West Virginia

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.3.K-2 — Individually and with others, students… Use maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of places.
• There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.

Alabama

• SS10.3.2.2 — Locating major mountain ranges, oceans, rivers, and lakes throughout the world (Alabama)

Alaska

• 1 — know that places have distinctive geographic characteristics;
• 1 — use maps and globes to locate places and regions;
• 7 — understand that a region is a distinct area defined by one or more cultural or physical features; and
• 2 — understand the people and the political, geographic, economic, cultural, social, and environmental events that have shaped the history of the state, the United States, and the world;

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
• 2.G4.1 — Identify different physical and cultural regions in the world.
• 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)

Arkansas

• G.1.K.2 — Identify and describe the physical characteristics of a place such as rivers, mountains, and forests using maps, globes, and photographs.
• G.1.1.2 — Describe the physical and human characteristics of a place including roads, buildings, and borders using maps, globes, and photographs.
• G.1.3.5 — Investigate the cultural characteristics of various places and regions from around the world.
• C.1.1.4 — Describe state and national symbols and patriotic songs: • American flag • Flag etiquette • Star Spangled Banner • Recitation of Pledge of Allegiance • “Arkansas” by Eva Ware Barnett • White-Tailed Deer • Milk • Square Dance • Diamond

California

• 2 — Students identify the human and physical characteristics of the places they are studying and explain how those features form the unique character of those places.

Colorado

• 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.2.2.1 — Use geographic terms and tools to locate and describe spatial patterns and places.
• SS.3.2.2 — Define the concept of region through an examination of similarities and differences in places and communities.
• SS.K.2.2 — Identify how the environment influences the way people live.

Connecticut

• GEO 2.6 — Identify cultural and environmental characteristics of a place/region.
• GEO 2.3 — Use geographic representations to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of place.
• GEO 3.3 — Use maps of different scales to describe the locations of cultural and environmental characteristics.

Delaware

• G.1.4-5a — Students will demonstrate development of mental maps of Delaware and of the United States which include the relative location and characteristics of major physical features, political divisions, and human settlements. Grade 4
• G.1.K-3a — Students will understand the nature and uses of maps, globes, and other geo-graphics. Grade K and Grade 3
• H.4.K-3b — Students will develop an awareness of major events and people in United States and Delaware history. • Who lives here and how did they get here? (immigrants, demographics, ethnic and religious groups) • Important people in our past • Different kinds of communities in Delaware and the United States

Florida

• 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.3.G.2.4 — Describe the physical features of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
• SS.5.G.1.3 — Identify major United States physical features on a map of North America.

Georgia

• SS3G1.b — Locate major mountain ranges of the United States of America: Appalachian, Rocky.
• SS1G3.c — Identify and describe landforms (mountains, deserts, valleys, and coasts).

Hawaii

• SS.2.3.13.4 — Describe major geographic features of places using maps, photos, and other geographic representations
• SS.3.3.13.1 — Analyze how geographical features affect human life in local communities and those around the world
• SS.1.2.14.3 — Investigate cultural and environmental characteristics of your community

Idaho

• 5.SS.2.1.4 — Name and locate the 50 States and their Capitals, and U.S. Territories.
• 5.SS.2.1.2 — Identify the regions of the United States and their resources.

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.2.G.2 — With guidance and support, identify some cultural and environmental characteristics of your community and compare to other places or regions.
• 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.
• SS.5.G.1 — Use print and digital maps of different scales to describe the locations of cultural and environmental characteristics.

Indiana

• 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)
• 3.G.5 — Explain that regions are areas that have similar physical and cultural characteristics. Identify Indiana and the local community as part of a specific region.

Iowa

• SS.K.14. — Compare environmental characteristics in Iowa with other places.

Kansas

• Benchmark 3.3.1 — The student will recognize and evaluate how societies are shaped by the identities, beliefs, and practices of individuals and groups.
• Benchmark 4.5.1 — The student will recognize and evaluate dynamic relationships that impact lives in communities, states, and nations.

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.

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.
• 3.28 — Describe how the regions of the United States vary culturally and economically.

Maine

• R.4.K.a — Ask and answer questions with prompting and support about who, what, when, where, and how.

Massachusetts

• 4.T4b.1 — On a political map of the United States, locate the states and the national capital city in the Southeast, and the U.S. territories in the Caribbean; add to the timeline the admission dates for states in the Southeast (listed alphabetically: Alabama-1819, Arkansas-1836, Delaware-1787, Florida-1845, Georgia-1788, Kentucky-1792, Louisiana-1812, Maryland-1788, Mississippi-1817, North Carolina-1789, South Carolina-1788, Tennessee-1796, Virginia-1788, West Virginia-1863); territories Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.
• 4.T1.1 — On a physical map of North America, use cardinal directions, map scales, key/legend (symbols for mountains, rivers, deserts, lakes, cities), and title to locate and identify important physical features (e.g., Mississippi and Rio Grande Rivers, Great Lakes, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Hudson’s Bay, Appalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Sierra Madre, the Great Basin, Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan Deserts, the Yucatan Peninsula, the Caribbean Sea).

