Michigan's Geography
State of Michigan Geography GLCEs for Unit 1: Meet Michigan
The World in Spatial Terms
3-G1.0.1 Use cardinal directions to describe the relative location of significant places in the immediate environment. (Spatial Thinking)
3-G1.02 Use thematic maps to ID and describe the physical and human characteristics of Michigan. (Geographical Inquiry and Analysis)
Places and Regions
3.G2.01 Use a variety of visual materials and data sources to describe ways in which Michigan can be divided into regions. (Physical characteristics of a place)
3.G2.02 Describe different regions to which Michigan belongs (Great Lakes region, Midwest). (Human characteristics of a place)
Human Systems
3.G4.01 Describe major kinds of economic activity n Michigan today, such as agriculture (corn, cherries, dairy), manufacturing (automobiles, wood products), services and tourism, research and development (automation alley, life sciences corridor, university communities), and explain the factors influencing the location of these economic activities. (Cultural mosaic)
Environment and Society
3-G5.01 Locate natural resources in Michigan and explain the consequences of their use. (Humans and the environment)
The World in Spatial Terms
3-G1.0.1 Use cardinal directions to describe the relative location of significant places in the immediate environment. (Spatial Thinking)
3-G1.02 Use thematic maps to ID and describe the physical and human characteristics of Michigan. (Geographical Inquiry and Analysis)
Places and Regions
3.G2.01 Use a variety of visual materials and data sources to describe ways in which Michigan can be divided into regions. (Physical characteristics of a place)
3.G2.02 Describe different regions to which Michigan belongs (Great Lakes region, Midwest). (Human characteristics of a place)
Human Systems
3.G4.01 Describe major kinds of economic activity n Michigan today, such as agriculture (corn, cherries, dairy), manufacturing (automobiles, wood products), services and tourism, research and development (automation alley, life sciences corridor, university communities), and explain the factors influencing the location of these economic activities. (Cultural mosaic)
Environment and Society
3-G5.01 Locate natural resources in Michigan and explain the consequences of their use. (Humans and the environment)
Sample Geography Unit Calendar
Click here to view a sample geography unit calendar. This unit correlates with...
- Chapter 1 in the 3rd grade Meet Michigan textbook.
- Third Grade Social Studies report card goal: The learner will create/ interpret multiple Michigan maps to describe and compare the physical & human characteristics of the state.
- Michigan GLCEs (Grade Level Content Expectations): Use cardinal directions; use thematic maps; divide Michigan into regions; Michigan belongs to other regions; natural resources and uses
Chapter 1 Meet Michigan
Lesson 1 Meet Michigan
5 Themes of Geography- Location (Where is it?) and Place (What is it like?)
What is a state?
· land: (including lakes and water; shape; political borders with other states or countries)
· people (the things they do)
· government (rules of state)
Michigan’s Land
· middle of Great Lakes
· fresh water
· divided into 2 regions- upper and lower peninsula)
· peninsula (land with water on three sides)
· name (comes Native American word for big lake or big water)
Lesson 2 Our State Symbols
· symbol (things which are special to and define our state; they represent Michigan)
· made by nature- our symbols are a natural characteristic of our state
· flag and seal with symbols
· ways to defend Michigan (common good- core democratic value)
· the Bottle Bill (public policy)
Lesson 3 The Water Around Us
· Great Lakes (acronym HOMES)
· how the Great Lakes affects our climate
· rivers and the Great Lakes
· how the Great Lakes were formed (glaciers)
· waterfalls and small lakes
· keeping our water clean (public policy)
Lesson 4 Be Michigan Map Smart
· Michigan’s neighbors
· our big cities
· climate
· high and low places
· natural resources
· regions (Upper and Lower peninsula; Great Lakes region; farming regions)
5 Themes of Geography- Location (Where is it?) and Place (What is it like?)
What is a state?
· land: (including lakes and water; shape; political borders with other states or countries)
· people (the things they do)
· government (rules of state)
Michigan’s Land
· middle of Great Lakes
· fresh water
· divided into 2 regions- upper and lower peninsula)
· peninsula (land with water on three sides)
· name (comes Native American word for big lake or big water)
Lesson 2 Our State Symbols
· symbol (things which are special to and define our state; they represent Michigan)
· made by nature- our symbols are a natural characteristic of our state
· flag and seal with symbols
· ways to defend Michigan (common good- core democratic value)
· the Bottle Bill (public policy)
Lesson 3 The Water Around Us
· Great Lakes (acronym HOMES)
· how the Great Lakes affects our climate
· rivers and the Great Lakes
· how the Great Lakes were formed (glaciers)
· waterfalls and small lakes
· keeping our water clean (public policy)
Lesson 4 Be Michigan Map Smart
· Michigan’s neighbors
· our big cities
· climate
· high and low places
· natural resources
· regions (Upper and Lower peninsula; Great Lakes region; farming regions)
Michigan's Thematic Maps
Click here for a Michigan outline map
Click here to download a Michigan's products map
Click here to view a map of Michigan's farming areas in the 1930s
Click here to see a Michigan population density map
Click here to see a Michigan population map, Census 2010
Click here to see a Michigan temperature map
Click here to see a Michigan precipitation map
Click here to see a map of Michigan's Lower Peninsula regions
Click here to see a map of Michigan's railroads
Click here to see a map of Michigan's sand dunes
Click here to see a map of Michigan's State Parks
Click here to see a map of where fruit crops are grown in Michigan
Click here to see a Michigan land use map
Click here to see a Michigan rivers map
Click here to see a Michigan regions map
Map It Like Google Maps for Kids!
Click here to download a Michigan's products map
Click here to view a map of Michigan's farming areas in the 1930s
Click here to see a Michigan population density map
Click here to see a Michigan population map, Census 2010
Click here to see a Michigan temperature map
Click here to see a Michigan precipitation map
Click here to see a map of Michigan's Lower Peninsula regions
Click here to see a map of Michigan's railroads
Click here to see a map of Michigan's sand dunes
Click here to see a map of Michigan's State Parks
Click here to see a map of where fruit crops are grown in Michigan
Click here to see a Michigan land use map
Click here to see a Michigan rivers map
Click here to see a Michigan regions map
Map It Like Google Maps for Kids!
Michigan's State Symbols
YAK: Kalkaska soil
YAK: Brook trout YAK: White-tailed deer YAK: Painted turtle YAK: Drarf lake iris YAK: Apple blossom YAK: State flag Color the state flag online Meaning of Michigan's flag symbols |
Michigan State Symbols
Michigan History for Kids: State Symbols Pictures of Michigan's State Symbols YAK: The Petosky Stone Tells Its Story YAK: The Robin YAK: The White Pine YAK: Isle Royale greenstone YAK: Mastadon |