History and Geography

World Ibex

Mountains
Teacher Guide

Skiing

Tunnel

Mountain Goats
 World
Mountains
Teacher Guide
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 World
Mountains
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
World Mountains Sample Pacing Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 1 Introducing Mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Chapter 2 Mountain Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Chapter 3 Mountains as Barriers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Chapter 4 Making the Most of Mountains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Teacher Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
UNIT 2

Introduction
About this Unit

Big Idea
Maps provide a scaled-down version of the features of Earth, as well as a system for locating
those features. World mountains and mountain ranges influence the weather and the lives and
activities of both animals and humans.

Throughout history, mountains have acted as barriers for trade and conquest.
Traditionally people who lived in the mountains tended to be isolated from
other groups and to develop different ways of living. Mountains are the sources
of rivers that provide water for many purposes, including the production of
electricity. Many mountain ranges contain a variety of important minerals.
Mountains also attract people for recreational uses.

INTRODUCTION 1
What Students Should Already Know
Students in Core Knowledge Schools should already be familiar with
the following:

Kindergarten through Grade 3

• What maps and globes represent and how to use them

• What rivers, lakes, and mountains are and how they are represented on
maps and globes

• The location of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans, the North
and South Poles, and the seven continents

• The name and location of their continent, country, state, and community

• The use of map keys and symbols and directions (east, west, north, south)
on a map

• The location of Central America, the Northern American countries

(Mexico, Canada, and the United States), the Rocky Mountains, the
equator, and the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

• The meaning of peninsula, harbor, bay, island, coast, valley, prairie, desert,
oasis, boundary, channel, delta, isthmus, plateau, reservoir, and strait

• Measuring straight-line distances using a map scale

• Using an atlas and, if available, online resources to find geographic

information

• Identifying important rivers on the continents of North and South

America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia

Grade 4
• Measuring distances using map scales

• Reading maps and globes using longitude and latitude, coordinates,

and degrees

• Prime meridian (0° longitude); Greenwich, England; international date line

(180° line)

• Reading relief maps for elevations and depressions

2 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 What Students Need to Learn
• Major mountain ranges by continent (South America: Andes; North
America: Rockies and Appalachians; Asia: Himalayas and Urals; Africa:
Atlas Mountains; Europe: Alps, Caucasus)

• High mountains of the world by continent (Asia: Everest; North America:

Denali; South America: Aconcagua; Europe: Mount Elbrus, Mont Blanc;
Africa: Kilimanjaro)

INTRODUCTION 3
At a Glance
The most important ideas in Unit 2 are the following:
• Major mountain ranges by continent include the Andes (South America),
Rockies and Appalachians (North America), Himalayas and Urals (Asia), Atlas
(Africa), and Alps and Caucasus (Europe).
• High mountains of the world by continent are Everest (Asia), Denali (North
America), Aconcagua (South America), Mont Blanc and Elbrus (Europe), and
Kilimanjaro (Africa).

What Teachers Need to Know

Mountains and Mountain Ranges

Background

A mountain range is a series of connected mountains considered as a single

system because of geographical proximity or common geologic origin.
Mountains are considered to have a common geologic origin if they formed at
the same time by the same set of geologic events.
A large mountain system, like the Appalachian Mountains in northeastern
Canada and the United States, may be called by different names in different
areas. For example, the Appalachians in the southern United States are called
the Blue Ridge, Great Smokies, Cumberland Plateau, and Black Mountains.

South America: Andes

The Andes Mountains are over five thousand miles (8,046 km) in length, the
longest mountain system in the world. The mountains begin as four ranges in
the Caribbean area on the northeastern coast of South America. In Peru and
Bolivia, the mountains form two parallel ranges that create a wide plateau
known as the Altiplano. The Andes then form a single range that separates
Chile from Argentina.
With an average height of 12,500 feet (3,810 m), the Andes are the second
highest mountain range in the world. The Himalayas are the highest.
Approximately 50–60% of Peru’s people live in the Altiplano. About one-third
of the nation’s population live in the narrow lowlands between the Andes
and the Pacific Ocean. Because the Andes run north to south along the entire
length of Chile, most Chileans live in the Central Valley region between the
Andes and low coastal mountains.

4 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 The Andes Mountains were the home of the Inca people, whom students in
Core Knowledge schools studied in Grade 1 and will study again in Grade 5.

