Alaska

Ages 5–11 · 15 minutes · Geography

Grab your binoculars, and maybe we can spot an Alaska moose or even a humpback whale!

Explore the largest state in the U.S., including its hearty wildlife, a historic railway and its unique state sport.

No prior knowledge needed.

Part of

The 50 States

Standards alignment

Common Core State Standards

D2.Geo.6.K-2 — Individually and with others, students… Identify some cultural and environmental characteristics of specific places.
D2.Geo.2.K-2 — Individually and with others, students… Use maps, graphs, photographs, and other representations to describe places and the relationships and interactions that shape them.
D2.Geo.2.3-5 — Individually and with others, students… Use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions and their environmental characteristics.

Alabama

SS10.2.6 — Identify states, continents, oceans, and the equator using maps, globes, and technology.
SS10.5.13.2 — Locating on a map states, capitals, and important geographic features west of the Mississippi River

Alaska

L.VA.6 — Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college- and career-readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.
SL.CC.1 — Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
SL.CC.2 — Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
AH. PPE 3 — The student demonstrates an understanding of the interaction between people and their physical environment by using texts/ sources to analyze the effect of the historical contributions and/or influences of significant individuals, groups and local, regional, statewide, international organizations. [DOK 3] (H. B4)

Arizona

2.G1.1 — Use and construct maps, graphs, and other geographic representations of familiar and unfamiliar places in the world; and locate physical and human features. • Key physical features include but are not limited to seven continents, oceans, lakes, rivers, mountain ranges, coasts, seas, and deserts • Key human features include but are not limited to equator, hemispheres, North and South Pole, cities, states, countries, regions, and landmarks
1.G1.1 — Use, explore and construct maps, graphs and other geographical representations to support content focus. • Key concepts include but are not limited to physical features (rivers, lakes, mountains, landforms, desert) and human features (dams, cities, parks, hospitals, schools, railroad tracks, farms, factories, houses)
2.G1.2 — Use maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify and explain cultural and environmental characteristics of places in the world based on stories shared. Arizona History and Social Science Standards modified 8/23/19 Page 19
K.L1U1.6 — Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how organisms use different body parts for survival.

Arkansas

G.1.1.2 — Describe the physical and human characteristics of a place including roads, buildings, and borders using maps, globes, and photographs.
G.1.2.2 — Describe the physical and human characteristics of a place using geographic tools such as maps, globes, and charts.
G.1.K.2 — Identify and describe the physical characteristics of a place such as rivers, mountains, and forests using maps, globes, and photographs.
H.1.2.5 — Explain state and national historical symbols and landmarks and the people and events associated with them.
G.1.3.5 — Investigate the cultural characteristics of various places and regions from around the world.

California

1.2.1 — Locate on maps and globes their local community, California, the United States, the seven continents, and the four oceans.
K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.

Colorado

SS.2.2.1 — Use geographic terms and tools to locate and describe spatial patterns and places.
SS.1.4.2 — Identify and explain how the significance of notable people, places, holidays, and civic symbols reflect the origins and values of the government and its citizens.
SS.5.2.1 — Use geographic tools and sources to research and answer questions about United States geography.
SC.2.2.2.a — Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
SS.5.5.1 — Examine how individuals use financial institutions to manage personal finances.

Connecticut

GEO 2.3 — Use geographic representations to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of place.
GEO 2.6 — Identify cultural and environmental characteristics of a place/region.
GEO 2.4 — Explain how the environment affects people’s lives.
GEO 3.3 — Use maps of different scales to describe the locations of cultural and environmental characteristics.

Delaware

G.1.K-3a — Students will understand the nature and uses of maps, globes, and other geo-graphics. Grade K and Grade 3
G.2.K-3a — Students will distinguish different types of climate and landforms and explain why they occur. Grade 2
K-3a — Students will use the concepts of place and region to explain simple patterns of connections between and among places across the country and the world. Grade 3
Maps show where things are located. One can map the shapes and kinds of land and water in any area.

Florida

SS.3.G.2.4 — Describe the physical features of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
SS.3.G.2.5 — Identify natural and man-made landmarks in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
SS.5.G.1.6 — Locate and identify states, capitals, and United States Territories on a map.
SS.2.G.1.4 — Use a map to locate the countries in North America (Canada, United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands).

