West Coast of the 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/west-coast-of-the-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 West Coast of the United States?Westernmost contiguous United States, bordering the North Pacific Ocean
2. How big is West Coast of the United States?Approximately 320,000 square miles (for California, Oregon, and Washington)
3. What is the key economic drivers?Technology, entertainment, agriculture, international trade, tourism, aerospace
4. Why is the West Coast famous for technology and movies?It has places like Silicon Valley where many tech companies are, and Hollywood in California where movies are made.
5. How does the West Coast's climate change from south to north?In southern California it is warm and dry, while in the north it is cooler, rainy, and has big forests and volcanoes.

Tectonic Activity: The movement of the Earth's crustal plates, which shapes landforms and causes earthquakes and volcanoes.
Demographic Shifts: Significant changes in the population characteristics of a region over time, often due to migration and birth rates.
Cultural Synthesis: The blending of different cultures to create new, unique cultural forms and expressions.
Venture Capital: Money provided by investors to startups and small businesses with perceived long-term growth potential.