North America: Appalachians and Rockies

The Appalachian Mountains are the oldest mountain chain in North America
and stretch from Newfoundland to central Alabama. They are about 1,800 miles
(2,897 km) long and range from 120 to 375 miles (193 to 604 km) wide. The
highest peak is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, named for Maria Mitchell, an
astronomer from the 1800s. The Appalachians are divided into various ranges,
such as the White Mountains in Maine and New Hampshire; the Alleghenies in
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia; the Blue Ridge Mountains in Maryland,
West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia; and the Great Smokies in
North Carolina and Tennessee. Major rivers that flow through the mountains are
the Hudson, Delaware, Susquehanna, Potomac, and Tennessee. The mountains
are rich in iron and coal deposits but proved a barrier to westward movement in
the colonial era until Daniel Boone built the Wilderness Trail, also known as the
Wilderness Road, through the Cumberland Gap in 1775.
The Rocky Mountains extend for more than three thousand miles (4,828 km)
from Alaska to New Mexico. The highest point in North America is Denali in
Alaska. The major ranges of the Rocky Mountains are the Southern, Central,
and Northern Rockies in the contiguous United States, the Brooks Range
in Alaska, and the Canadian Rockies. The Rocky Mountains were more
formidable barriers to travel than the Appalachians because the Rockies
are in general twice as tall as the Appalachians. The major pass through the
Rockies for travelers in the 1800s was South Pass in Wyoming. The Oregon
Trail took this route.
Of major topographical interest is the Continental Divide that runs north and
south through the Rocky Mountains. Rivers to the east of this long, high crest
flow to the east toward the Arctic or Atlantic Oceans, and rivers to the west of
the divide flow toward the Pacific to the west. Lewis and Clark, whom students
should have studied in earlier grades, crossed the Continental Divide in 1805 as
part of their voyage of discovery.

Asia: Himalayas and Urals

Running 1,500 miles (2,414 km) in length, the Himalayas extend across south
central Asia in India, Tibet, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. (Note that there are
two acceptable pronunciations of Himalayas: /him*uh*lae*uhz/, which is the
more traditional English pronunciation, and /him*al*yuhz/, which reflects the
Hindi/Sanskrit pronunciation.) The Himalayas are actually parallel ranges—
the Great Himalayas, the Lesser Himalayas, and the Outer Himalayas, which
break into smaller ranges in Kashmir, a disputed area along the India/Pakistan
border. The Indus, Brahmaputra, and Ganges Rivers all have their sources in
the Himalayas.

INTRODUCTION 5
 The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world. Mount Everest,
the highest mountain in the world, is located in the Great Himalayas, and
eleven other peaks in the Great Himalayas rise above twenty-six thousand feet
(7,925 m). The Tibetan Plateau at the northern boundary is sometimes referred
to as the “roof of the world.”
For many years, no human being had climbed to the summit of Mount Everest,
though many had died, or nearly died, trying. However, in 1953, Edmund P.
Hillary and Tenzing Norgay finally reached the peak. Since 1953, thousands
more climbers have accomplished this most demanding of all mountain
climbing feats, and more than two hundred have died trying.
The Himalayas protect Tibet from the monsoon rains that batter the rest of
South Asia, but as a result, that area of China is dry and desert-like.
The Urals are much lower mountains that form part of the border between
Europe and Asia. The Urals extend for about 1,500 miles (2,414 km)
north to south through Russia from the Kara Sea to Kazakhstan. Mount
Narodnaya is the highest peak, at 6,214 feet (1,893 m). The mountains are
rich in minerals and forests, and as a result, mining and lumbering are
important industries.

Africa: Atlas

The Atlas Mountains rise in North Africa and extend for 1,500 miles (2,414 km)
through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. There are seven ranges within the
Atlas Mountains, and they run generally southwest to northeast and along
the Mediterranean coast. The highest peak in the Atlas is Mount Toubkal in
Morocco. It rises to 13,671 feet (4,164 m).

