Western Region: Landforms
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COMING SOON
Take Your Students on a Journey Through the Breathtaking Landforms of the West!
From towering mountain peaks to vast deserts, the Western Region is home to the most diverse and dramatic landscapes in the U.S. This captivating, standards-aligned video immerses 4th graders in the majestic landforms that define the West, making geography an exciting adventure!
Students will explore the mighty Rocky Mountains, rugged Pacific coastline, and volcanic landscapes of Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest. They’ll discover the towering cliffs of Yosemite, the sizzling heat of Death Valley, and the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone’s geysers. Let’s not forget about the lush rainforests of Hawaii and the icy glaciers of Alaska. Along the way, they’ll learn how plate tectonics, erosion, and volcanic activity have shaped this breathtaking region over millions of years.
This engaging, high-quality video features fun facts, stunning visuals, and real-world connections that bring the geography of the West to life. Whether it’s the Columbia River carving deep canyons, the mystery of the Great Basin Desert, or the towering Redwoods and Sequoias, students will gain a deeper appreciation for Earth’s incredible landscapes.
Make learning unforgettable! Subscribe today to bring this immersive virtual field trip into your classroom.
Companion Video to:
Western Region: Early Beginnings
Video Length: 34:20 minutes
Learning Resources with this Video*
Quiz
Universal Resources
National Standards
*Links are active on Full Video page.
Topics Covered
Volcanoes
Mountain Ranges:
-Rocky Mountains
-Cascade Range
-Coast Ranges
-Sierra Nevada
-Alaskan Ranges
Notable Mountains
Pacific Coastline
Rivers
-Columbia River
-Snake River
-Willamette River
-Colorado River
Lakes of the Western Region (Crater, Great Salt, Tahoe)
Valleys of the Western Region (Central, Yosemite, Death Valley)
Deserts of the Western Region (Mojave, Great Basin)
Rainforests (temperate vs. tropical)
Geysers & Hot springs
Continental Divide
Tour of each National Park in the West as they relate to landforms:
-8 National Parks in Alaska (Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley, Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, Lake Clark, Katmai, Glacier Bay, Kenai Fjords)
-2 National Parks in Hawai’i (Haleakalā, Hawai’i Volcanoes)
-3 National Parks in Washington (Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Olympic)
-1 National Park in Oregon (Crater Lake)
-1 National Monument in Idaho (Craters of the Moon)
-1 National Park in Montana (Glacier)
-4 National Parks in Colorado (Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, Rocky Mountain, Black Canyon of the Gunnison)
-2 National Parks in Wyoming (Grand Teton, Yellowstone)
-5 National Parks in Utah (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion)
-1 National Park in Nevada (Great Basin)
-9 National Parks in California (Redwood, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Pinnacles, Lassen Volcanic, Death Valley, Channel Islands, Joshua Tree, Yosemite)
Classroom Ideas
Western Region of the US: Landforms
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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