Georgia

SS6G4.b — Locate on a world and regional political-physical map Canada and the province of Quebec.

Hawaii

SS.2.3.13.4 — Describe major geographic features of places using maps, photos, and other geographic representations
All organisms have external parts. Different animals use their body parts in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water and air. Plants also have different parts (roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits) that help them survive and grow.
There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.
SS.K.3.13.3 — Examine physical characteristics on maps and globes using positional words
SS.2.1.6.1 — Investigate school, community, and national leaders and their responsibilities

Idaho

5.SS.2.1.4 — Name and locate the 50 States and their Capitals, and U.S. Territories.
3.SS.2.1.3 — Locate on a map waterways, landforms, cities, states, and national boundaries, using standard map symbols.

Illinois

SS.2.G.1 — With guidance and support, use print and digital maps, globes and other simple geographic models to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of places.
SS.3.G.1 — Use print and digital maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify topographic and other graphic representations of both familiar and unfamiliar locations.
LS4.D-P1 — There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.
SS.2.G.2 — With guidance and support, identify some cultural and environmental characteristics of your community and compare to other places or regions.

Indiana

3.ESS.1 — Obtain and combine information to determine seasonal weather patterns across the different regions of the United States.
5.G.2 — Use maps and globes to locate states, capitals, major cities, major rivers, the Great Lakes, and mountain ranges in the United States. (E)
1.H.2 — Identify American songs and symbols, and discuss their origins.
K.LS.2 — Describe and compare the physical features of common living plants and animals.

Iowa

There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.
SS.K.14. — Compare environmental characteristics in Iowa with other places.
K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.

Kansas

There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.
Maps show where things are located. One can map the shapes and kinds of land and water in any area.
All organisms have external parts. Different animals use their body parts in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water and air. Plants also have different parts (roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits) that help them survive and grow.

Kentucky

2.G.GR.1 — Examine geographic features of places in North America, using a variety of geographic data, including maps, photos and other geographic tools.
K.G.KGE.1 — Identify physical and environmental characteristics of communities.
K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.

Louisiana

3.20 — Describe the geographic features of places in the United States.
2.21 — Describe geographic features and physical characteristics of places in the United States and the world, including mountains, hills, plains, deserts, coasts, islands, peninsulas, lakes, oceans, and rivers.
3.21 — Interpret geographic features of the United States using a variety of tools such as different types of maps and photos.
K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.

Maine

2-LS4-1 — Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
F2 — Identifying the major regions of the Earth and their major physical features and political boundaries using a variety of geographic tools including digital tools and resources. *

Maryland

identifying continents and oceans near and far from Maryland on maps and globe.

Massachusetts

4.T1.2 — On a political map of North America, locate Canada and its provinces, Mexico and its states, the nations of the Caribbean, and the United States of America and its states; explain the meaning of the terms continent, country, nation, county, state, province, and city.
4.T4e.1 — On a political map of the United States, locate the states in the West and the U.S. territories in the Pacific Ocean; add to the timeline the admission dates for states in the Southwest (states listed alphabetically, Alaska-1959, California-1850, Colorado-1876, Hawaii-1959, Idaho-1890, Montana-1889, Nevada-1864, Oregon-1859, Utah-1896, Washington-1889, Wyoming-1890); territories: American Samoa, Guam, Midway Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and Wake Island.

Michigan

4–G1.0.1 — Identify questions geographers ask in examining the United States.
4–G1.0.3 — Use geographic tools and technologies, stories, songs, and pictures to answer geographic questions about the United States.
4–G1.0.4 — Use maps to describe elevation, climate, and patterns of population density in the United States.

Minnesota

4.3.2.3.1 — Locate and identify the physical and human characteristics of places in the United States, and also Canada or Mexico. For example: Physical characteristics—landforms (Rocky Mountains), ecosystems (forest), bodies of water (Mississippi River, Hudson Bay), soil, vegetation, weather and climate. Human characteristics— structures (Statue of Liberty), bridges (Golden Gate Bridge), canals (Erie Canal), cities, political boundaries, population distribution, settlement patterns, language, ethnicity, nationality, religious beliefs.
4.3.2.4.1 — Name and locate states and territories, major cities and state capitals in the United States.
0.1.2.2.1 — Describe symbols, songs and traditions that identify our nation and state. For example: American Flag, bald eagle, White House, Statue of Liberty, Pledge of Allegiance, Minnesota state flag.
2.3.1.1.3 — Use maps, photos or other geographic tools to identify and locate major landmarks or major physical features of the United States. For example: Physical features—the Atlantic Coast, Rocky Mountains, Mississippi River, Lake Superior. Landmarks—Statue of Liberty, Angel Island, Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial.
4.3.2.4.2 — Name and locate countries neighboring the United States and their major cities. For example: Countries neighboring the United States—Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Russia; Major cities—Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Mexico City, Havana.

