Lesson 2: The Northeast
Getting Started
Today you will begin your journey to the northeast region of the United States. Have you ever visited the Northeast? Maybe you live there. Think about what you know about this region.
The Northeast is known for its cold winters and heavily populated states. Although the states in the Northeast are small in land size, they are large in population. Most of the states in the Northeast have a coastline bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
The Northeast is known for its cold winters and heavily populated states. Although the states in the Northeast are small in land size, they are large in population. Most of the states in the Northeast have a coastline bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
Stuff You Need
- "Timeline of American History"* (Activity 2 - optional)
- Smart About the Fifty States: A Class Report by Jon Buller
- colored pencils* (Activity 2 - Option 2)
- journal
- supplies to make a short book* (Activity 2 - Option 2)
* - denotes an optional material that may or may not be needed
Ideas to Think About
- How are the regions within the United States similar and different?
- What do the regions of the United States offer their citizens?
- What relationships exist among the different regions of the United States?
Things to Know
- The Northeast includes the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Maryland.
- Many American immigrants arrived on the northeast seaboard and remained in the area.
- The states in the Northeast are small in land size but have large populations.
Skills
- Explain the geographic factors that influence patterns of settlement and the distribution of population. (SS)
- Compare and contrast the physical and cultural characteristics of regions within the United States. (SS)
- Identify clusters of settlement in the United States. (SS)
- Describe the absolute and relative location of major landforms, bodies of water, and natural resources in the United States. (SS)
- Compare and contrast the physical and cultural characteristics of regions within the United States. (SS)
- Explain how and why population distribution differs within the United States. (SS)
Introducing the Lesson
Explain to your child that today she will explore the Northeast region. She will begin her journey here because this is where the earliest colonial Americans established their homes.
Materials: Smart About the Fifty States: A Class Report by Jon Buller, journal
In Smart About the Fifty States read about the states in the Northeast region. List an important fact about each state in your journal as you read.
Questions
- Maine
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
- Delaware
Northeastern States
Read the statements your child wrote about each state in the Northeast.