North America7th Grade UBD - Unit 7 – The Americas

Preview

North America- North America is the third largest

of the seven continents. It is bordered by the Atlantic

Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Canada- Canada is the world's second-largest

country by total area, and its common border with

the United States is the world's longest land border.

United States- The United States of America, the

third largest country by size in the world, is a nation

of staggering natural, geological, and cultural

diversity.

Key Ideas- North America

North America has an almost endless range of

natural resources and is bonded by trade and

culture.

North Americans are the most mobile people in

the world.

North America is the third largest continent.

North America is the only continent that has

every kind of climate.

Key Term

North

America –

The world’s

third-largest

continent,

consisting of

Canada, the

United States,

Mexico, and

many islands.

Introduction

Although Columbus is

given much credit as

having discovered

Americas, there were

plenty of people already

living in North America

prior to the Europeans

having arrived.

In the 1600's the

Europeans quickly

colonized and took over

much of North America.

Defining North America

North America as a geographic name

means different things to different

people.

To physical geographers, North America

refers to the landmass that extends from

the shores of the Arctic Ocean to Panama.

To human geographers, North America

consists of Canada and the United States.

Defining the Realm

North America has an almost

endless range of natural

resources and is bonded by

trade and culture.

For the United States,

Canada is its leading export

market and its number one

source of imports.

Both the United States and

Canada have a developed

infrastructures that make

travel and trade easy.

Defining the Realm

Both countries rank among

the world’s most highly

urbanized.

About 80 percent of the

population is concentrated

in cities.

North Americans are the

most mobile people in the

world.

Moreover, each year nearly

one out of every six people

changes his or her

residence.

Questions

1. What groups of people inhabited North America

before Columbus “discovered” it?

2. What country is the leading export market for the

United States and its number one source of imports?

3. What kinds of climate does North America have?

Answers

1. What groups of people inhabited North America before

Columbus “discovered” it?

Many Native American tribes and the Aztec civilization inhabited

North America before Columbus “discovered” it.

2. What country is the leading export market for the United

States and its number one source of imports?

Canada is the leading export market for the United States and its

number one source of imports.

3. What kinds of climate does North America have?

North America has every type of climate.

Canada and AmericaVideo-Canada and America

Key Ideas- Canada

Today, Canada is a world leader in agricultural

production, telecommunications, and energy

technologies. The vast majority of Canada's

exports go to the United States.

Canada is the second largest oil reserve holder

after Saudi Arabia.

Canada is the leader in uranium mining and is

the world leader of Hydro Electricity.

Key Term

Ottawa–

Is the

capital of

Canada.

Canada's Geography

Canada is a vast and

rugged land.

It is the second

largest country in the

world, but it has only

one-half of one

percent of the world's

population.

Canada's Geography

Canada's far north lies in

the frozen grip of the Arctic,

where ice, snow, and

glaciers dominate the

landscape.

Few trees grow here, and

farming is not practical.

Native Canadians lived in

this region by hunting and

fishing.

Canada's Nature

Canada's remote north

and extensive forests

are home to wildlife.

The country's lakes

and rivers contain

about twenty percent

of all fresh water on

Earth.

Canada's Nature

Canadians work hard to

protect the native wildlife.

Canada has 41 national

parks and three marine

conservation areas.

Nevertheless, species like

wolves, lynx, and Atlantic

fish have been overhunted

and overfished.

Key Term

Mountie-

A member

of the

Royal

Canadian

Mounted

Police.

Key Term

Preservation

– Setting aside

areas of land

and protecting

them from

human

activities.

Niagara FallsVideo-Niagara Falls

Eyewitness To HistoryReading Activity- Eyewitness To History 20

Canada's History

In the 16th century, French and

British settlers arrived.

Land disputes between farmers

and fur traders led to four wars

between 1689 and 1763.

The final war, called the French

and Indian War, left the British in

control of Canada, but French

influence remains strong even

today.

Canada's History

In 1867, Ontario, Quebec,

Nova Scotia, and New

Brunswick combined to

form a country with its

own government,

parliament, and prime

minister.

In 1931, Canada became

an independent nation.

Canada’s Government and Economy

The British monarch is the

head of state of Canada.

The monarch is represented

by a governor-general, who

has very limited powers.

Laws are made by Canada's

elected federal

government, which includes

a parliament and a prime

minister.

Natural Resources in Canada

Canada has a small population of

only about 35 million.

The Canadian people are rich in

natural resources.

This abundance of natural

resources in Canada has allowed

it to prosper. Many other countries

do not have the same resources

for feeding their populations,

supporting industry, and meeting

their energy needs.

