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Aim:

Topic: American Geography

Part 1: America the Beautiful. After you listen to the song, answer the following questions:

1) What questions do you have about the lyrics and song?

2) How does this song make you feel about our country when you hear Ray Charles sing it?

3) Look at the lyrics that are in bold letters. How do they suggest America is “blessed” in a poetic way by nature?

4) How does the song suggest America’s land is special or unique?

5) What question do you think we could ask about America’s geography based on this song?

America the Beautiful by Ray Charles

Oh beautiful, for heroes proved,

In liberating strife,

Who more than self, our country loved,

And mercy more than life,

America, America, may God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness

And every gain divined.

And you know when I was in school,

We used to sing it something like this, listen here:

Oh beautiful, for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties,

Above the fruited plain,

But now wait a minute, I'm talking about

America, sweet America,

You know, God done shed his grace on thee,

He crowned thy good, yes he did, in a brotherhood,

From sea to shining sea.

You know, I wish I had somebody to help me sing this

(America, America, God shed his grace on thee)

America, I love you America, you see,

My God he done shed his grace on thee,

And you oughta love him for it,

Cause he, he, he, he, crowned thy good,

He told me he would, with brotherhood,

(From sea to shining sea).

Oh Lord, oh Lord, I thank you Lord

(Shining sea).

Task#2: in pairs, read the documents, answering all of the questions and then based on your answers create a chart – listing all of the blessings geography has had on America with specific examples.

Document #1: Introduction

Many songs, poems, and movies have celebrated the beauty, majesty, and diversity of the American land. America’s geography (the study of the physical features of the earth) has greatly influenced the settlement, history and economic development of the nation. If the statement, “geography is destiny (fate)” is true, nature has definitely “blessed” the United States with many advantages. In our class today, we are going to look at some of the “blessings” of America’s geography.

Q1. Define: Geography

Document #2: Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans provided a boundary of thousands of miles wide from Europe and Asia. Until the 20th century, it usually took weeks or even months to cross these oceans. The nation was able to use the oceans as barriers (protection) from the wars, and political problems of much of the world.

Q2. How has America’s geography protected it over its history?

Document #3: Coastal Areas

The Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains extend in a broad sweep from New York to Texas. These lowlands result in fertile (farmable land) soil and adequate transportation routes. The gentle slope to the sea, along with natural harbors and proximity (closeness) to the eastern rivers, gives the region excellent ports for shipping.

Q3. Why were many early Americans traders based on this passage?

Document #4: Major River Systems

The Mississippi River has served as a vital north-south water highway in the United States. The main tributaries or smaller connecting rivers to the Mississippi River are the Missouri River to the west, and the Ohio River to the east. These rivers extend the reach of the Mississippi River from the Rocky Mountains in the west to the Appalachian Mountains in the east.

Q4. Why do you think the river systems have been so useful to Americans over the course of their history?

Document #5: Agricultural (Farming) Areas

Fewer than 3% of the workers in the United States today are involved directly in agriculture, yet the nation produces enormous surpluses (extra above needed amounts) of food. Nearly 40% of the world’s corn is grown in the United States, and between 10%-20% of the world’s cotton and wheat. The Midwest of the United States (states like Iowa and Kansas) is the most productive agricultural region, while California produces the greatest value of agricultural products.

Q5. Why do you think the Midwest often called the “breadbasket” of the world?

Document #6: Natural Resources

The richness of the United States in natural resources (valuable substances such as wood and oil that exist in a country’s land and ocean) helped it to become the leading industrial nation in the world. Historically, the discovery of gold and silver in places such as California, Nevada, and Alaska set off rushes in which people would race to a location to claim their fortune. More important in the long run have been other resources such as oil, natural gas, iron ore and coal. Copper, lead, phosphorus, zinc, and uranium are a few of the minerals mined in the United States.

Q6. How have America’s resources helped it become one of the richest nations in the world?