Mississippi

5.9.2 — Identify school, community, state, and national symbols (e.g., United States flag, American eagle, etc.).
5.10.2 — Identify and label each of the 50 states on a map.
2.G.1.2 — Identify political and physical borders in the United States and across the globe.
L.3.1.3 — Obtain and communicate examples of physical features or behaviors of vertebrates and invertebrates and how these characteristics help them survive in particular environments, (e.g., animals hibernate, migrate, or estivate to stay alive when food is scarce or temperatures are not favorable).

Missouri

There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.
4.EG.5.B.a — Name and locate specific regions, states, capitals, river systems and mountain ranges in the United States based on historical or current topics.
4.EG.5.C.a — Identify and compare physical characteristics of specific regions within the nation.
4.EG.5.F.a — Identify different regions in the United States and analyze how their characteristics affect people who live there.

Montana

SS.G.5.1 — identify and label US regions, territories, states and their capitals/major cities;
SS.G.3.1 — examine maps and other representations to identify historical and contemporary political and cultural patterns in the Americas;
2-LS4-1 — make observations of plants and animals to compare and contrast the diversity of life in different habitats.

Nebraska

SC.2.7.2.C — Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
SS 3.3.1.d — Locate specific places on maps and globes.
SS 5.3.1.a — Use maps and atlases to locate major human and physical features in the United States.

Nevada

K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.

New Hampshire

SS.GE.2.1.3 — Identify major physical and human features in the United States and on Earth, e.g., cities, oceans, or continents. (Themes: C: People, Places and Environment, G: Science, Technology, and Society)
SS.CV.2.3.1 — Explain that the world is divided into different countries. (Themes: A: Conflict and Cooperation, B: Civic Ideals, Practices, and Engagement, E: Cultural Development, Interaction, and Change)
SS.GE.2.2.2 — Recognize that areas of the Earth's surface share unifying geographic characteristics, e.g., towns, deserts or woodlands. (Themes: C: People, Places and Environment)
SS.GE.4.1.3 — Locate major physical and human features in the United States and on Earth, e.g., mountain ranges, principal parallels or meridians. (Themes: C: People, Places and Environment, G: Science, Technology, and Society)
K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.

New Jersey

6.1.2.Geo.SV.1 — Use maps to identify physical features (e.g., continents, oceans, rivers, lakes, mountains).
6.1.5.GeoSV.2 — Use maps to explain the impact of location and place on the relationships between places in New Jersey, the United States and other countries.
6.1.5.GeoSV.4 — Use a variety of geographic representations to describe the similarities and differences between places in New Jersey, the United States and the world (e.g., maps, data visualizations, graphs, diagrams, aerial and other photographs, GPS).

New Mexico

K.10 — Identify the local, state, and national symbols (e.g., flag, bird, song).
1.18 — Use a variety of maps to locate specific places and identify major landforms, bodies of water, and other places of significance around the United States.
2.20 — Using maps, identify and locate the United States, Canada, and Mexico as the countries that make up North America.
5.27 — Using a map, identify and locate the 50 states in the United States and know the capitals of each state along with the surrounding U.S. territories.
There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.

New York

E.3.1 — Geography can be divided into six essential elements which can be used to analyze important historic, geographic, economic, and environmental questions and issues. These six elements include: the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical settings (including natural resources), human systems, environment and society, and the use of geography. (Adapted from The National Geography Standards, 1994: Geography for Life)
K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.
K.7a — Climate, seasonal weather changes, and the physical features associated with the community and region all affect how people live.
K.6 — Maps and globes are representations of Earth’s surface that are used to locate and better understand places and regions.