Canada’s Government and Economy

Today, Canada is a

world leader in

agricultural production,

telecommunications,

and energy

technologies.

The vast majority of

Canada's exports go to

the United States.

Questions

1. Canada is the second largest country

in the world, but it has only what

percent of the world's population?

2. Today, Canada is a world leader in

what types of industries?

Answers

1. Canada is the second largest country in the world, but

it has only what percent of the world's population?

Canada has one-half of one percent of the world's

population.

2. Today, Canada is a world leader in what types of

industries?

Canada is a world leader in agricultural production,

telecommunications, and energy technologies.

Key Ideas- The United States

The people of the United States are very diverse. People

come from many different cultures and backgrounds

and practice many different religions. 

The American people are dedicated to the pursuit of

happiness and freedoms of speech and religion.

Advances in the past hundred years have established

America as a world leader economically, militarily, and

technologically.

Key Term

Washingto

n, D.C. -

The capital

of the United

States.

The United States Geography

The United States of America

is the world's third largest

country in size and nearly the

third largest in terms of

population.

Located in North America, the

country is bordered on the

west by the Pacific Ocean and

to the east by the Atlantic

Ocean.

Along the northern border is

Canada and the southern

border is Mexico.

The United States Nature

The wildlife in the United

States is as diverse as the

landscape.

Mammals such as bison once

roamed freely across the

plains, but now live only in

preserves.

There are over 20,000 flower

species and most came from

Europe.

The bald eagle is the national

bird and symbol of the United

States and is a protected

species.

The United States History

For centuries native

people lived across the

vast expanse that would

become the United

States. In the early 17th

century, settlers moved

from Europe to the New

World, established

colonies, and displaced

the native people.

The United States History

The settlers fought for their

independence from Britain in the

late 18th century and formed a

union of states based on a new

constitution.

The nation continued to expand

westward.

Since declaring independence

from Britain on July 4, 1776 the

United States has become a global

power.

The United States People and Culture

The U.S. population is dispersed

across most of the country

forming most of the country

concentrations along the

Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

The U.S. population is nearly

ten times larger than Canada’s.

In fact, the United States is the

world’s third most populated

country after China and India.

The United States People and Culture

Throughout its history,

the United States has

been a nation of

immigrants.

The population of the

United States is diverse

with people from all over

the world seeking refuge

and a better way of life.

American DiversityVideo- American Diversity

The United States Government and Economy

The federal government

makes laws that affect the

country as a whole.

The State government handle

matters that affect the state

like state highways and

funding for public schools.

Local governments provide

community services such as

fire and police protection.

The United States Government and Economy

The United States

has a Bill of Rights

that guarantees

fundamental

freedoms and

protections to

citizens.

Key Term

Bill of Rights-

The first ten

amendments of

the U.S.

Constitution,

containing a list of

individual rights

and liberties, such

as freedom of

speech, religion,

and the press.

The United States Government and Economy

Citizens over the age of 18

years vote to elect the

President and Vice President of

the United States every four

years.

The president lives in the White

House in Washington, D.C.

There are two houses of

Congress: the Senate and the

House of Representatives.

Key Term

Congress-

The legislative

branch of

government,

consisting of the

House of

Representatives

and Senate.

Primarily

responsible for

making laws.

The United States Government and Economy

There are 100 senators,

two from each state.

There are 435

representatives who must

be elected every two years.

The Supreme Court is

made up of nine justices

who are picked by the

president and must be

approved by Congress.

Key Term

The Supreme

Court - The

head judicial

branch of the

United States

government.

The decisions

of the Supreme

Court are

absolute and

final.

The United States Government and Economy

The first African American

president of the United

States was Barack

Obama. He was elected

President of the United

States in 2008.

Today, America is a world

leader economically,

militarily, and

technologically.

Key Term

North American

Free Trade

Agreement

(NAFTA)- A trade

agreement

between Canada,

the United States

and Mexico that

encourages free

trade between

these North

American

countries.

Questions

1. Advances in the past hundred years have established

America as a world leader in what areas?

2. The United States has a Bill of Rights that guarantees

what?

3. The first African American president of the United

States was Barack Obama. He was elected President of

the United States in what year?

Answers

1. Advances in the past hundred years have established America as a

world leader in what areas?

Advances in the past hundred years have established America as a world

leader economically, militarily, and technologically.

2. The United States has a Bill of Rights that guarantees what?

The United States has a Bill of Rights that guarantees fundamental

freedoms and protections to citizens.

3. The first African American president of the United States was

Barack Obama. He was elected President of the United States in

what year?

In 2008 Barack Obama was elected President of the United States.

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)