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Here are the teacher pack items for Southwest United States:
Overview In this experience, students brainstorm place names that have Spanish origins. Then they learn about the physical geography of the Southwest, focusing on climate, land use, energy production, and hurricanes. Next they learn about the human geography and examine the two-way flow of cultural diffusion. Finally, they prepare a travel brochure for one state in the region. Objectives
The United States is often divided into geographic areas. In this experience, you will learn about the Southwest, which contains the following states: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Objectives
Bluebonnet field in Texas
When Europeans settlers began to colonize the Americas, Spain controlled what is today the Southwest United States. Many cities and towns in the region have Spanish names. Post a place name of Spanish origin in the word cloud.
Sample answers: Albuquerque, El Paso, Bexar County, Hidalgo County (both Texas and New Mexico), Los Alamos, Casa Grande. Tell students that these states also have many place names that come from Native American tribe names and words. See if they can name any. Sample answers: Texas, Waco, Tucson, Taos. Ask students: How might place names be an example of cultural diffusion?
