7th Grade Utah Studies
Map Skills
Welcome to Utah Studies! Below you can find links to most assignments and activities we do in class, as well as rough dates for each unit.
By the end of this course you will have learned all the content in the Utah Studies Core.
Here is the link to the textbook online.
This is our first unit in Utah Studies! This unit covers using all map elements and practicing map skills. We also examine type maps, such as physical, political, and special purpose maps.
Economy and Natural Resources
For our second unit we examine the major industries in Utah, we also look at jobs in each industry and why each industry is important to Utah. Students also examine the differences between renewable, non-renewable, and perpetual resources.
Climate
During this unit student will analyze the four factors that influence climate: latitude, elevation, distance from the ocean, and land forms. Students will also study the causes and effects of inversion in Utah.
Regions of Utah
In this unit students will map out the physical features of the 3 regions of Utah: Rocky Mountain, Great Basin, and Colorado Plateau. Students will also showcase their knowledge of one region of their choosing in a travel brochure.
Culture
In this unit students will define culture and research those elements that make-up one's own culture, such as race, religion, language, and ethnicity. Students will have the opportunity to share with the class all elements that make up their own culture.
Government
In this unit, students will investigate the 3 levels of government including national, state, and local levels. We analyze the 3 branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Lastly, we examine the basic fundamental principles of the constitution.
Native Americans
Helpful links for presentation:
During this unit students learn the differences between pre-historic and historic Native Americans. Students will also conduct an in-depth group research project examining 1 of the 5 historical tribes of Utah.
First Explorers and Westward Expansion
In this unit we concentrate on the primary groups of people who traveled and explored westward, including: Spanish explorers, mountain men, the Donner party, eastern settlers, and Mormon pioneers.
Transcontinental Railroad and Statehood
We look at two major events in Utah's history: the transcontinental railroad and Utah statehood. We examine motivating reasons, positives, and negatives for building the railroad, and the obstacles Utah had to overcome to become a state.
Great Depression and World War II
Our last units cover two pivotal events in world history: the Great Depression and World War II. We answer such questions as what are the causes of the Great Depression, what effects did it have on people's lives, and how did people/government fix the problems? Lastly, how did WWII effect Utah?