Europe: Alps and Caucasus

The Alps swing in a 650-mile (1,046 km) arc through France, Italy, Switzerland,
Germany, and Austria. The mountains are divided into a series of parallel
chains: the Western, Central, and Eastern Alps. Several important European
rivers—the Po, Rhone, and Rhine—have their sources in the Alps. The defining
characteristics of the Alps are their tall, snowy peaks; glacially scoured valleys;
beautiful lakes; and glaciers.
The Caucasus Mountains rise along the border of Europe and Asia, between
the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. They stretch 684 miles (1,100 km) across
parts of four countries: Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Two ranges
form these mountains: the Greater Caucasus and the Lesser Caucasus. Mount
Elbrus, the highest peak in the system at 18,481 feet (5,633 m), is part of the
Greater Caucasus range.

6 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 High Mountains

To qualify as a mountain, a landform must be at least one thousand feet

(three hundred m) high.
Anything lower is considered a hill. Mountains also tend to be more jagged
and sharply pointed than hills, which are generally rounded and less steep. The
mountains listed here represent the highest on their respective continents.
For one hundred years, Denali was called Mount McKinley after one of the U.S.
presidents. In 2015, the name officially changed back to Denali—the Native
American name for the mountain. The national park in which the peak is
located is called Denali National Park and Preserve.

Major
Mountain Range or Elevation Elevation Highest
Name System Location (in feet) (in meters) in (the):

Mt. Everest Himalayas Asia (Nepal/ 29,028 8.848 World

Tibet)

Mt. Andes South 22,835 6,960 Western

Aconcagua America Hemisphere
(Argentina)

Denali Alaska North 20,320 6,193 North

America America
(United
States)

Mt. none Africa 19,340 5,895 Africa

Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)

Mt Elbrus Caucasus Europe 18,481 5,633 Europe

(Russia)

Mont Blanc Alps Europe (Alps) 15,771 4,807 Alps

Mt. Jebel Atlas Africa 13,671 4,167 North Africa

Toukal (Morocco)

Mt. Urals Eurasia 6,214 1,894 Russian Urals

Narodnaya (Russia/
Kazakhstan)

To learn more background about specific topics taught in World Mountains, go

to [Link]/about-mountains-and-mountain-ranges

INTRODUCTION 7
Unit Resources

Student Component
World Mountains Student Reader—four chapters

Teacher Components
World Mountains Teacher Guide—four chapters. The guide includes lessons
aligned to each chapter of the World Mountains Student Reader, with a
daily Check For Understanding and Additional Activities, such as review
and vocabulary activities, designed to reinforce the chapter content. A Unit
Assessment, Performance Task Assessment, and Activity Pages are included at
the end of this Teacher Guide in Teacher Resources, beginning on page 38.
»» The Unit Assessment tests knowledge of the entire unit, using
standard testing formats.

»» The Performance Task Assessment requires students to apply and

share the knowledge learned during the unit through either an oral or
written presentation. In this unit, the presentation is written.

»» The Activity Pages are designed to reinforce and extend content

taught in specific chapters throughout the unit. These optional
activities are intended to provide choices for teachers.

Using the Teacher Guide

Pacing Guide
The World Mountains unit is one of ten history and geography units in the Grade 4
Core Knowledge Curriculum Series™. A total of seven days have been allocated to
the World Mountains unit. We recommend that you do not exceed this number of
instructional days to ensure that you have sufficient instructional time to complete
all Grade 4 units.
At the end of this Introduction, you will find a Sample Pacing Guide that provides
guidance as to how you might select and use the various resources in this unit
during the allotted time. However, there are many options and ways that you may
choose to individualize this unit for your students, based on their interests and
needs. So we have also provided you with a blank Pacing Guide that you may
use to reflect the activity choices and pacing for your class. If you plan to create a
customized pacing guide for your class, we strongly recommend that you preview
this entire unit and create your pacing guide before teaching the first chapter.

8 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

Reading Aloud
In each chapter, the teacher or a student volunteer will read various sections of
the text aloud. When you or a student reads aloud, always prompt students to
follow along. By following along in this way, students become more focused on
the text and may acquire a greater understanding of the content.

Turn and Talk

In the Guided Reading Supports section of each chapter, provide students
with opportunities to discuss the questions in pairs or in groups. Discussion
opportunities will allow students to more fully engage with the content and
will bring “to life” the themes or topics being discussed.

