CHAPTER 1 - HOME ON THE RANGE

Last updated almost 2 years ago
15 questions
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does the environment shape the way we live?

LESSON 1: WHERE ON EARTH IS KANSAS?

Pages 16 - 24
Required
8

Match the terms with their definitions.

Draggable itemCorresponding Item
Erosion
the exact location on the Earth's surface
Sediment
sharing a common border, touching
Relative Location
the natural process of wearing away by wind, water, or other elements
Absolute Location
the study of the earth and the people, plants, and animals living on it
Latitude
an imaginary line that measures distance north or south of the equator
Contiguous
an imaginary line that measures distance east or west of the prime meridian
Longitude
where a place is in relation to other places or things
Geography
little bits of matter that are carried by water or wind and are left somewhere else
Required
1

Describe Kansas's relative location within the United States. (pg. 16)

Required
11

Match the Regions of Kansas with it's description.

Draggable itemCorresponding Item
High Plains
This region contain rocks from the Rocky Mountains that were carried east by the Arkansas River. When the river loses much of its water on the High Plains, it dumps sediment in this region. Over time, the sediment becomes rock.
Flint Hills Uplands
Low hills topped with sandstone make up this region. Water once flowed to an inland sea, and sand collected at the mouths of the rivers. As the sand was buried and put under pressure, sandstone formed. Over time, erosion exposed rock formations called outcroppings. Hardwood trees, such as oaks, and medium-tall grasses cover this region.
Wellington-McPherson Lowlands
Fertile soil makes this region beneficial for agriculture. A long time ago, this area was swampland. Dead plants fell into the water, eventually turning to coal. Coal mining became part of this region's history. Today it is a gently rolling landscape.
Arkansas River Lowlands
This region is a well-known ranching area. The erosion of limestone and shale formed its rolling hills. The limestone contains flint, a hard gray mineral that creates a rocky soil. There are few trees, except near the streams. This region is one of the last tallgrass prairies in the United States.
Red Hills
Huge glaciers over 500 feet thick once covered the northern part of the United States. As the ice moved south, it broke off boulders and deposited them in Kansas. These red quartzite boulders can be seen today in these regions.
Ozark Plateau
Over time, parts of the Rocky mountains eroded into sand and rock. Water carried the debris east and deposited it on the High Plains. Outcroppings of sandstone can be found among the desert plants on the flatlands This region stretches into eastern Colorado.
Glaciated Region
Meaning the Spanish word for hill or cliff. This region contains east-facing cliffs with gentle slopes to the west. The slopes contain layers of shale, or soft sedimentary rock that is formed with mud or clay. The ridges are 50-200 feet high and are surrounded by prairie.
Osage Cuestas
This region extends into Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. It has the oldest surface rock in the state. The limestone here formed millions of years ago when this region alternated between being below the seas and above it. The land is hilly and covered with hardwood trees. Caves can be found in this region.
Cherokee Lowlands
This region get their name from the iron oxide (rust) that colors them a dark red. These land formations are also referred to as the Gypsum Hills. Plains Indians believed in the healing powers of the hills and streams. The magnesium sulfates found in the water are better known as Epsom salt and are used to heal wound today.
Chautauqua Hills
This region gets its name from the haze in the valleys early in the morning. Many years ago, this region was under an ocean that created the sandstone, limestone, and chalk found there today. Hills appear to grow out of the surrounding plains.
Smoky Hills
This region contain sand dunes covered with grasses. Under the ground are two important resources: water and salt. The Hutchinson salt bed is one of the largest salt beds in the world.
Required
1

Explain at least two ways that Kansas is "America's Heartland." (pg. 16-24)

LESSON 2: NATURAL KANSAS

Pages 25 - 35
Required
8

Match the terms with their definition.

Draggable itemCorresponding Item
plain
a layer of rock, sand, or gravel that holds water
aquifer
a community of living things interacting with their physical environment
irrigation
the process of supplying water to crops by redirecting it from another location
ecosystem
able to be sailed upon by ships or boats
prairie
a natural characteristic of the land, such as landforms, soils, plants, animals, and climate.
physical feature
a generally flat, treeless landscape that receives low levels of rainfall
precipitation
a specific type of plain that is dominated by grasses
navigable
the amount of moisture that reaches the ground each year in the form of rain, snow, sleet, hail, and mist
Required
1

Describe the main physical features of Kansas. (pg. 25-27)

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1

Why was the Permian Sea the source of many natural resources in Kansas? (pg. 28)

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1

Describe the climate in Kansas. (pg. 31-34)

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1

What water resources does Kansas have, and why are they important?

LESSON 3: PEOPLE AND THE LAND

Pages: 36 - 45
Required
8
Draggable itemCorresponding Item
nonrenewable resource
to change something so that it works better or fits better
conservation
the preservation, protection, and restoration of the natural environment
interact
to prepare and use for crops and gardening
cultivate
to act in such a way as to have an effect on something
scarce
to make changes to something
renewable resource
a natural substance of value that cannot be replenished or re-created; for example, oil
adapt
a natural substance of value that can be replenished or re-created; for example, solar power
modify
insufficient to meet demand
Required
1

In what ways to people adapt to their environment? (pg. 36)

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1

In what ways do humans modify their environment? (pg. 37-38)

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1

Why is Kansas often called a "crossroads"? (pg. 43-45)

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1

What choices have humans made that impact our environment? What consequences have these choices had on our lives, both today and for the future?

CAN YOU ANSWER THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION?

Required
1

How does the environment shape the way we live?