This document provides information about the geography, climate, natural resources, history, and attractions of the Midwest region of the United States. It includes lists of the Great Plains and Great Lakes states, terms to match with geographic definitions, major water features to label on a map, natural resources found in the region, historically significant events and places, and top attractions to visit if planning a trip to the Midwest.

3. CAN YOU NAME THE MIDWEST STATES IN….
The Great Plains
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The Great Lakes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

4. MATCH THE CORRECT GEOGRAPHY TERM TO THE
DEFINITION
TERM
DEFINITION
Prairie
A large area of nearly flat
land
Badlands
Plains
Land in or predominantly
in grass
A heavily eroded arid
region with colorful,
sculptured rock
formation

5. LABEL THE WATER FEATURES
IN THE MIDWEST
Great Lakes
Ohio River
Mississippi River
Missouri River
Illinois River

6. CLIMATE IN THE MIDWEST
Climate
Winters- cold and harsh, ‘Lake Effect’ snow (a phenomenon created when cold dry air
passes over a large warmer lake, such as one of the Great Lakes, and picks up moisture
and heat)
Summers- hot, humid with adequate rainfall and occasional droughts
The region is susceptible to strong thunderstorms and tornadoes during the summer
months.

7. CAN YOU IDENTIFY THESE NATURAL
RESOURCES FOUND IN THE MIDWEST?
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•
•
•
•
Fertile soil
Minerals- coal, granite, iron ore, limestone, gold, lead
Oil
Natural Gas
Forests

9. EARLY SETTLEMENT
Lakota, Cheyenne, Pawnee,
Shawnee (examples of native
peoples in this region)
French trading posts and missions
established along the Mississippi River
system and the Great Lakes (1600s1700s)

10. HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND PLACES
Louisiana Purchase (1803)
Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)
Homestead Act of 1862
Transcontinental Railroad completed (1869)

12. IF YOU PLAN A TRIP TO THE MIDWEST, DON’T MISS….
St. Louis , MO
Bloomington, MN
Badlands - Black Hills SD
Steamboats
on the Mississippi River
Cleveland, OH