Big Questions
At the beginning of each Teacher Guide chapter, you will find a Big Question,
also found at the beginning of each Student Reader chapter. The Big Questions
are provided to help establish the bigger concepts and to provide a general
overview of the chapter. The Big Questions, by chapter, are:

Chapter Big Question

1 How are mountains formed?
2 How do animals survive in the mountains?
3 How have mountains acted as barriers?
4 How do people benefit from mountains?

Core Vocabulary
Domain-specific vocabulary, phrases, and idioms highlighted in each chapter of
the Student Reader are listed at the beginning of each Teacher Guide chapter,
in the order in which they appear in the Student Reader. Student Reader page
numbers are also provided. The vocabulary, by chapter, are:

Chapter Vocabulary
1 mineral, barrier, weathering, plate, magma, lava, extinct, elevation,
erosion, equator
2 surefooted, survive, hibernate, myth
3 pass, tunnel, gap, wagon train, plateau
4 crystal, generator, dam, hydroelectric plant, industry, yak, terrace,
peak

INTRODUCTION 9
Activity Pages
Activity Pages The following activity pages can be found in Teacher Resources, pages 48–54.
They are to be used after students read the chapter(s) specified, during class time
or for homework. Be sure to make sufficient copies for your students prior to
conducting the activities.
• Chapter 1—Cool Facts About World Mountains (AP 1.1), Major Mountain
Ranges and Mountains of the World (AP1.2)
• Chapter 4—World Mountains Domain Vocabulary (AP 4.1)

Additional Activities and Website Links

An Additional Activities section, related to material in the Student Reader, may
be found at the end of each chapter in this Teacher Guide. While there are
many suggested activities, you should choose only one or two activities per
chapter to complete based on your students’ interests and needs. Many of the
activities include website links, and you should check the links prior to using
them in class.

Cross-Curricular Connections

Science
Geology: The Earth and Its Changes
• How Mountains Are Formed

Books
Jenkins, Steve. The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest. Orlando: Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt, 2002.
Reynolds, Jan. Himalaya (Vanishing Cultures). New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc.,
2007.
Reynolds, Jan. Only the Mountains Do Not Move: A Maasai Story of Culture and
Conservation. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc., 2011.
Reynolds, Jan. Sahara (Vanishing Cultures). New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc.,
2007.
Taylor-Butler, Christine. Sacred Mountain: Everest. New York: Lee & Low Books,
Inc., 2014.
Veregin, Howard. (ed.) Goode’s World Atlas 22nd Edition. Chicago: Rand McNally,
2009.

10 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

World Mountains Sample Pacing Guide
For schools using the Core Knowledge Sequence and/or CKLA.
TG–Teacher Guide; SR–Student Reader; AP–Activity Page

Week 1
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
World Mountains
(Finishing Using Maps, “Introducing Mountains” “Cool Facts About World “Mountain Animals” ““Mountains as Barriers”
Unit 1) (TG & SR—Chapter 1) Mountains” (TG & SR—Chapter 2, (TG & SR—Chapter 3,
(TG—Chapter 1, AP 1.1) AP 1.1)
Additional Activities,
AP 1.1)

CKLA
“Personal Narratives” “Personal Narratives” “Personal Narratives” “Personal Narratives” “Personal Narratives”

Week 2
Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
World Mountains
“Making the Most of Finish “Making the Most Unit Assessment (TG)
Mountains” of Mountains”
(TG & SR—Chapter 4, (TG & SR—Chapter 4,
AP 1.1) AP 1.1)

CKLA
“Personal Narratives” “Personal Narratives” “Personal Narratives”

INTRODUCTION 11
World Mountains Pacing Guide
               ‘s class

(A total of seven days have been allocated to the World Mountains unit in order to complete all Grade 4
history and geography units in the Core Knowledge Curriculum Series™.)
TG–Teacher Guide; SR–Student Reader; AP–Activity Page

Week 1

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Week 2

Day 6 Day 7

12 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

CHAPTER 1

Introducing Mountains
The Big Question: How are mountains formed?

