CONTENT STATEMENT
- Regions can be determined using data related to various criteria including landform, climate, population, and cultural, and economic characteristics.
CONTENT ELABORATION
Regions are human constructs used to identify and organize areas of Earth’s surface based upon shared characteristics. Regions can be determined based upon various criteria.
Landform refers to the shape, form, or nature of physical features of Earth’s surface, including:
- plains;
- hills;
- plateaus; and
- mountains.
Climate includes long-term trends in weather elements and atmospheric conditions, including average temperature and average rainfall.
Population includes data about the people who live in a selected area, including:
- population density;
- ethnicity and cultural diversity; and
- birth rates.
Culture is the learned behavior of people, including belief systems and languages.
Economics refers to the set of principles by which a society decides and organizes the ownership, allocation and use of resources. Economic characteristics include:
- natural resources;
- agricultural products; and
- levels of income.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Identify and describe regions within the Western Hemisphere using criteria related to landform, climate, population, culture, and economics.