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Geography · Grade 5

United States Human Geography

Where do 331 million Americans live, and why there? Learners calculate and compare population density, explain why the largest cities grew where they did, read census data showing that about four in five Americans live in urban areas and that the population has shifted toward the South and West, and explore the country's cultural diversity and the many kinds of work in each region.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 90 minutes
  • U.S. human geography check: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, pin a map, match pairs, type a number, put in order and sort into groups
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What learners will discover

  • Describe how the U.S. population is spread out, and calculate and compare population density.
  • Identify the most populous states and cities and explain how geography helped cities grow where they did.
  • Use census data to describe urban and rural patterns and the shift of population toward the South and West.
  • Describe the country's cultural diversity and its main economic activities by region, using evidence and avoiding stereotypes.

Lessons

  1. Where Americans live 7 steps4 practiceabout 20 min
  2. Big states and big cities 7 steps4 practiceabout 22 min
  3. City, countryside and a changing map 9 steps5 practiceabout 25 min
  4. Many cultures, many kinds of work 8 steps4 practiceabout 23 min
  5. U.S. human geography check 10 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Globe ExplorerSpin a real 3D globe, flip to the flat map, and find continents, oceans and countries.
  • Pin the PlanetDrag the pin onto wonders, cities and exact latitude and longitude points.
  • Mapmaker QuestFollow directions to make a map, then read its legend, compass rose and scale.

More 5th grade geography

Guide for grown-ups