Primary Focus Objectives

✓✓ Describe why mountains are important. (RI.4.2)
✓✓ Explain how mountains are formed. (RI.4.3, RI.4.7)
✓✓ Identify the continents on which the following mountain ranges are located: Andes, Rockies,
Appalachians, Alaskan, Himalayas, Urals, Alps, Caucasus, and Atlas. (RI 4.7)
✓✓ Identify the continents on which the following high mountains are located: Mount Everest, Denali,
Mount Aconcagua, Mont Blanc, Mount Elbrus, and Mount Kilmanjaro. (RI 4.7)
✓✓ Understand the meaning of the following domain-specific vocabulary: mineral, barrier, weathering,
plate, magma, lava, extinct, elevation, erosion, and equator. (RI.4.4)

Core Vocabulary (Student Reader page numbers listed below)

mineral, n. a naturally occurring substance found in Earth’s crust (4)

Example: Copper is a mineral found in the Rocky Mountains.
Variation(s): minerals
barrier, n. something that blocks movement (4)
Example: The Sierra Nevada Mountains form a barrier that blocks moisture
from traveling east of the mountains.
Variation(s): barriers
weathering, n. the breaking up of Earth’s materials into smaller pieces (4)
Example: Weathering has made the Appalachian Mountains much smoother
than younger mountains.
Variation(s): weather, weathered
plate, n. a large section of Earth’s crust that is able to move (5)
Example: When one of Earth’s plates folds up over another, it can create a
mountain range.
Variation(s): plates
magma, n. melted rock from inside Earth’s crust (6)
Example: When magma pushes up against Earth’s surface, it can create a
mountain.

CHAPTER 1 | INTRODUCING MOUNTAINS 13

 lava, n. magma, or melted rock, that reaches Earth’s surface (7)
Example: When a volcano explodes, lava often flows down its sides.
extinct, adj. having died out completely (8)
Example: An extinct volcano no longer explodes.
Variation(s): extinction
elevation, n. the distance above sea level of a spot on Earth’s surface (9)
Example: Mount Everest has the highest elevation of any mountain on Earth.
Variation(s): elevations, elevate
erosion, n. the carrying away of soil and rock by water, ice, or wind (9)
Example: Hills without plants often experience erosion when it rains.
Variation(s): erode
equator, adj. the imaginary east/west line on a globe or map that is an equal
distance from the North and South Poles; 0° latitude (9)
Example: The equator marks the boundary between the Northern and
Southern Hemispheres on Earth.

The Core Lesson  35 min

Introduce the World Mountains Student Reader 5 min

Distribute copies of the World Mountains Student Reader, and suggest students
take a few minutes to look at the cover and flip through the Table of Contents
and illustrations in the book. Ask students to brainstorm individual words
or simple phrases describing what they notice in the Table of Contents and
various illustrations; record this information in a list on the board or chart
paper. Students will likely mention mountain, animals, snow, volcanoes, or the
name of various mountains.
Explain to students that they will be reading about different mountains in the
world and how they affect the lives of animals and humans.

Introduce “Introducing Mountains” 5 min

Invite volunteers to name mountains and mountain ranges they have heard of.
Have them share any interesting facts they know about the mountain, such as
where it is located or how people use it. Explain that in this chapter, they will
read about different kinds of mountains all over the world.
Call students’ attention to the Big Question. Ask students to define the word
formed. Encourage students to look for details about how mountains are made
as they read.

14 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

Guided Reading Supports for “Introducing Mountains” 25 min

When you or a student reads aloud, always prompt students to follow along.
By following along, students may acquire a greater understanding of the
content. Remember to provide discussion opportunities.

“O beautiful for spacious skies,” Pages 2–3

Invite a volunteer to read the four lines on page 2 aloud.

Chapter 1
Introducing Mountains
SUPPORT—Explain that the lines are from the poem “America the
O beautiful for spacious skies,
The Big Question
Beautiful,” written by Katharine Lee Bates. Bates wrote the poem after
visiting the Rocky Mountains in the late 1800s. The Rocky Mountains
For amber waves of grain, How are mountains
formed?
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
—“America the Beautiful”
Katharine Lee Bates, 1893
are located on the continent of North America in the United States—
specifically, in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and
New Mexico. Her poem was combined with music to create the song of
the same name.
Page 2 2 SUPPORT—Direct students’ attention to the image on pages 2–3, which
shows another North American mountain, Denali, located in the state
G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap01.indd 2 8/31/16 10:09 AM

of Alaska. Point out how the sunset makes the snow-covered mountain
appear purple. Explain that a similar phenomenon occurs in the Rocky
Mountains, hence the “purple mountain majesties” in “America the
Beautiful.”

