The Middle West Region of the United States

Human Interaction
with Environment

The Heartland

America’s Bread Basket

There are many nicknames for the middle west’s farms, grains, and cattle. Meet a few of the families who live and work the land. Now that you know the families, what about the most important ingredient? Soil! But if you really want to learn about agriculture, check out the United States Department of Agriculture!

Part of an Independent Learning Project for Cambridge College
A Journey Through the Regions of the United States:
Enhancing Learning with Technology
(Thesis Available at Cambridge College)
An online supplement to the Naperville District 203
fourh grade unit covering States & Regions
Okay, but what's the point of this site?

*All graphics were created by author, unless otherwise noted.

Place	__ What are the unique human made and natural characteristics of the region? __ What are the advantages or disadvantages for human habitation?
Energy	Illinois is a rich source of one of original fossil fuels used for energy and heat, coal. Once you read the Energy Information Administration’s site on coal, go on a virtual tour and then check out the mine equipment.
Adventures in Energy	So you understand energy and how it’s made. But maybe you still need to understand how and where people use it every day? Check out this interactive site!
IKnowThat.com	Chose the geograpical region: PLAINS
Build Your Own Prairie	Tall grass prairies used to cover the Central Plains and short grass prairies, the Great Plains. Learn about these important biomes and build one yourself. Additional links: Prairie Animals, Prairie Field Guide, & Prairie Quick Facts
Biome/Ecosystem: Prairie	You’ve won a vacation in your favorite biome. How are you going to survive? With the research and help of a Botanist, Meteorologist, Zoologist, Cartographer, Environmentalist, Sociologist you will. (made for 6th graders)

Location	__ Where is the region?
Terra Server 6.0	Satellites using latitude and longitude can pinpoint anywhere from space. If you’re at all curious how amazing these machines are, use this program. I tried to locate my school, but it is difficult. Try using the advanced features to find a specific place.
Rand McNally.com	One of the most noted mapping companies around.
Distance Calculator	You’re flying from one point to the other in your region or in the nation and you have no clue how far it is. If there’s no map handy, use this reference tool!
How the Great Lakes Were Formed	There are very few freshwater lakes of this size in the world. Learn how they were formed and then check out facts about H.O.M.E.S. (Lake Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, & Superior).
Ask a Geologist	Do you have a question about volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains, rocks, maps, ground water, lakes, or rivers?
Latitude & Longitude	How does it work? So I used the Terra Server (above) and found my area, but how can any one point on the Earth be identified with invisible lines?
Atlas	Check out the HRW World Atlas (this link is to the USA only). Each region has a different location and topography. Hey...what does "topography" mean? Look it up in the online geography dictionary!

Movement	__ What physical movement has helped form this region? __ How has geography affected interaction between this region and other regions?
Growth of the United States	This simple animations shows the date and size of the United States as it grew. Click here for a printable color map with much more detail.
United States Climate Page	I don’t know what the general climate is for a state, but you can find yours here! If this isn’t helpful enough, ask Weather.com. Oh wait, you need historical data? Use the Climate Diagnostics Center's climate maps dating back to 1895!
Color Landform Atlas of the United States	How does geography influence where people live? Find out here with landform maps of all fifty states.
Soddies	Once people made it to the middle west, they had no trees to build a house. How did they make shelter? Sod homes! When you've looked at a few, go on a scavenger hunt!
Transportation	How did people get across the nation in history and today? The middle west is ripe with transportation history. The Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum has a wealth of valuable pictures.
Thunderstorms & Tornadoes	-What is "tornado alley"? -What makes tornadoes different then hurricanes? -National Geographic: Nature's Fury -Want to bust some stuff up? Try adjusting the pressure and funnel size to create your own devastating twister! -Ever wonder what it would be like to chase tornadoes? Find out about this exciting job and then try the quiz. - Then you can create your own tornado with two liter bottles! -What does the F mean when classifying tornadoes? -What was the largest tornado ever? -Do you know what type of clouds form storms? When you do, try your hand at Cloud Concentration or Match the Clouds. -When you're finished checking out all that, try your hand at the Red Cross' Disaster Quiz. -Maybe now you'll be safer with a few helpful reminders.
Blizzards &Winter Weather	What is a blizzard, how do they form, and how do I prepare for it and winter weather? Federal Emergency Management Agency can help with ideas too.

Human Interaction with Environment	__ How have people past and present interacted with the environment? __ How do people adapt to change and depend on this region?
Johnny Appleseed	The legend of John Chapman is quite something. Learn more about the real Johnny Appleseed here.
Agriculture	The Heartland America’s Bread Basket There are many nicknames for the middle west’s farms, grains, and cattle. Meet a few of the families who live and work the land. Now that you know the families, what about the most important ingredient? Soil! But if you really want to learn about agriculture, check out the United States Department of Agriculture!
John Deere	The rich prairie soil of the middle west stuck to the settler's iron and wood plows. How did John Deere correct this? Didn't think that tractors and plows could have their own comics did you? John Deere for Kids has a few!
Corn	Are the fields of corn really like what I see in the movies? See for yourself at the corn cam. There’s even an entire palace made out of corn in South Dakota! Did you know that Illinois' state snack is popcorn?
Wheat	Welcome to Wheat Mania! Kansas makes learning about wheat easy, interactive, and fun.
Soybeans	Heralded as the next miracle crop, check out Michigan's Soybeans for Kidz and you judge for yourself.
Cattle	I need to know more about cows and how milk is made! Watch cows getting milked at the dairy cam! What about the pig? The other white meat is coming back thanks to "Pork Fat Rules!". Learn all about it from Pork4Kids.



	*Part of an Independent Learning Project for Cambridge College* A Journey Through the Regions of the United States: Enhancing Learning with Technology (Thesis Available at Cambridge College) An online supplement to the Naperville District 203 fourh grade unit covering States & Regions Okay, but what's the point of this site?
Backgrounds from Absolute Background Textures Archive	Updated: April 22, 2004 --site map--	*All graphics were created by author, unless otherwise noted.