Western Region of the US: Geography
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Discover the Geographic Wonders of the West
Take your students on an unforgettable journey through the geography of the Western Region with our engaging, standards-aligned video. From the towering Rocky Mountains to the vast Pacific coastline, students will explore the natural beauty, diverse climates, and rich resources that make the West unique. They’ll discover how mountains shape daily life, why the Pacific Ocean influences weather, and how Alaska and Hawaii’s extreme landscapes impact the people who live there.
This visually stunning and highly interactive video covers everything from agricultural powerhouses to earthquakes, volcanoes, and the mysterious rain shadow effect. Students will meet the wildlife of the West, including grizzly bears, cougars, puffins, sea otters, mountain lions, and desert creatures, then see how natural resources like forests, oil, and water have shaped industries for centuries.
With fun facts, real-world connections, and engaging activities, this video brings geography to life in a way that captivates young learners. Make learning immersive and exciting with this must-see virtual field trip!
Companion Video to:
Western Region: Early Beginnings
Video Length: 33:22 minutes
Learning Resources with this Video*
Quiz
Western State Study
Utilizing the Land and Water
Predicting Weather
Draw a Scene
Universal Resources
National Standards
*Links are active on Full Video page.
Topics Covered
The meaning of CONUS
Mountain states vs. Pacific states
Natural Resources in the West:
-Minerals
-Land (farming, ranching, public land)
-Forests
-Water (irrigation, dams, fishing)
-Oil
Climate
-Factors affecting climate (elevation, latitude, etc.)
-Unique climatic zones
-Precipitation
-Rain shadow effect
-Earthquakes
Plants & Animals of the West
-Bears (polar, brown, grizzly, black, Kodiak)
-Mountain Mammals (bison, elk, moose, cougar)
-Desert animals
-Hawaiian life
Classroom Ideas
Western Region of the US: Geography
Landforms and Bodies of Water
Print out or look at a map of the Western Region.
Identify landforms and bodies of water in the Western Region.
Cloze Practice
A cloze piece has full sentences used in the virtual field trip with blanks where students can write in the information that is missing. This task requires close listening to the trip in order to complete it.
Art and Social Studies
Draw a scene from the video you just watched.
Create Quizzes
Students create a quiz based on the information presented for their peers. This can be used as a review for a test, or Jigsaw class activity where students are responsible for teaching other students assigned topics.
Visual Learning
Offer videos to struggling learners as another form of creating knowledge and accessing information.
Classroom Ideas for ALL Videos
Here are dozens and dozens of ideas that you can use in your classroom along with our videos!
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