Page 3
Denali is a mountain in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the highest mountain in
North America.
3

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap01.indd 3 8/31/16 10:09 AM

“The Importance of Mountains,” Page 4

The Importance of Mountains Scaffold understanding as follows:

People have long admired the beauty of mountains. Some
people long ago even worshipped them. They placed offerings
on mountain slopes in the hope of good crops, good weather,
or good luck. CORE VOCABULARY—Read aloud the three paragraphs in this
section on page 4, explaining the meaning of mineral and barrier as they
Mountains play a part in many religions.
Vocabulary
Moses, for example, received the Ten
mineral, n. a
Commandments on the top of a mountain. naturally occurring
The ancient Greeks believed that their gods substance found in

are encountered. Explain that gold, copper, and silver are all minerals.
Earth’s crust
lived in the mountains.
barrier, n.
Mountains are important in many ways. something that
blocks movement
They affect Earth’s weather and climate.
They provide a home for many animals. weathering, n.
the breaking up of

Note: Students who completed the Core Knowledge program in Grade 3

They contain valuable minerals.
Earth’s materials into
smaller pieces
Mountains have historically made trade
and travel difficult. They have also acted as

may recall the word barrier from their study of ancient Rome. Remind
barriers to keep out or slow down invading armies. More recently,
mountains have attracted tourists, skiers, hikers, and climbers.

Cool Facts About Mountains

• For a landform to be called a mountain, it must rise at least one
thousand feet (three hundred meters) above its surrounding area.
students that the European mountains called the Alps presented a barrier
• Some mountains, such as the Himalayas, are still growing. Others,
such as the Appalachians, are being worn down by weathering,
erosion, and mining.
to Hannibal’s army from Carthage.
Page 4
SUPPORT—Direct students’ attention to the Cool Facts box on the
4

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap01.indd 4 8/31/16 10:09 AM

bottom of page 4. Invite a volunteer to read the list of facts. Point out and
explain the Core Vocabulary term weathering.

CHAPTER 1 | INTRODUCING MOUNTAINS 15

 After reading the text, ask the following questions:
LITERAL—How have mountains been important to people?
»» Possible answers: They have played a role in world religions. They have
made trade, travel, and invasion difficult. They have been used by
tourists, skiers, hikers, and climbers.

LITERAL—How are mountains important in nature?

»» Possible answers: They affect weather and climate. They provide a
home for animals. They contain minerals.

“How Are Mountains Made?,” Pages 5–11

How Are Mountains Made? Scaffold understanding as follows:

Mountains are formed in several different
Vocabulary
ways. To understand how mountains are

Invite a volunteer to read aloud the first paragraph in the section on page 5.
plate, n. a large
formed, you need to remember that the Earth section of Earth’s
has a crusty shell made up of gigantic plates. crust that is able to
move
These plates can shift, crack, and wrinkle.

Folded mountains are created when Earth’s crust shifts. As it

CORE VOCABULARY—Point out the vocabulary box at the top of page 5,

shifts, one piece of rock folds on top of another. The Himalayas
(/him*uh*lae*uhz/) in Asia are folded mountains. Some of the
Appalachian (/ap*uh*lae*chun/) Mountains in the eastern United

and explain the meaning of plate. Point out that the word plate has many
States are folded mountains, too.

different meanings, such as a dish from which food is eaten. The meaning
2
1

used in this unit is unique to the study of physical geography.

3 4

The Indo-Australian Plate moved slowly northward, carrying India with it.

Read aloud the second paragraph about folded mountains on page 5.

Page 5 SUPPORT—Call attention to the fact that the phrase at the start of the
Folded mountains are created when one piece of rock folds over another. Both the
Himalayas (left) and the Appalachians (right) are folded mountains.
5

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap01.indd 5 8/31/16 10:09 AM

paragraph, Folded mountains, is italicized. Explain that this change in

text font helps call attention to the fact that this paragraph will be about
folded mountains. Also call attention to the diagram of folded mountains
on page 5. Compare the diagram to the description in the text. Point out
the pictures of the Himalayas and Appalachians as examples of folded
Fault block mountains are created when pieces of rock are driven up. The Sierra Nevadas
are fault block mountains.