Michigan

• 4–G1.0.3 — Use geographic tools and technologies, stories, songs, and pictures to answer geographic questions about the United States.
• 4–G2.0.2 — Locate and describe human and physical characteristics of major U.S. regions and compare them to the Great Lakes region.
• 4–G2.0.1 — Describe ways in which the United States can be divided into different regions.

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.
• 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.
• 0.3.2.3.1 — Identify the physical and human characteristics of places, including real and imagined places. For example: Physical characteristics—landforms (Rocky Mountains, Mount Everest), ecosystems (forest), bodies of water (Hudson Bay, Indian Ocean, Amazon River), soil, vegetation, weather and climate. Human characteristics—structures (Great Wall of China, Eiffel Tower), bridges (Golden Gate Bridge), canals (Erie Canal), cities, political boundaries, population distribution, settlement patterns, language, ethnicity, nationality, religious beliefs.

Mississippi

• 1.H.1.2 — Examine the significant contributions of historical figures to the local community, state, and United States.
• 5.10.2 — Identify and label each of the 50 states on a map.
• K.H.1.2 — Identify school, community, state, and national symbols.
• 6.5.1 — Describe the distinguishing physical and human characteristics of the United States and other countries.

Missouri

• 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.C.b — Identify and compare diverse human geographic characteristics of the nation.

Montana

• SS.G.5.1 — identify and label US regions, territories, states and their capitals/major cities;
• SS.G.3.3 — identify landforms and other physical characteristics of the Americas.
• SS.G.K — The geography content standard for kindergarten is that each student will use maps, and other representations, to describe place characteristics.
• SS.G.3.1 — examine maps and other representations to identify historical and contemporary political and cultural patterns in the Americas;

Nebraska

• SS 5.3.1.a — Use maps and atlases to locate major human and physical features in the United States.
• SS 5.3.2.b — Identify and classify regions and places within the United States using physical and human features.
• SS 1.3.2 — Explore places and regions.

Nevada

• SS.2.21 — Identify major national landmarks associated with historical events.

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.GE.2.2.1 — Explore the physical and human characteristics of place, e.g., roads, schools or mountains. (Themes: C: People, Places and Environment, E: Cultural Development, Interaction, and Change, G: Science, Technology, and Society)
• 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)
• SS.GE.4.2.1 — Describe the physical and human characteristics of places, e.g., land forms or where people live. (Themes: C: People, Places and Environment, E: Cultural Development, Interaction, and Change, G: Science, Technology, and Society)
• SS.GE.2.3.2 — Explore the components and distribution of ecosystems, e.g., desert or rain forest. (Themes: C: People, Places and Environment)

New Jersey

• 6.1.2.Geo.HE.3 — Identify cultural and environmental characteristics of different regions in New Jersey and the United States.
• 6.1.5.GeoPP.1 — Compare and contrast characteristics of regions in the United States based on culture, economics, and physical characteristics to understand the concept of regionalism.

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.
• 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.

New York

• 3 — Geography
• 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)
• E.3.2 — Geography requires the development and application of the skills of asking and answering geographic questions; analyzing theories of geography; and acquiring, organizing, and analyzing geographic information. (Adapted from: The National Geography Standards, 1994: Geography for Life)

North Carolina

• 1.B.1.1 — Identify cultural practices and traditions in local communities and places around the world.
• 1.G.1.1 — Use maps, globes, and/or digital representations to identify various types of landforms of places around the world.
• K.G.1.1 — Use maps, globes, and/or digital representations to locate places in the classroom, school, community, and around the world.
• K.G.1.2 — Identify physical features of places using maps, globes, and/or digital representations.

Ohio

• 1.5 — Places are distinctive because of their physical characteristics (land forms and bodies of water) and human characteristics (structures built by people).
• 3.5 — Daily life is influenced by the agriculture, industry and natural resources in different communities.

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.
• 4.3.2 — Examine the characteristics of culture, including the distribution and complexity of the regions of the United States. A. Identify the characteristics of culture (language, customs, beliefs, food, clothing, shelter) and compare the cultural characteristics of different regions of the United States. B. Explain how the characteristics of culture affect the ways in which people live.
• 4.2.3 — Explain how people create regions using common geographic characteristics. A. Identify and describe the major physical, cultural, and economic regions of the United States, comparing one’s own region to the other regions. B. Explain how and why regions change over time by comparing regions in the past with life in the same regions in the present.