North Carolina

K.G.1.1 — Use maps, globes, and/or digital representations to locate places in the classroom, school, community, and around the world.
LS.K.1.2 — Use models to exemplify how animals use their body parts to obtain food and other resources, protect themselves, and move from place to place.
5.G.1.1 — Explain the relationship between location, physical environment, and human activity in the United States.
K.G.1.2 — Identify physical features of places using maps, globes, and/or digital representations.

North Dakota

K-LS1-1 — Describe patterns, through observation, of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.

Ohio

1.4 — Maps can be used to locate and identifyplaces.
1.5 — Places are distinctive because of their physical characteristics (land forms and bodies of water) and human characteristics (structures built by people).
K.LS.2 — Living things have physical traits and behaviors, which influence their survival.

Oklahoma

4.2.2 — Identify major physical features in the United States and analyze how physical processes shape places. A. Identify and describe the physical characteristics of places, including the major landforms, bodies of water, vegetation and climates in the United States. B. Describe the location and characteristics of the major ecosystems in the United States.
4.2.5 — Identify and locate on a political map the fifty states and the United States capitol.
Animals obtain their food from plants or from other animals. (K.LS1.1)

Oregon

2.12 — Identify relative location of school and community in the state, nation and the world.
2.14 — Use and apply cardinal directions to locate and identify features on maps (such as oceans, cities, continents).
K.ESS3.1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants or animals (including humans) and the places they live. [Clarification Statement: Examples of relationships could include that deer eat buds and leaves, therefore, they usually live in forested areas; and, grasses need sunlight so they often grow in meadows. Plants, animals, and their surroundings make up a system.][assessment boundary: modeling is limited to describing the relationship and does not include patterns of structure and function to show how needs are met. impact on the environment is beyond the standard.]

Pennsylvania

7.1.3.B — Identify and locate places and regions.
7.1.3.A — Identify geographic tools and their uses.
7.3.3.E — Identify the human characteristics of places and regions by their political activities.
7.4.3.A — Identify the impacts of physical systems on people.

Rhode Island

SS3.6.1 — Geography and environment of the West Explain the geography and environment of the Western region of the United States
SS3.6.2 — States and territories in the West Explain the states and territories that make up the Western region including their admittance or incorporation to the United States and their identities
SS3.1.2 — United States geography and environment Explain the geography of the United States and its neighbors
SS3.6.4 — The Western region today Argue how the geography and environment of the Western region contributed to its social, cultural, and economic development
SS3.1.3 — States and territories Explain what states and territories are and their locations within the United States

South Carolina

2.G.2 — Describe and compare various landforms over time within the U.S. through the use of primary and secondary sources. This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into using historic images, maps, narratives, texts, or video, to investigate and compare different landforms around the U.S.
3.1.3.PR — Identify the spatial hierarchy of political and physical geographic features. This indicator prompts students to inquire about spatial hierarchies (i.e. scale) to understand connections between Earth's systems. Political features include cities, states, and countries. Physical features include forests, mountains, oceans, and rivers.
K.G.2 — Utilize sources of geographic information (e.g., digital sources, maps, or photographs/images) to define and identify cultural and/or natural features.This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into natural features, such as mountains, oceans, and rivers and cultural features, such as buildings, restaurants, roads, and stores.
2.G.1 — Identify the geographic location of the U. S. in relation to the rest of the world. This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into the location of the U.S. on various maps and globes. This indicator promotes further inquiry into bordering nations and oceans.
3.2.2.ER — Identify and analyze the ways people interact with the physical environment in different regions of the state, the country, and the world.This indicator prompts students to inquire about a variety of geographic landforms, water bodies, and climate patterns around the world and how humans interact with them, including population distribution and settlement patterns.

South Dakota

What is the relationship between animals and what they eat, and how does that determine where they live?
3.G.1.2 — Locate the seven continents, four oceans, and major physical features and regions of the United States on a map or globe
4.G.1.1 — Locate major political and physical features of South Dakota and the United States on a map or globe
3.C.1.1 — Research and explain the meaning behind South Dakota’s symbols
K.G.1.1 — Recognize that maps and globes represent places

Tennessee

2.13 — Recognize that the U.S. is part of the North American continent, and identify the U.S land/water borders including: Canada, Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico.
2.18 — Analyze how the location of regions affects the way people live, including their: food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and recreation.
3.09 — Identify and locate the fifty states of the U.S.
3.11 — Identify major physical features of the U.S., including: • Rivers—Colorado, Mississippi, Ohio, Rio Grande • Mountains—Alaska Range, Appalachian, Rockies • Bodies of Water—Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico • Desert— Great Basin • Landforms—Grand Canyon, Great Plains