Document #7: Natural Beauty

Each year, tens of millions of tourists from all over the world come to the United States. Why? The sheer size, diversity, and beauty of America have captured the imagination of its people and many others from around the globe. America’s regions include deserts, snow-capped mountains, swamps, plains, and vast forests. Few other places boast so much beauty and natural wealth in one nation. National Forests and Parks draw millions to the U.S. every year.

Q7. Why do you think so many poems, books, and paintings are inspired by America’s geography?

Task: In pairs or individually, list as many “blessings” as you can from our reading and discussion today.

Counterpoint (in one paragraph 5-7 sentences with examples): Wealth, natural or otherwise, can be a blessing. Under what circumstances might it become a “curse,” or something bad? How might America’s isolation and plentiful resources “hurt” it in certain ways?

11US1-1 Geography

Mr. Puelle & Ms. Harary

September 2011

Aim: Has the geography of the U.S. been a “blessing?”

Motivation: Ray Charles America the Beautiful

>How does this song make you feel about our country when you hear Ray Charles sing it?

Look at the lyrics that are in bold letters.

>How do they suggest America is “blessed” in a poetic way by nature?

>How does the song suggest America’s land is special or unique?

>What question do you think we could ask about America’s geography based on this song?

>What would we need to know to answer this question?

Keywords: Geography, Fertile, Surpluses

Read 1:

>Based on the reading who can define geography in their own words?

Read 2:

>Today, America has one of the most powerful militaries in the world. Why did America’s geography make a strong military unnecessary for much of America’s early history?

O/H: Map of U.S. showing oceans

>How might being so “well protected,” possibly hurt America? (Use overprotected child analogy) How does this explain why 9/11 was so devastating to Americans?

Read 3:

>Many early Americans were merchants and traders. Why do you think these were popular professions? O/H: Coastal Plain Map

Read 4:

>What has 4 “I’s” and cannot see? Poems, book and movies have been made about the Mississippi River. Why has the Mississippi River been such an important part of American life?

O/H: Hurricane Katrina Image

>How can rivers be a “curse” based on this image?

Read 5:

>Americans are the best fed people in the world. How has geography made this possible?

Read 6:

>America is one of the richest industrial nations in the world. How did our land make the growth of large industrial businesses possible?

Read 7: O/H: Natural Beauty Images

>Where would you like to vacation in the United States? Why do so many tourists come to the U.S. every year? How might the inspiration of natural beauty benefit us as a people?

>O/H: S.F. Earthquake, Hurricane Irene

>How has our geography caused us great harm just last month?

Complete Task:

|Blessings |Curses |

| | |

|1. Natural beauty and majesty. |1. Isolation has bred extremes, naiveté in foreign policy. |

|2. Natural resources such as coal, oil, minerals, timber. |2. Wealth has led to waste of resources, inability to adapt well to |

|3. Vast interconnected river systems. |scarcity. |

|4. Excellent growing climate for a variety of crops. |3. Coastal Plains flood causing damage. |

|5. Midwest, Great Plains “breadbasket” |4. California San Andreas fault causes earthquakes. |

|6. Protection afforded by oceans. | |

>How do you think such natural wealth in America over its history might make it difficult for Americans to adapt to the need to use fewer resources in the 21st century?

Answer Aim question.

America the Beautiful by Ray Charles

Oh beautiful, for heroes proved,

In liberating strife,

Who more than self, our country loved,

And mercy more than life,

America, America, may God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness

And every gain divined.

And you know when I was in school,

We used to sing it something like this, listen here:

Oh beautiful, for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties,

Above the fruited plain,

But now wait a minute, I'm talking about

America, sweet America,

You know, God done shed his grace on thee,

He crowned thy good, yes he did, in a brotherhood,

From sea to shining sea.

You know, I wish I had somebody to help me sing this

(America, America, God shed his grace on thee)

America, I love you America, you see,

My God he done shed his grace on thee,

And you oughta love him for it,

Cause he, he, he, he, crowned thy good,

He told me he would, with brotherhood,

(From sea to shining sea).

Oh Lord, oh Lord, I thank you Lord

(Shining sea).

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