Fault block mountains are also created by shifting plates. In this

mountains, making sure students note the folds shown in the image of the
case, pieces of rock are broken off and driven upward by the force
of the shifting plates. The Sierra Nevadas of western North
America are fault block mountains.

Appalachians.
Dome mountains are created when melted
Vocabulary
rock called magma pushes up below the
magma, n. melted
surface of the Earth. As the magma moves rock from inside
Earth’s crust
up, it makes bumps on Earth’s surface.

Read aloud the paragraph about fault-block mountains at the top of page 6.
2. Lava builds up
enough that the
top of the volcano 4. An island
is above water. remains.
Earth’s crust
3. Volcano stops
erupting.

Magma pushing up below

the surface of the Earth forms
dome mountains. The Black Hills
of South Dakota are dome
Mag
ma 1. Volcano erupts
underwater. SUPPORT—Call attention to the italicized text and the diagram of fault-
Page 6 mountains.

6
block mountains on page 6. Compare the diagram to the description in the
G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap01.indd 6 8/31/16 10:09 AM

text of the Sierra Nevadas.

These bumps often look more like hills than mountains. The Black
Hills of South Dakota are dome mountains.

Volcanic mountains form when a volcano

Vocabulary
CORE VOCABULARY—Read aloud the second paragraph about dome
mountains on page 6. Review the Core Vocabulary word magma, using the
erupts and breaks a hole in Earth’s crust.
lava, n. magma, or
Lava and ash flow down the sides of the melted rock, that
volcano and harden into a mountain. reaches Earth’s
surface
Many islands, such as the Hawaiian Islands,
are actually the tops of volcanic mountains. Japan’s highest
mountain, Mount Fuji, is a volcano. It last erupted in 1707. diagram at the bottom of page 6 to illustrate the word’s meaning.
SUPPORT—Call attention to the diagram of dome mountains on page 6.
Compare the diagram to the description in the text and the image of the
Japan’s Mount Fuji is a volcano.

2. Lava builds up
Black Hills.
enough that the
top of the volcano 4. An island

CORE VOCABULARY—Read aloud the next two paragraphs, about

is above water. remains.
3. Volcano stops
erupting.

1. Volcano erupts

volcanic mountains, on pages 7–8. Point out the Core Vocabulary terms
underwater.

Page 7
Mountains sometimes form when a volcano erupts. The Hawaiian Islands are the tops of
volcanic mountains.
7

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap01.indd 7 8/31/16 10:10 AM

16 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 The highest mountain in Africa, Mount
Kilimanjaro (/kil*uh*man*jar*oe/), is an
Vocabulary
lava and extinct. Explain that lava is magma that has broken through Earth’s
surface. Students may be familiar with the term extinct as it relates to animals
extinct, adj. having
extinct (/ek*stinkt/) volcano. died out completely

Volcanic mountains can be produced by

(i.e., extinct species). Explain that volcanoes can also go extinct. An extinct
a few days of huge eruptions. However, most mountains take
thousands, or even millions, of years to form. They form so slowly
that, in real life, you can’t see them changing.

volcano is one that no longer explodes or erupts.

Some of Earth’s mountains, such as the Appalachians, were
formed more than two hundred million years ago. Others, such
as the Rocky Mountains in western North America, were formed
only about a million years ago. You can often tell whether

SUPPORT—Call attention to and discuss the images of Mount Fuji and the
diagram explaining how volcanic islands form on page 7.
Note: Students who completed the Core Knowledge program in Grade 3
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
may be familiar with volcanoes from their study of Pompeii and Mount
Page 8 8

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap01.indd 8 8/31/16 10:10 AM

Vesuvius during the Ancient Rome unit.
Have students read to themselves the last three paragraphs of the
section on pages 8 and 9. After students read the text, discuss both
mountains are young mountains or
Vocabulary
old mountains by their shape. Young
elevation, n. the
mountains are usually steep, have a high distance above sea
level of a spot on

pages, reviewing the Core Vocabulary and image.

elevation, and are often sharp or pointy.
Earth’s surface
Old mountains have been worn down by
many years of erosion (/er*oe*zhun/). erosion, n. the
carrying away of soil
and rock by water,
Look at the picture of Mount Everest. You’ll
ice, or wind
notice that there is snow on top of the

CORE VOCABULARY—Review the Core Vocabulary terms elevation, erosion,

equator, n. the
mountain. Most tall mountains are covered imaginary east/west
with snow all year long. That is because the line on a globe or
map that is an equal
farther above sea level you go, the colder distance from the

and equator. Students may remember the terms elevation and equator from
it gets. We use the term sea level to explain North and South
Poles; 0° latitude
land elevation in relation to the surface
level of the world’s oceans. You may have

their Unit 1 study of using maps. Explain that the definition of elevation used
noticed this if you have ever hiked up a mountain or driven to the
top of one.