Texas

1.5A — identify and describe the physical characteristics of place such as landforms, bodies of water, Earth's resources, and weather; and
1.5B — identify and describe how geographic location influences the human characteristics of place such as shelter, clothing, food, and activities.
2.11D — identify symbols such as state and national birds and flowers and Uncle Sam; and
2.4B — locate places, including the local community, Texas, the United States, the state capital, the U.S. capital, and the bordering countries of Canada and Mexico on maps and globes.
3.13A — explore and explain how external structures and functions of animals such as the neck of a giraffe or webbed feet on a duck enable them to survive in their environment; and

Utah

1.3.2.b — Locate physical features (i.e. continents, oceans, rivers, lakes), and man-made features (equator, North and South poles, countries) on a map and on a globe.
K.2.3.b — Recognize state and national symbols (e.g., state and national flags, bald eagle, seagull, Statue of Liberty).
1.2.2 — Construct an explanation by observing patterns of external features of living things that survive in different locations. Emphasize how plants and nonhuman animals, found in specific surroundings, share similar physical characteristics. Examples could include that plants living in dry areas are more likely to have thick outer coatings that hold in water, animals living in cold locations have longer and thicker fur, or most desert animals are awake at night. (LS1.A, LS1.D)

Vermont

D2.Geo.6.K-2 — Individually and with others, students… Identify some cultural and environmental characteristics of specific places.
D2.Geo.2.3-5 — Individually and with others, students… Use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions and their environmental characteristics.
D2.Geo.3.K-2 — Individually and with others, students… Use maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of places.
K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.

Virginia

2.11.a — The student will apply history and social science skills to develop geographic mapping skills using world maps and globes by locating the countries of North America and the bordering oceans.
2.11.b — The student will apply history and social science skills to develop geographic mapping skills using world maps and globes by identifying major rivers, mountain ranges, lakes, and other physical features in the United States.
Skill.2.b — The student will apply history and social science skills to the content by applying geographic skills to identify and understand geographic features and connections.
USI.1.c — The student will apply history and social science skills to understand the geography of North America by locating the 50 states.

Washington

G1.3.2 — Investigate the physical, political, and cultural characteristics of places, regions, and people in North America, including the location of the fifty states within the regions of the United States.
G1.3.1 — Examine and use maps and globes to understand the regions of North America in the past and present.
G2.2.1 — Identify some common and unique cultural and environmental characteristics of specific places.
G1.2.3 — Use maps, graphs, photographs and other representations to describe places and the relationships and interactions that shape them.

Washington, D.C.

1.17 — Identify key political features of each region on a map, to include, local neighborhoods, wards, Washington, DC, the United States and North America.
1.19 — Locate and explain physical features on maps.
1.18 — Compare the features of a city, county, state, country and continent.
K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.

West Virginia

SS.3.13 — Distinguish between a continent, country, state and capital.
Use maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of places.
SS.3.19 — Compare and contrast regions of the United States in regard to plant and animal life, landforms, climate and human interactions with the environment.
Use maps, graphs, photographs, and other representations to describe places.

Wisconsin

There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.
SS.PS1.a.K-1 — Describe symbols, songs, and traditions that identify our state and country. Assess the importance of rules and laws at home, in school, and in the community.
Animals sense and communicate information and respond to inputs with behaviors that help them grow and survive.
Maps show where things are located. One can map the shapes and kinds of land and water in any area.

Wyoming

SS2.5.1 — Spatial Use a map, globe, and mental mapping to identify familiar areas and simple patterns and create maps using various media. 2-ESS2-2
SS2.1.2 — Identify the symbols and traditional practices, including those of Indigenous Tribes of Wyoming (e.g. Arapaho and Shoshone flags, songs, and pledges), that honor patriotism in the United States.
SS5.5.2 — Physical Place and Region Explain how physical features, patterns, and systems impact different regions and how these features may help us generalize and compare areas within the reservation, state, nation, or world. RL.3.2, RL.4.7, RL.4.9 RI.3.3, RI.4.3, RI.5.3 W.3.2, W.3.7, W.4.2.b W.5.2.b W.5.7 SL.3.4
K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.