4th Grade Social Studies - Ch. 1

Where is California located, and what is important about its location?

- in the United States, - in North America - in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. - Its location on the Pacific Coast makes it a place where people, goods, and ideas come together from around the world.

Latitude facts

1) run east and west. 2) measured in degrees north and south from the equator. 3) goes from 0 degrees at the equator to 90 degrees at each of the poles.

Longitude fact

1) run north and south, from the North Pole to the South Pole. 2) measured in degrees east and west from the prime meridian. 3) goes from 0 degrees at the prime meridian to 180 degrees.

coastal plain

A coastal plain is an area of low land with sandy beaches along the shoreline.

delta

A delta is land that has been built up from soil carried by rivers.

drought

A drought is a long time with little or no rain.

What makes up a metropolitan area?

A metropolitan area is a large city together with nearby cities and suburbs.

natural resource

A natural resource is something found in nature, such as water, soil, and minerals.

service

A service is an activity that someone does for others for pay, such as serving a mean in a restaurant.

suburb

A suburb is a town or small city near a large city.

adapted

Adapted means to change or to adjust.

equator

An imaginary line that divides Earth into two hemispheres. The equator lies halfway between the North and South Poles.

industry

An industry is all the businesses that make one kind of product or provide one kind of service.

What are California's four natural regions?

California's four natural regions are: 1) Coastal Region 2) Mountain Region 3) Central Valley Region 4) Desert Region

What is California's largest mountain range called?

California's largest mountain range is the Sierra Nevada. It stretches north and south across much of the eastern part of the state.

Name California's two large natural harbors where ships can dock safely.

California's two large natural harbors are: 1) San Francisco Bay 2) San Diego Bay

climate

Climate is the kind of weather a place has most often.

What is elevation and how is it measured?

Elevation is the height of the land and is always measured from sea level.

faults

Faults are cracks in the Earth's surface.

humid

Humid means moist air.

irrigation

Irrigation is the use of canals, ditches, or pipes to carry water to dry places.

scarce

Limited or not enough of something.

coordinate grid system

Lines of latitude and longitude on a map or globe that cross each other to form a coordinate grid system.

hemisphere

Means half of Earth. On a globe, Earth is divided into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere by an imaginary line called the equator.

modify

Modify means to change.

physical environment

Physical environment is a place's physical features, landforms , and climate.

population density

Population density tells how many people live in an area of a certain size.

precipitation

Precipitation is water that falls to Earth's surface as rain, sleet, hail or snow.

rain shadow

Rain shadow is the drier side of a mountain. Deserts usually form in the rain shadow's driest area.

rural

Rural means country.

sea level

Sea level refers to land that is level with the surface of the ocean.

What is fertile soil good for?

Soil that is fertile is good for growing crops.

North Pole

The North Pole is Earth's northernmost point.

South Pole

The South Pole is Earth's southernmost point.

How are the words equator and hemisphere related?

The equator is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into two hemispheres (Northern and Southern)

prime meridian

The prime meridian is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Western Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere.

relative location

The relative location of a place is where it is in relation to one or more other places on Earth.

growing seasons

The time when weather is warm enough so that farmers can grow crops.

urban

Urban means city.

vegetation

Vegetation means plant life.

Why should you use lines of latitude and longitude?

You can use lines of latitude and longitude to describe the exact location or absolute location of a place.

Even nearby areas can have different __________.

climate

Along California's shoreline is a low-lying __________ and two large natural __________, where ships can dock safely.

coastal plain harbors

Too much rain in California, and you get a flood. Too little, and you get a __________.

drought

California is located north of the __________ in the Northern __________, and west of the __________ in the Western __________.

equator Hemisphere prime meridian Hemisphere

You could help design safer buildings in areas that are located near __________ .

faults

California's Central Valley has __________ soil, making it great for growing crops.

fertile

Mountains can block in moist, or __________, air.

humid

So where in California will you go? And in what field, or __________, will you work?

industry

There are a lot of jobs there in the farming __________ , due to the long __________ there.

industry growing season

In the dry deserts, people have used __________ to water their farmland.

irrigation

Californians have even started moving into desert areas now that they have learned to __________ their environment.

modify

The west sides of mountains have a lot of rainfall, or __________.

precipitation

The east sides of mountains are drier. They lie in an area called the __________, where deserts can form.

rain shadow

California has a convenient __________, bordering the Pacific Ocean.

relative location

Other people perfer living in __________ areas - home to forests, farms, and ranches.

rural

California even has the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere--Death Valley, which is an amazing 282 feet below __________!

sea level

Will you provide a __________ to others, such as being a firefighter or a police officer? Maybe you will live in the Coastal Region and be an engineer.

service

These urban areas or cities, together with smaller, nearby __________, make up large __________.

suburb metropolitan areas

There are many places to live in California. Some people live in cities, or __________ areas.

urban