Grade: Grade 3 Subject: Social Studies Unit: US Regions SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Northeast and Southeast Regions

The United States is divided into different regions, each with its own special features! Today we'll explore two amazing regions: the Northeast and the Southeast. Get ready to discover new states, see famous landmarks, and learn what makes these places special!

What Are Regions?

A Region is a Special Area!

A region is a large area that shares similar features. States in the same region often have similar weather, land, jobs, and traditions. The United States has 5 main regions!

Fun Fact: The word "region" comes from a Latin word meaning "direction" or "area." When we group states into regions, it helps us understand and compare different parts of our big country!

The Five Regions of the United States

Click on the states to learn which region they belong to!

WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
ME
OR
ID
SD
IA
MI
NH
CA
NV
NE
IL
OH
MA
AZ
UT
KS
MO
PA
NY
NM
OK
AR
TN
NC
NJ
TX
LA
MS
AL
GA
SC
FL
Northeast
Southeast

Click a state to learn more!

The Northeast Region

πŸ—½ Welcome to the Northeast!

The Northeast is the smallest region but has a lot of history! This is where the United States began. Many of our first presidents lived here, and important events like the signing of the Declaration of Independence happened in this region.

States in the Northeast

The Northeast has 11 states:

Maine New Hampshire Vermont Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland
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Climate

Four distinct seasons! Cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Fall has beautiful colorful leaves!

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Industries

Banking, technology, healthcare, education, and fishing. Many big companies have offices here!

⛰️

Land

Mountains, forests, and coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The Appalachian Mountains run through here.

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Big Cities

New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. (nearby). Very crowded and busy!

Famous Northeast Landmarks

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Statue of Liberty (New York)

A gift from France in 1886! This famous statue welcomes visitors to America and stands for freedom. She holds a torch and wears a crown with 7 points representing the 7 continents.

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Liberty Bell (Pennsylvania)

This famous cracked bell in Philadelphia is a symbol of American independence. It rang when the Declaration of Independence was first read to the public in 1776!

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Niagara Falls (New York)

Huge, powerful waterfalls on the border between the U.S. and Canada. Over 3,000 tons of water flow over the falls every second! People come from all over the world to see them.

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Plymouth Rock (Massachusetts)

The spot where the Pilgrims first landed in 1620. They sailed on the Mayflower ship from England and started one of the first colonies in America.

πŸŽ“ Did You Know?

The Northeast has more colleges and universities than any other region! Harvard (the oldest university in America), Yale, and Princeton are all in the Northeast. Many students dream of going to school there!

The Southeast Region

πŸ–οΈ Welcome to the Southeast!

The Southeast is known for its warm weather, friendly people, and delicious food! This region has beautiful beaches, swamps, and mountains. It's a popular place for vacations and has a rich history and culture.

States in the Southeast

The Southeast has 12 states:

Virginia West Virginia Kentucky Tennessee North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Florida Alabama Mississippi Louisiana Arkansas
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Climate

Warm and humid! Hot summers, mild winters. Hurricanes can happen in late summer and fall near the coast.

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Industries

Farming (cotton, peanuts, oranges), tourism, manufacturing, and music (Nashville is the country music capital!).

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Land

Beaches, swamps (like the Everglades), rolling hills, and the southern Appalachian Mountains.

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Big Cities

Atlanta, Miami, Nashville, and New Orleans. Many tourists visit for theme parks, beaches, and music!

Famous Southeast Landmarks

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Walt Disney World (Florida)

The most visited theme park in the world! Opened in 1971, it has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and lots of hotels. Millions of families visit every year to see Mickey Mouse!

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Everglades National Park (Florida)

A huge wetland home to alligators, crocodiles, manatees, and many birds. It's the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles live together!

🎸

Graceland (Tennessee)

The home of Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock and Roll." Located in Memphis, it's now a museum where fans can learn about Elvis's life and see his famous costumes and cars.

🎺

French Quarter (Louisiana)

The oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, famous for jazz music, delicious food like beignets and gumbo, and colorful buildings. Mardi Gras celebrations happen here every year!

🍊 Did You Know?

Florida grows most of America's oranges! The warm, sunny weather is perfect for growing citrus fruits. That's why Florida is called the "Sunshine State" - it has over 230 sunny days each year!

Comparing the Regions

Let's see how the Northeast and Southeast are different and similar!

Feature Northeast Southeast
Weather Cold winters, warm summers, colorful fall Warm year-round, hot humid summers
Number of States 11 states 12 states
Famous For History, education, big cities Beaches, music, theme parks
Major Industries Banking, technology, healthcare Farming, tourism, manufacturing
Natural Features Mountains, forests, rocky coast Swamps, beaches, rolling hills
Population Very crowded, especially cities Growing fast, more spread out
What They Share: Both regions touch the Atlantic Ocean! Both have important cities, rich history, and people who are proud of their region. Many people from other countries first arrived in America through these two regions.

Region Sorting Game

Can you sort these items into the correct region? Click an item, then click which region it belongs to!

Click an item to select it, then click the correct region!

Statue of Liberty
Disney World
Cold Winters
Everglades
Liberty Bell
Hot Humid Weather
Harvard University
Alligators
Niagara Falls
Orange Groves
Northeast Region
Southeast Region
Correct: 0 / 0

Region Quiz

Test your knowledge! Which region does each item belong to?

Which Region?

The Statue of Liberty is in which region?
Score: 0 / 0

Practice Problems

Answer these questions to check what you've learned!

Question 1

How many states are in the Northeast region?

Question 2

Which region is known for hot, humid weather and hurricanes?

Question 3

Where is Walt Disney World located?

Question 4

The Liberty Bell and Declaration of Independence are connected to which city?

Question 5

Which animal can you find in the Florida Everglades?

Check Your Understanding

What is a region?

Why is the Northeast region historically important?

What do both the Northeast and Southeast have in common?

What We Learned

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Regions

Large areas that share similar features like weather and land.

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Northeast

11 states, cold winters, rich history, big cities!

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Southeast

12 states, warm weather, beaches, and fun tourism!

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Atlantic Ocean

Both regions share a coast on the Atlantic Ocean!

Great Job! You've learned about two of America's five regions! Each region has its own special features that make it unique. Keep exploring to learn about the Midwest, Southwest, and West!

Next Steps

  • Practice naming the states in each region
  • Look at a map and find the landmarks we learned about
  • Ask a family member if they've visited any of these places
  • When you're ready, learn about the Midwest and West regions!