1. Great Plains
A United States Region
Standard USI 2b and 2c
Kristen Young, Danielle Buchanan, Jennifer Tull
Newport News Public Schools

2. Where is the Great Plains region located?
Located west of
the Interior
Lowlands and
east of the
Rocky
Mountains

3. What does the Great Plains look like?
Flat lands that gradually increase in elevation westward;
grasslands

4. What are the major bodies of water?
Missouri River
Colorado River
Rio Grande

5. What states are in this region?
Texas
•Borders: AR, LA, NM, OK
•Bodies of water:
• Gulf of Mexico|
•Capital: Austin
•Largest city: Houston
•Major Rivers:
• Rio Grande, Red River|
•Major Industry:
• Petroleum and natural gas
• Farming
• steel
• banking
Find out more about Texas!
• insurance
• tourism

6. What states are in this region?
Find out more about
Nebraska!
Nebraska
•Borders: CO, IA, KS, MO,
SD, WY
•Capital: Lincoln
•Largest city: Omaha
•Major River:
• Missouri River
•Major Industry:
• Farming
• grain processing
• meat-packing
• the Air Force Strategic Air
Command

7. What states are in this region?
New Mexico
•Borders: AZ, CO, OK, TX, UT
•Capital: Santa Fe
Largest city: Albuquerque
•Major Rivers:
• Rio Grande,
• Pecos River
•Major Industry:
mining, oil, natural
gas, tourism
Find out more about
New Mexico!

8. What states are in this region?
Oklahoma
•Borders: AR, CO, KS, MO, NM, TX
•Capital: Oklahoma City
•Largest city: Oklahoma City
•Major Rivers: Arkansas River, Canadian River, Red River
•Major Industry: farming, oil, natural gas
Find out more
about Oklahoma!

9. What states are in this region?
Kansas
•Borders: CO, MO, NE, OK
•Capital: Topeka
•Largest city: Wichita
•Major Rivers:
• Kansas River
• Arkansas River
• Missouri River
•Major Industry:
agriculture, aircraft
manufacturing, automobile
manufacturing
Find out more about
Kansas!

10. What states are in this region?
Colorado
•Borders:
AZ, KS, NE, NM, OK, UT, WY
•Capital: Denver
•Largest city: Denver
•Major Rivers:
• Colorado River
• Rio Grande
• Arkansas River
• Major Industry:
• agriculture
• Tourism
• mining
• Oil
• Finance
• manufacturing
Find out more about
Colorado!

11. What states are in this region?
Find out more about
North Dakota!
North Dakota
•Borders: MN, MT, SD, Canada
•Bodies of water: Lake
Sakakawea
•Capital: Bismarck
•Largest city: Fargo
•Major Rivers:
• James River
• Missouri River
• Red River
• Major Industry:
• Farming
• Cattle
• Mining
• electrical power generation

12. What states are in this region?
South Dakota
•Borders: IA, MN, MT, NE, ND, WY
•Capital: Pierre
•Largest city: Sioux Falls
•Major Rivers:
• Cheyenne River
• Missouri River
• James River
• White River
• Major Industry:
• Agriculture
• durable goods
• Manufacturing
• tourism
Find out more
about
South Dakota!

13. What states are in this region?
Wyoming
•Borders:
CO, MT, NE, SD, UT, ID
Bodies of water: Yellowstone
Lake
•Capital: Cheyenne
•Largest city: Cheyenne
•Major Rivers: Bighorn
River, Green River, Powder
River
Find out more about Wyoming!
•Major Industry:
farming, mining, oil, natural
gas, tourism

14. What states are in this region?
Montana
•Borders:
ID, ND, SD, WY, Canada
•Bodies of water: Flathead
Lake
•Capital: Helena
•Largest city: Billings
•Major Rivers: Yellowstone
River, Missouri River
•Major Industry:
farming, cattle
ranching, mining, oil, lumber, t
ourism
Find out more about
Montana!

15. What interesting landmarks are in
this region?
Black Hills
National Forest
Gateway Arch
Mount Rushmore
National Park
Yellowstone
National Park
Crazy Horse
Memorial

16. Extend Your Knowledge of this Region
Choose at least one activity from the following:
• Visit at least 5 of the links that provide more information
about each state. Read the section on their major industries
carefully. Pick a product that is common to most of the
states in this region. Create an advertisement for this
product or service. You may use technology or art supplies
to create your ad.
• Explore the link about the Rio Grande. Consider a body of
water in our area of Virginia. Create A Venn Diagram
comparing and contrasting the 2 bodies of water.
• Choose one of the interesting landmarks in this region and
research it. Create a brochure for this landmark.

17. Extend Your Knowledge of this Region
Choose at least one activity from the following:
• View this “commercial” for the region. Create your own
commercial with a partner using what you’ve learned in
this presentation.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9dp4Vf__CgU
• Complete one or more of the Microsoft Word Templates
located in your Hand Out folder. You will need to revisit
several links in the presentation. The templates are:
• Economy Template
• Geography Template
• Cultural Template