Oregon

• 1.11 — Identify, affirm, respect, and explain the diverse cultural heritage, songs, symbols, and celebrations of my community and the diverse social and ethnic groups in Oregon and the United States of America.
• 2.17 — Identify and describe community celebrations, landmarks, symbols from a variety of traditions and explain why they are significant to the cultural heritage of members of the community.
• 2.12 — Identify relative location of school and community in the state, nation and the world.
• 6.14 — Identify and describe how the physical and human characteristics of places and regions connect to human identities and cultures in the Western Hemisphere.

Pennsylvania

• 7.1.3.B — Identify and locate places and regions.
• 7.2.3.A — Identify the physical characteristics of places and regions.
• 7.3.3.B — Identify the human characteristics of places and regions by their cultural characteristics.
• 8.3.3.A. — Identify contributions of individuals and groups to United States history.

Rhode Island

• SS3.3.2 — States and territories in the Southeast Explain the states and territories that make up the Southeastern region including their admittance or incorporation to the United States and their identities
• SS3.3.1 — Geography and environment in the Southeast Explain the geography and environment in the Southeastern region of the United States
• SS3.3.4 — The Southeastern region today Argue how the geography and environment of the Southeastern region contributed to its social, cultural, and economic development

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.
• 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

• 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
• 3.H.2.2 — Explain the importance of famous American figures including but not limited to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson
• 4.G.1.1 — Locate major political and physical features of South Dakota and the United States on a map or globe
• K.G.1.1 — Recognize that maps and globes represent places

Tennessee

• 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

• 2.11D — identify symbols such as state and national birds and flowers and Uncle Sam; and
• 1.4B — locate and explore the community, Texas, and the United States on maps and globes.
• 1.5A — identify and describe the physical characteristics of place such as landforms, bodies of water, Earth's resources, and weather; and
• 2.1B — identify and explain the significance of various community, state, and national landmarks such as monuments and government buildings.
• 1.5B — identify and describe how geographic location influences the human characteristics of place such as shelter, clothing, food, and activities.

Utah

• K.2.3.b — Recognize state and national symbols (e.g., state and national flags, bald eagle, seagull, Statue of Liberty).
• K.3.1.b — Identify and describe physical features (e.g., mountain/hill, lake/ocean, river, road/highway).

Vermont

• D2.Geo.6.K-2 — Individually and with others, students… Identify some cultural and environmental characteristics of specific places.
• There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.
• 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.3.K-2 — Individually and with others, students… Use maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of places.
• D2.Geo.10.K-2 — Individually and with others, students… Describe changes in the physical and cultural characteristics of various world regions.

Virginia

• 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.
• 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.
• G1.2.2 — Use maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of places.

Washington, D.C.

• 1.19 — Locate and explain physical features on maps.
• 1.23 — Describe how location, weather and physical environment affect the way people live, including the effects on their food, clothing, shelter, transportation and recreation.

West Virginia

• SS.2.17 — Identify state symbols, celebrations, holidays, famous West Virginians and the governor of West Virginia.
• SS.K.18 — Investigate state symbols, celebrations, holidays and prominent West Virginians.
• SS.1.15 — Locate and identify the following on a map: • West Virginia • United States • Geographic features (e.g., mountains, bodies of water, etc.)
• Use maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of places.

Wisconsin

• SS.Geog1.b.1-2 — Identify physical and human characteristics of a place using maps, graphs, photographs, and other representations.
• SS.Geog4.a.2 — Categorize characteristics of the local community (e.g., weather and climate, population, landforms, vegetation, culture, industry). Describe how certain places have meanings that distinguish them from other places. (e.g., shopping mall, park, places of worship).
• 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.
• SS.Geog1.c.4-5 — Create and label a map (paper or digital) of the local community, state, tribal lands, and country, including both physical (e.g., oceans and continents) and human (e.g., roads, buildings) characteristics. Identify and construct regions (digital or paper) in Wisconsin and the United States.

Wyoming

• SS2.5.2 — Physical Place and Region Identify, describe, and use local physical and human characteristics to discuss the similarities and differences between parts of the community (e.g., neighborhoods, schools, towns, and reservation communities). RL.1.2, RL.2.3 RI.1.3, Rl.2.2, RI.2.10 W.K.2, W.K.7 W.1.1, W.1.7 W.2.1, W.2.7 SL.K.4, SL.1.4, SL.2.2
• 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
• 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.
• SS5.5.4 — Environment and Society Describe how the environment influences people in Wyoming and how we adjust to and/or change our environment in order to survive (e.g., natural resources, housing, and food).