Unit 1: Georgia's Beginnings
Learning Target 1: Students will be able to locate Georgia in relation to region, nation, continent, and hemispheres in order to describe Georgia's geography and climate.
Learning Target 2: Students will be able to distinguish among the five geographic regions of Georgia in order to describe Georgia's geography and climate.
Learning Target 3: Students will be able to describe the characteristics of American Indians in order to evaluate the impact of European exploration and settlement in Georgia.
Task 1: Vocabulary Frayer Models
Task 2: STEAM 3D Map
Task 3: Fall Line DBQ
Task 4: Common Assessment
In this unit, you will study the geography of Georgia. You will learn about the rivers, mountains, plains, and plateaus. You will locate specific places, such as the barrier islands and Okefenokee Swamp. You will learn about the climate in the state. You will also learn about the development that occurred among prehistoric cultures.
KEY TERMS
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American Indians: Many groups of American Indians lived in what is now Georgia when the first Europeans arrived. These groups typically obtained food by farming, hunting, fishing, and gathering. They grew corn and other vegetables and hunted deer and other game. They used tools such as bows and arrows, nets, traps, and spears. Many Indians lived in wattle and daub houses, which were made of walls from interwoven sticks and twigs covered with mud or clay. (SS8H1a)
Appalachian Mountains: A large mountain chain in eastern North America extending from Canada into Alabama. (SS8G1c)
Barrier islands: A group of mostly undeveloped islands along Georgia’s coast. The islands protect the mainland from storms and erosion. (SS8G1c)
Chattahoochee River: A long river that flows from northern Georgia along the Georgia/Alabama border and into the Apalachicola River. The river is used for rafting and fishing and is a national recreation area. (SS8G1c)
Fall Line: A geological boundary that divides the rocks of the upper Coastal Plain from those of the Piedmont. Because the line is marked by rivers, it has been a center for commerce and trade throughout Georgia’s history. (SS8G1c)
Georgia: A state in the southern United States and the last of the thirteen original colonies. It is the largest state east of the Mississippi River. Parts of Georgia have a subtropical climate, but the areas northwest of the Chattahoochee River are cooler. The state is the largest producer of peanuts in the United States. (SS8G1a)
Okefenokee Swamp: A large but shallow wetland in southeast Georgia and northeast Florida. It is the largest freshwater swamp in North America. Much of the area is protected as part of a national refuge. (SS8G1c)