Virginia SOLs

WG.5: The student will analyze the characteristics of the regions of the United States and Canada by

a) identifying and analyzing the location of major geographic regions and major cities on maps and globes 

b) describing major physical and environmental features

c) explaining important economic characteristics

d) recognizing cultural influences and landscapes. 

Essential Understandings

The United States and Canada are located on the North American continent.

Canada is located north of the United States of America.

North America includes a variety of geographic regions.

The United States and Canada contain many of the major physical features in North America.

The physical features of North America have influenced the development of the United States and Canada.

The United States and Canada have a wide variety of natural resources.

The abundance of natural resources helped the United States and Canada develop diversified economies.

Europeans exerted the major cultural influences on the United States and Canada.

Canada was initially settled primarily by the French and British. 

Western Europeans (from Britain, France, Spain, and Germany) settled in the United States.

Every country has cultural landscapes that help define the national identity.

Essential Knowledge

Major regions of the United States

• Northeastern United States

• Midwest

• South

• West

Major regions of Canada

• Atlantic Provinces

• Core Provinces

• Prairie Provinces

• Pacific Provinces and territories

Major cities of the United States

• Washington, D.C.

• Chicago

• New York City

• Los Angeles

• Houston

Major cities of Canada

• Toronto

• Montreal

• Ottawa

• Québec City

• Vancouver

Major physical and environmental features

• Rivers

  1. St. Lawrence

  2. Mackenzie

  3. Mississippi

  4. Colorado

  5. Rio Grande

• Other water features

• • 1. Gulf of Mexico

    2. Great Lakes

    3. Arctic Ocean

    4. Pacific Ocean

    5. Atlantic Ocean

    6. Hudson Bay

    7. Niagara Falls

• Land forms

• • 1. Appalachian Mountains

    2. Pacific Coastal Range

    3. Rocky Mountains 

    4. Canadian Shield

    5. Great Plains

    6. Interior Lowlands

    7. Atlantic Coastal Plain

    8. Continental Divide

• • 1. 1. Varied climatic regions

Economic characteristics

• Major exporters of technology, information systems, and foodstuff

• Highly developed infrastructures

• Highly diversified economies

• Rich supply of mineral, energy, and forest resources

• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

• Multinational corporations

• A key center of world financial markets (New York Stock Exchange)

• Economic growth

• Disparity of income distribution

• Export of culture via the global marketplace (e.g., McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, entertainment, fashion)

• High literacy rate

• High standard of living

Major natural resources 

• Forestry

• Petroleum

• Minerals

• Fertile soil 

• Water

Cultural influences

• Colonized by the Europeans

• Multicultural societies

• Increasingly diverse populations through immigration

• Canada’s struggle to maintain a national identity

• World’s longest unfortified border divides the United States and Canada

• Democratic forms of government

• Arts that reflect the cultural heritage of multicultural societies

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Cultural landscape

• Parliament Hill

• CN Tower

• U.S. Capitol

• Golden Gate Bridge

• Washington Monument

• Rural, suburban, and urban landscapes

• Diverse ethnic settlements (urban neighborhoods)

• Bilingual signs

• Influence of the automobile (e.g., gas stations, motels, interstate highways, drive-up services)