The geography of the Northeast consists of mountains, valleys, rolling hills, lakes, and a sprawling coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The Appalachian Mountains stretch from northern Maine all the way to the Southeast region, and includes New Hampshire’s Mount Washington. The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking trail in the world! The most important waterway in the Northeast is the Erie Canal, which was completed in the early 1800s. The Erie Canal is 363 miles long, and was built to move goods across the mountains by boat. There are also lots of natural waterways in the Northeast. Long ago, glaciers were responsible for the formation of the many lakes, islands, and capes (think Cape Cod!), as well as the rocky coastline. There are many lighthouses along the coast, including the Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the most northeastern point in the United State. They help guide ships and keep them from running aground.
Since the Northeast region is about halfway between the equator and the North Pole, the climate changes throughout the year, giving the region distinct seasons. The summers are warm, humid and sunny, while the winters are long and very cold. The Northeast gets a lot of snow during the winter months, and sometimes gets over a foot of snow during one storm. The fall is cool and brings the gorgeous colors of the trees before the leaves fall, and the spring is mild, and flowers can begin blooming.
The Northeast has many natural resources. Since it is along the coast, there is plenty of fish, lobster, and other shellfish. Although not all of the Northeast has good soil for farming, the parts that do produce blueberries, strawberries, potatoes, and a variety of vegetables. Massachusetts is called the “Cranberry Capital of America” because it produces so many cranberries a year in its cranberry bogs. Because of the Northeast’s abundance of rivers and waterfalls, factories and mills were abundant and were run on water power. Finally, with so many forests in the Northeast, trees and lumber are a very useful natural resource from this region.
With large cities such as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., there is a rich cultural diversity with many immigrants. The Northeast is known for its many sports teams such as the Red Sox, Yankees, and Patriots, and for the fans’ devotion to their teams. Some foods that are popular in the Northeast are lobster rolls, salt water taffy, fluffernutter, baked beans, and whoopie pies. As for recreation, the Northeast is a popular ski area and has many hiking trails. In the summer, Cape Cod, New Hampshire, and Maine are popular vacation spots, known for the ocean water as well as lakes that provide many activities for families.
The Northeast has so many wonderful tourist attractions. Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, is located in the Northeast just outside of Maryland. Imagine going to the place where Hershey’s chocolate is made? Well, if you head to Hershey, Pennsylvania, you can see where it all began. At Hershey’s Chocolate World, you can make your own candy bar, and see what it’s like to work in a factory. When you are done, you can head over to the amazing Hersheypark and ride roller coasters! Another exciting place to visit is New York City, the largest city in the United States. New York City is the home of the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. Massachusetts is rooted in rich history, and is where you can learn all about the Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock, Paul Revere, Henry David Thoreau, and the oldest ballpark in the country: Fenway Park.
State |
Capital |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Boston |
| Maine | Augusta |
| New Hampshire | Concord |
| Vermont | Montpelier |
| New York | Albany |
| Connecticut | Hartford |
| Rhode Island | Providence |
| New Jersey | Trenton |
| Maryland | Annapolis |
| Delaware | Dover |
| Pennsylvania | Harrisburg |
Our country is filled with diverse culture, land, attractions, and so much more. The regions of our country are all different in so many ways, and it is important for students to understand how and why. While studying the Northeast region, students will show what they have learned through posters, spider maps, and other creative graphic organizers. The combined use of illustrations and words allows students with different learning styles to showcase their work in unique ways. Teachers may use the provided templates, or encourage students to start from scratch, allowing for more of a challenge and differentiated approach. Teachers may also assign an extension activity where the students write a report or create a powerpoint of all their storyboards to share.
