U.S. state

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/us-state

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. How big is U.S. state?3,797,000 square miles
2. What is the number of states?50
3. What is the total population (approximate)?331.9 million people (as of 2021)
4. Why do states have different climates?States are in different parts of the country, so they have places like Alaska’s cold tundra and Florida’s warm subtropical areas.
5. How do states decide what to teach in schools?Each state has its own rules for schools, choosing what students learn and how teachers are certified, while getting some help from the federal government.

Federalism: A system of government where power is divided between a national government and regional governments (states).
Sovereignty: The supreme authority within a territory; states share sovereignty with the federal government.
Republican Principle: A form of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions, as required for all U.S. state governments.
Interstate Compacts: Formal agreements between two or more states, requiring the consent of Congress.