NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY STANDARD:  4- Places and Regions
MASSACHUSETTS S.S. LEARNING STANDARD:  8- Places and Regions of the World

INTRODUCTION:  Prior to this lesson, students should understand that the 50 states of America are categorized by region based on various physical and cultural characteristics.  This exercise reinforces this notion and gives students an opportunity to look at the region of New England in more detail.

OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:
1. Indicate which of the fifty states make up the region of New England.
2. Access New England web sites to obtain information.
3. Understand New England as a physical and cultural entity.

MATERIALS AND PREPARATION:
1. Students should work on their own paper alone or with a partner.
2. Equipment:  Overhead projector.  Computer for every student or pair.
3. Handouts- Map of the United States with state boundaries indicated.  Internet activity sheets (2).
4. Overhead of New England

PROCEDURE:
1. Give students a map of the United States.  Have them shade in
     the region that they think is New England.
2. Using overhead map of New England, show students the six states
     that make up the region.  With their help, fill in as many political
     and physical features as possible.  On the edges of the map, include
     any other information that students know.
3. Hand out the Internet activity.  Explain to the students that this is their “home” site.  They will be using several links from this site, but all of the information can be found on this site:  http://gonewengland.miningco.com/
4. Discussion

ADAPTATION/EXTENSION:  This activity is appropriate for grades 4 and up.  It can be modified for younger grades by having students look for less information or focus on a particular state.
Once the students complete the Internet activity, they should write one page about New England and what characteristics define it as a region.  They should use the Internet activity answers as a guide.

Students can also compare web sites.  Other good New England sites are:
www.http://4NewEngland.com
www.http://abbington.com/visitors.html

Name:                                                                          Date:

NEW ENGLAND ON THE INTERNET

Directions:  Go to http://gonewengland.miningco.com/.   Use this site to answer the questions below.  Start each answer with location.

1. Which six states make up New England?
 

2. Write down one historical fact from each state.
a.
 

b.
 

c.
 

d.
 

e.
 

f.
 
 

3. Name a historic inn in Maine.
Name a historic inn in Massachusetts
 

Pick a historic inn where you would want to stay.  Why this one?
 

4. Name two antiques that can be found in New England.
a.
 

b.
 

5. Name three lighthouses.
a.

b.

c.

6. Name a New England recipe.  What about it makes it
     “New England”?
 

7. Does every state have a Farmer’s Market?  Name one place
     in Maine with a Farmer’s Market.
 

8. State three facts about lobsters.
a.

b.

c.

9. What is maple sugaring?  When does it occur?
 
 

10. State three facts about fall foliage in New England.
        a.
 

        b.
 

        c.
 

11. When does the sugar maple change color?  What
         color(s) does it change to?
 

12. Name a golf course in Rhode Island.
 

        Name a golf course in New Hampshire.
 

13. Name four sports and leisure activities in New England.
       a.

       b.

       c.
 

       d.
 

14. Name two places to go camping in Vermont.
        a.

        b.
 

15. Where do vacation rentals tend to be in New England.
 

16. Name two orchestras in New England.
        a.
 

        b.
 

17. Name three museums in New England.
        a.
        b.
        c.

18. Name two New England summer festivals.  Include
         their date(s).
         a.

         b.

19. Name two companies in New England and their product.
         a.

         b.
 

20. Name two free items that you can get in New England.
        a.

        b.
 

EXTRA:
? Name two books or movies set in New England.
a.

b.

? Sketch one picture of a New England location or item.
 
 
 

Discussion questions:

1. What physical characteristics make New England unique?

2.  How do people in New England use the physical space
     (sports, vacation spots…).

3.  What cultural characteristics make New England unique?

4.  How are the cultural characteristics tied into location?

5.  How do the states differ?

6.  How are the states connected?

7.  Would you change the region in any way?  If so, how?

8.  Compare New England to one other region in the
     United States.  How are they similar?  How are they different?

9. If you were to design a web site for kids about New
    England, what would you be sure to include?

10. What did you learn that you did not know before this activity?
 
 

Name:                                                                          Date:
NEW ENGLAND MAP
 

Directions:
? Label: Horizontal, upper case, black pen or computer,
       align and stack two word labels.
? Outline darkly, shade lightly using the same color pencil.
       No blue, black, white.
? Shade interior lakes blue.  Outline rivers blue.
 

I. Label capital cities
Augusta           Concord          Montpelier
Boston             Hartford          Providence
 

II. Label major cities
Portland           Burlington        Nashua
Worcester        New Haven
 

III. Label states using postal abbreviations
ME      NH      VT      CT      MA     RI
 

IV. Label major landforms
White Mts.          Mt. Washington               (NH)
Green Mts.         Mt. Katahdin                    (ME)
Berkshires         Mt. Mansfield                   (MA)
 

V. Label major bodies of water
Atlantic Ocean
Moosehead L.         Kennebuc R.      (ME)
L. Winnipesaukee   Merrimack R.      (NH)
L. Champlain                                    (VT)
Naragansett Bay                                (RI)