Contiguous United States

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/contiguous-united-states

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Contiguous United States?Central North America, encompassing 48 adjoining states and the District of Columbia
2. How many people live in Contiguous United States?Approximately 328.5 million (as of 2020 census)
3. How big is Contiguous United States?3,119,884.69 square miles (land and water)
4. What are the 'Big 48' states?The Big 48 are the 48 states that make up the contiguous United States, the main part of the country. They are the states that are connected together without any gaps.
5. What kinds of biomes can you find in the Big 48?You can find humid subtropical coasts in the Southeast, arid deserts in the Southwest, fertile farmland in the Midwest, and rugged mountain ranges in the West. Each area has its own plants, animals, and weather.

Conterminous United States: An official term for the 48 adjoining states and the District of Columbia, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
North America: The continent situated entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Western Hemisphere, comprising Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Geographic Diversity: The wide variety of landforms, climates, and ecosystems found within a particular region.