Regions of California
World Map
Big Idea
California is a western state in the USA on the continent of North America.
California is a western state in the USA on the continent of North America.
Details
California is located on the west coast of the United States. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west. It is bordered on the north by Oregon. Nevada and Arizona are located to the east. Mexico is a country to the south of California.
California is located on the west coast of the United States. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west. It is bordered on the north by Oregon. Nevada and Arizona are located to the east. Mexico is a country to the south of California.
Read page 19 in your Reflections (blue hardcover) social studies textbook.
You may not write in this textbook.
Answer the three questions below.
You may not write in this textbook.
Answer the three questions below.
How many natural regions is CA divided into?
What is a natural region?
What are the regions called?
What is a natural region?
What are the regions called?
California is divided into four natural regions. A natural region is made up of places that share similar physical features like landforms, bodies of water, climate and plants. The regions of California are the Coastal Region, the Mountain Region, the Central Valley Region, and the Desert Region.
Add a map of the four regions of California.
The Coastal Region
Torrance Beach on the Southern California Coast
Northern California Coast
Read page 20 in your social studies textbook.
Use the highlighted sentences to write one paragraph (six or more sentences) about the Coastal Region.
Use the highlighted sentences to write one paragraph (six or more sentences) about the Coastal Region.
Big Idea - Topic Sentence
The Coastal Region extends for more than 800 miles north and south along the western side of California.
The Coastal Region extends for more than 800 miles north and south along the western side of California.
Details
The Coast Ranges are small mountains found in the Coastal Region. In Southern California, the Coast Mountain Range rises east of the coastal plain, an area of low land with beautiful sandy beaches along the shoreline. In Northern California, the mountains go right up to the ocean where steep cliffs plunge into the Pacific. California's Coastal Region has three large harbors - Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco are important for trade.
The Coast Ranges are small mountains found in the Coastal Region. In Southern California, the Coast Mountain Range rises east of the coastal plain, an area of low land with beautiful sandy beaches along the shoreline. In Northern California, the mountains go right up to the ocean where steep cliffs plunge into the Pacific. California's Coastal Region has three large harbors - Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco are important for trade.
Big Idea - Conclusion
In conclusion, the Coastal Region stretches along the Pacific Ocean in California from the northern part of the state to the southern coast.
In conclusion, the Coastal Region stretches along the Pacific Ocean in California from the northern part of the state to the southern coast.
Add pictures and captions of harbors or ports: Los Angeles, San Diego, and Oakland.
San Diego Bay
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Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles
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Port of Oakland
The Mountain Region
Made with Visme Infographic Maker
Read page 21 in your Reflections social studies textbook.
Create a Visme.
Create a Visme.
Add pictures and captions of California aqueducts and Mt. Whitney below your poster when your Visme is done.
Mt. Whitney - the tallest mountain in the continental US.
Aqueducts bring water from the Mountain Region to areas that need water.
Mt. Whitney
Aqueducts bring water from the Sierra Nevadas to urban and suburban areas.
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Sierra Nevada Mountains
The Central Valley Region
Sacramento is the capital of California. It is located in the Central Valley Region.
The Central Valley Region of California is one of the most productive farming areas in the world.
Read page 22 in your Reflections social studies textbook.
Use the pre-write we generated together to write one paragraph about the Central Valley Region.
Use the pre-write we generated together to write one paragraph about the Central Valley Region.
Big Idea
The Central Valley is a region of low land between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Coast Ranges.
The Central Valley is a region of low land between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Coast Ranges.
Details
The Central Valley runs north and south in the middle of the state and is divided into a northern half, called the San Joaquin Valley and a southern half, called the Sacramento Valley. Where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers meet, a wide delta (land built up by soil carried from rivers) has formed with rich soil. The Central Valley is one of the most productive and rich farming areas in the world. Three fifths of California's farms are located in this region. Farmers use irrigation (water transported from somewhere else) to water their fields.
