego.
2. How does the climate where you live affect the way you live?
Ex. Since I live in the city of Torrance, which is in the coastal region, I don't need air conditioning in the summer. The breeze from the Pacific Ocean naturally cools the house.
3. Look at the elevation map on page 27.
Compare the elevation for Sacramento to Palm Springs. Which city has a higher elevation?
Palm Springs has the higher elevation at
200-500 meters. On the other hand, Sacramento has 0-200 meters in elevation.
4. Look at the July Temperatures map on page 29. How does elevation affect the temperature?
Ask yourself: Does the temperature increase or decrease if the elevation is higher?
The elevation affects the temperature in various locations. For example, in the city of Eureka, the temperature is below 68 degrees. Since it's in a higher elevation, the climate is colder. In the city of Palm Springs, the elevation is lower so the temperature is warmer at between 84-92 degrees.
Answer the following questions in COMPLETE sentences.
Copy the questions just like this onto your website and write the answers below each question.
1. What is the climate like in each region? *Write at least 2 summary sentences about each region.
Ex. In the coastal region, the weather is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. There is more rainfall in the northern coast, such as in San Francisco, as opposed to drier climates down in San Diego.
2. How does the climate where you live affect the way you live?
Ex. Since I live in the city of Torrance, which is in the coastal region, I don't need air conditioning in the summer. The breeze from the Pacific Ocean naturally cools the house.
3. Look at the elevation map on page 27.
Compare the elevation for Sacramento to Palm Springs. Which city has a higher elevation?
Palm Springs has the higher elevation at
200-500 meters. On the other hand, Sacramento has 0-200 meters in elevation.
4. Look at the July Temperatures map on page 29. How does elevation affect the temperature?
Ask yourself: Does the temperature increase or decrease if the elevation is higher?
The elevation affects the temperature in various locations. For example, in the city of Eureka, the temperature is below 68 degrees. Since it's in a higher elevation, the climate is colder. In the city of Palm Springs, the elevation is lower so the temperature is warmer at between 84-92 degrees.
Living in California
Read pgs. 34-45 in your textbook. Create your own graphic organizer to take notes on your website.
Google Slide Project
Your friend from New York is planning to move out to California. She is tired of the extreme temperatures of wet, snowy winters and hot, humid summer days.
Choose a city (look at the map on page 36) in California that is suitable for your friend. Draw evidences from your textbook to support your opinion. Think about the cultural, economic, climatic, and physical environmental influences that can affect how your friend will live in that particular city.
You can work in pairs for this project. Only ONE group can have 3 members.
Google Slide Criteria:
Slide #1: a catchy title and names
Slide #2: Reason #1 (based on the textbook)
Attach a picture.
Slide #3: Reason #2 (based on the textbook)
Attach a picture.
Slide #4: Reason #3 (based on the textbook)
Attach a picture.
Slide #5: Counter(opposing) argument (What is a downside of living in that city?)
Attach a picture.
Slide #6: Search online to find a famous museum, landmark, amusement park, or an attraction that your friend can visit in that city.
Attach a picture.
When you are done, practice and memorize your lines to present to the whole class.
Your friend from New York is planning to move out to California. She is tired of the extreme temperatures of wet, snowy winters and hot, humid summer days.
Choose a city (look at the map on page 36) in California that is suitable for your friend. Draw evidences from your textbook to support your opinion. Think about the cultural, economic, climatic, and physical environmental influences that can affect how your friend will live in that particular city.
You can work in pairs for this project. Only ONE group can have 3 members.
Google Slide Criteria:
Slide #1: a catchy title and names
Slide #2: Reason #1 (based on the textbook)
Attach a picture.
Slide #3: Reason #2 (based on the textbook)
Attach a picture.
Slide #4: Reason #3 (based on the textbook)
Attach a picture.
Slide #5: Counter(opposing) argument (What is a downside of living in that city?)
Attach a picture.
Slide #6: Search online to find a famous museum, landmark, amusement park, or an attraction that your friend can visit in that city.
Attach a picture.
When you are done, practice and memorize your lines to present to the whole class.