Social Studies

USA PACIFIC REGION

Indicator 1 and 2 Second Term, 2016
Seventh grade
Boston International School

Objective: To understand that the Pacific

Region of the United States has unique
characteristics that make it special and different
to other regions.

Learning Objective: Describes and classifies

information related to the geography and people
of the Pacific Region of the United States.

Biblical Principle

I want to work for Jesus

Matthew 9:37
37Then says he unto his disciples, The
harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers
are few;

Pacific region

Geography of the Pacific Region

STATE
CAPITAL
Alaska (AK)
Juneau
Hawaii (HI)
Honolulu
Washington (WA)
Olympia
Oregon (OR)
Salem
California (CA)
Sacramento
THE WEST COAST STATES Washington
Oregon
California

CLIMATE They have mild climate

because the Pacific Ocean carries warm
water and warm breezes from the south,
they also cause more rain to fall in Oregon
and Washington.

EARTHQUAKES
An Earthquake is a strong shaking of the
ground. In the USA, most of the earthquakes
happen in the Pacific Region.

ALASKA (AK)
It is the largest state in the United States.
To reach Alaska from the state of Washington,
you have to travel hundreds of miles north
through Canada.
The northern Alaska is Tundra. This is the
land that is too cold for trees to grow. Not
all Alaska is tundra, it is warm in Southern
Alaska for farmers to grow oats, barley and
potatoes.

HAWAII (HI)
It is farther west and farther south than any other state.
It is hundreds of miles out in the Pacific Ocean.
Hawaii is known for its mild, pleasant climate.
The islands of Hawaii were formed long time ago by
Volcanoes.
Volcanoes are openings in the crust of the Earth
through which melting rocks, dust, ash, and hot gases
are thrown up.
The hot rock is called Lava. Millions of years ago,
volcanoes under the Pacific Ocean erupted (shot lava
into the air). The hardened lava formed the Hawaiian
Islands.

Homework:
Cut and paste the physical maps of the
islands of Hawaii and Alaska. Compare them
and answer:
Suppose you were going to move to Alaska
or Hawaii. Which state would you choose?
Explain your answer.

Physiographic Features
Columbia River: Flows through
Washington state and forms the border
between it and Oregon. The Columbia river
is the largest hydroelectric power producing
river in America.
Cascades Range
Coast Range

http://mrnussbaum.com/united-states/west/

PEOPLE IN THE PACIFIC

REGION

Many groups of American Indians, such as the

Modoc and Yakima, lived near the west coast.
Before the settlers came, the American Indian
groups fished, hunted, and used the trees of
the forest to build boats and houses.
Then Spanish colonist and Mexican Americans
moved there. During the 1800s, pioneers from
East began moving to the west. At that time
the West was known as the frontier. A frontier
is the farthest edge of a country, where a few
settlers live.

In 1848 gold was discovered in California.

Immigrants from Europe came too. They
hoped to find gold or good land there. Then
news of gold in California reached China.
China is a country in Asia, which is across
the Pacific Ocean. Immigrant from China
came to California to look for gold.

PEOPLE TODAY
The Pacific Region has a great mixture of people
and ways of life as you can find anywhere in the
United States. People have moved to the region
from all over the world. Many American Indians,
Hispanics, and Asian Americans live in the Pacific
Region.
About 45 million people live in the Pacific Region.
Alaska is the largest state, but few people live
there. California has the biggest population of all
the states. Los Angeles , California, is the largest
city in the Pacific Region.

ECONOMY OF THE PACIFIC

REGION
The forest of Oregon and Washington provide
many of the wood products we use.
The major product of Alaska is oil. The oil field in
Alaska is bigger than any other in North America.
Many fruits and vegetables are grown in the west
Coast states.
California and Washington are also important
centers for technology.
Since all the states of this region are near the
Pacific Ocean fishing is an important part of the
economy.

ALASKA

HAWAII

CALIFORNIA

OREGON

WASHINGTON