The Central Valley runs north and south in the middle of the state and is divided into a northern half, called the San Joaquin Valley and a southern half, called the Sacramento Valley. Where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers meet, a wide delta (land built up by soil carried from rivers) has formed with rich soil. The Central Valley is one of the most productive and rich farming areas in the world. Three fifths of California's farms are located in this region. Farmers use irrigation (water transported from somewhere else) to water their fields.
Big Idea - Conclusion
The Central Valley is the most important farming region in the state.
The Central Valley is the most important farming region in the state.
Add a picture below the text box of the Sacramento Delta. Write a caption for your picture.
The Sacramento Delta
The Desert Region
Add a YouTube video about the Desert Region.
Read page 23 and 24 in your Reflections social studies textbook.
Write one paragraph (6 sentences) about the Desert Region. Begin with a topic sentence and end with a conclusion.
Write one paragraph (6 sentences) about the Desert Region. Begin with a topic sentence and end with a conclusion.
Big Idea
The Desert Region, located in the southeastern part of California, is a hot, dry place.
The Desert Region, located in the southeastern part of California, is a hot, dry place.
Details
It is made up of the Mojave (High) Desert and the Colorado (Low) Desert. People who live in the Desert Region use irrigation to get water for farming and their homes. Plants and animals have special adaptations to help them survive in this hostile environment. Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level is one of the hottest and driest places in the USA.
It is made up of the Mojave (High) Desert and the Colorado (Low) Desert. People who live in the Desert Region use irrigation to get water for farming and their homes. Plants and animals have special adaptations to help them survive in this hostile environment. Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level is one of the hottest and driest places in the USA.
Big Idea - Conclusion
The Desert Region's harsh environment makes it challenging for living things to survive.
The Desert Region's harsh environment makes it challenging for living things to survive.
Add a picture and/or a video above your writing and below your title when your writing is done.
Reading Maps of
California's Regions
Made with Visme Infographic Maker
Visme 1
Compare the Reflections map on page 27, "California, Physical", to the map on Reflections page 29, "July Temperatures in California".
Write:
What is the relationship between elevation and temperature? (key idea)
Use specific evidence from the maps to support your answer by contrasting the elevation and temperature in the Mountain and Desert regions. (two supporting sentences)
Compare the Reflections map on page 27, "California, Physical", to the map on Reflections page 29, "July Temperatures in California".
Write:
What is the relationship between elevation and temperature? (key idea)
Use specific evidence from the maps to support your answer by contrasting the elevation and temperature in the Mountain and Desert regions. (two supporting sentences)
Visme 2
Compare the map on Reflection page 20, "California's Regions", to the Reflections map on page 39, "Population Density in California".
Write:
What do you notice? Which two regions have the greatest population density? Which two regions have the least?
Write one contrasting sentence. Use the contrast word "while" in the middle of your sentence.
Example: The ______ Region and the _____ Region have the greatest population density, while the ______ Region and _______ Region have the lowest population density.
Compare the map on Reflection page 20, "California's Regions", to the Reflections map on page 39, "Population Density in California".
Write:
What do you notice? Which two regions have the greatest population density? Which two regions have the least?
Write one contrasting sentence. Use the contrast word "while" in the middle of your sentence.
Example: The ______ Region and the _____ Region have the greatest population density, while the ______ Region and _______ Region have the lowest population density.
Visme 3
Compare the map on Reflections page 20, "California's Regions", with the map on Reflections page 30, "Precipitation in California".
Write one or two sentences:
Rank the regions from greatest to least amount of annual precipitation.
Compare the map on Reflections page 20, "California's Regions", with the map on Reflections page 30, "Precipitation in California".
Write one or two sentences:
Rank the regions from greatest to least amount of annual precipitation.
What have we learned from analyzing these maps?
Let's synthesize what we've learned.
Visme 4 - Paraphrase
Maps help us understand California by giving us visual information and data about our state in a way that is easy to understand.
Let's synthesize what we've learned.
Visme 4 - Paraphrase
Maps help us understand California by giving us visual information and data about our state in a way that is easy to understand.
