Utah

1 Students will understand the interaction between Utah's geography and its inhabitants.

• 1 Investigate the relationship between physical geography and Utah's settlement, land use, and economy.

  • a Read and interpret a variety of maps.

    • Read a map: cardinal directions (5-A.1)
    • Identify lines of latitude and longitude (5-A.2)
    • Use lines of latitude and longitude (5-A.3)
    • Identify states of the West (5-C.1)
    • Select states of the West (5-C.2)
    • Name states of the West (5-C.3)

  • b Identify the physical features and regions of Utah.

  • c Compare and contrast the relationship between physical features and regions to settlement, land use, and the economy.

• 2 Examine the interrelationship between Utah's climate, location, landforms, and life.

  • a Describe how latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean influence Utah's climate.

  • b Explain how mountains, valleys, and bodies of water affect climate.

  • c Assess how climate influences life in Utah.

  • d Explain how natural forces shape the living environment and landscape.

  • e Investigate how natural forces shape the local environments.

  • f Predict how natural forces affect environments; e.g., earthquakes, volcanic action, mudslides, flooding, erosion.

• 3 Assess how natural resources sustain and enhance people's lives.

  • a Recognize the impact of water, minerals, wildlife, and forests on people.

  • b Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources.

  • c Analyze how natural resources improve the quality of life.

  • d Assess the importance of protecting and preserving natural resources.

• 4 Examine how people affect the geography of Utah.

  • a Identify Utah's counties and cities.

  • b Assess how people change the landscape.

  • c Examine how altered landscapes affect people.

2 Students will understand the contributions of Native American Indians, explorers, and Utah's pioneers.

• 1 Examine the contributions of Native American Indians to the culture of Utah.

  • a Identify prehistoric and historic Native American Indian groups.

  • b Examine the interrelationship between each culture and its environment.

  • c Investigate spiritual, artistic, architectural, and oral traditions of Utah's Native American Indians; e.g., languages, storytelling, pottery, basketry, weaving, beadwork, and dwellings.

  • d Identify how Native American Indian heritage influences Utah today.

• 2 Investigate the importance of explorers to Utah's settlement.

  • a Explain the contributions of the Spanish, mountain men, government, and scientific explorers.

  • b Identify other explorers who contributed to our understanding of Utah.

• 3 Describe the significance of pioneers in Utah history.

  • a Explain the reasons for the Mormon migration to Utah.

  • b Explore the pattern of Mormon settlement throughout the West.

  • c Recognize how the Mormon pioneers' heritage influences Utah today.

  • d Investigate the contributions of Utah's "new pioneers", i.e., ethnic/multicultural/religious/scientific/technological groups.

3 Students will understand the relationship between government and the people of Utah.

• 1 Examine Utah's struggle for statehood.

  • a Compare and contrast territorial and state government organization.

  • b Explain the benefits of statehood over territorial government.

  • c Examine the unique relationship between the sovereign Native American Indian nations, the United States government and the Utah State government.

  • d Investigate how government services affect the residents of the state.

• 2 Examine the structure and function of city, county, and state governments.

  • a Explain the role of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches in state government.

    • State and local government (7-CC.6)
    • State and local government (8-A.6)

  • b Assess the similarities and differences among the levels of local government.

  • c Identify local officials and their responsibilities.

  • d Research services that are provided by each level of government; i.e., city, county, township.

• 3 Assess the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

  • a Compare and contrast the United States and Utah Constitutions.

  • b Explain the rights and responsibilities of good citizens.

    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (7-FF.2)
    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (8-D.2)

  • c Investigate how individuals can be involved in the political process.

    • The Legislative Branch (7-CC.2)
    • The Executive Branch (7-CC.3)
    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (7-FF.2)
    • The Legislative Branch (8-A.2)
    • The Executive Branch (8-A.3)
    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (8-D.2)

4 Students will understand the diverse ways people make a living in Utah.

• 1 Explore the components of Utah's economy.

  • a Identify the multiple components of Utah's economy; e.g., government, agriculture, mining, tourism, high tech industry.

  • b Investigate Utah's global trade interdependence.

  • c Research important segments of the local economy.

  • d Assess factors that attract people and businesses to locate in Utah.

• 2 Investigate the past and present role of agriculture in Utah.

  • a Identify the importance of farming and ranching to Utah's economy.

  • b Explain the impact of the Great Depression on farmers and agriculture.

  • c Investigate how agriculture has diversified and improved over time.

  • d Examine the cultural legacy of agriculture in Utah.

• 3 Examine aspects that have broadened Utah's economy.

  • a Investigate the role of mining in Utah.

  • b Examine the railroad's impact on Utah.

  • c Explain the impact of military installations.

  • d Assess the development of heavy and high tech industries.

• 4 Investigate the current status of Utah's economy.

  • a Examine the role of recreation and tourism in Utah.

  • b Outline the role of labor unions.

  • c Explain the effects of private, state, and federal land ownership on land use; i.e., parks, forests, trust lands, etc.

5 Students will understand the diverse nature of Utah's peoples and cultures.

• 1 Assess the cultural diversity of Utah.

  • a Recognize the unique lifestyles of various cultural or ethnic groups in the local community.

  • b Explain the role of immigration in changing Utah society.

  • c Research the ways people maintain and preserve cultural identity; e.g., language, custom, holidays, tradition.

  • d Explain the issues immigrants encounter in adapting to life in Utah.

• 2 Investigate the contributions of Utah's religious and ethnic groups, including Native American Indians.

  • a Identify Utah's religious and ethnic groups.

  • b Explain the reasons Utah's religious and ethnic groups settled in Utah.

  • c Explain the benefits each ethnic and religious group adds to Utah's society.

  • d Investigate how Utah's religious and ethnic groups adapt and interact.

• 3 Assess the diverse cultural and recreational opportunities available in Utah.

  • a Examine Utah arts opportunities in the areas of dance, music, theater, and visual arts.

  • b Investigate recreational opportunities in Utah.

6 Students will understand the impact of major contemporary events that concern the land and people of Utah.

• 1 Identify and investigate major contemporary events that affect individuals, institutions, and society.

  • a Examine different points of view on important events; e.g., points of view on land, politics.

  • b Identify the impact each point of view may have on the state.

  • c Investigate the avenues available for individual or community involvement.