Mountaintops are usually cold, even when they are located in hot

in this unit is more specific than the definition students learned in Unit 1 (the
places. Snow covers the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, in the African
country of Tanzania (/tan*zuh*nee*uh/), all year long even though
it is very close to the equator.

height of something). The definition used here (the distance above sea level
of a spot on Earth’s surface) is the geographic definition.
Page 9 9

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap01.indd 9 8/31/16 10:10 AM

SUPPORT—Point out to students that when referring to the Rocky

Mountains without using the word mountains, they are called the Rockies.
Major Mountain Ranges and Mountains of the World

SUPPORT—Call attention to the picture of Mount Everest on page 8.

Major
Mountain Range or Elevation Elevation Highest
Name System Location (in feet) (in meters) in (the):

Mt. Everest Himalayas Asia (Nepal/ 29,028 8,848 World

Tell students that the temperature decreases about 3°F for every
Tibet)

Mt. Aconcagua Andes South 22,835 6,960 Western

America Hemisphere
(Argentina)

Denali Alaska North

America
(United
States)
20,320 6,193 North
America
one thousand feet of elevation. Mount Everest, for example, with a
Mt. Kilimanjaro none

Mt. Elbrus Caucasus Europe

Africa
(Tanzania)
19,340

18,481
5,895

5,633
Africa

Europe
height of more than twenty-nine thousand feet, is about 87° colder at
the summit than at sea level.
(Russia)

Mont Blanc Alps Europe 15,771 4,807 Alps

(France/
Italy)

Mt. Jebel Atlas Africa 13,671 4,167 North Africa

Toubkal (Morocco)

Mt. Narodnaya Urals Eurasia

(Russia/
Kazakhstan)
6,214 1,894 Russian
Urals Call students’ attention to the chart and map on pages 10 and 11. Discuss
briefly as time permits.
The chart on this page lists some of the most important mountain ranges and tallest
mountains in the world. See if you can locate all of these mountains on the map on the
next page.

Page 1010

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap01.indd 10 8/31/16 10:10 AM

Note: Students will devote time during the Cool Facts About Mountains
activity examining this chart and map in depth.
Ask the following questions:
ARCTIC OCEAN

PACIFIC
OCEAN

AUSTRALIA/
OCEANA

LITERAL—What are the four types of mountains?

Mt. Everest
ASIA
Mt. Narodnaya

INDIAN
OCEAN

ANTARCTICA
Mt. Kilimanjaro

»» The four types are folded mountains, fault-block mountains, dome

Mt. Elbrus
EUROPE

AFRICA

mountains, and volcanic mountains.

Mt. Jebel Toubkal
Mont Blanc

ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Major Mountain Ranges and Mountains of the World

ATLANTIC
OCEAN

AMERICA
SOUTH

LITERAL—How is each mountain type formed?

Mt. Aconcagua
AMERICA
NORTH

»» Folded mountains are created when Earth’s crust shifts so that one
PACIFIC
OCEAN
ARCTIC OCEAN

E
Denali

Page 11
W

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap01.indd 11
11

8/31/16 10:10 AM
piece of rock folds over another; fault-block mountains are created by
shifting plates where pieces of rock are broken off and shifted upward;
dome mountains are created by magma welling up below Earth’s
surface; volcanic mountains are created by volcanic eruption.

CHAPTER 1 | INTRODUCING MOUNTAINS 17

 EVALUATIVE—Why are the Appalachian Mountains not as high as the
Rocky Mountains?
»» The difference in age could explain the difference in elevation. The
Appalachian Mountains are more than two hundred million years
old, but the Rocky Mountains are only about one million years old.
Younger mountains are usually higher and more rugged than older
mountains because they have not been worn down by erosion.

Check for Understanding  10 min

Ask students to:
• Write a short answer to the Big Question, “How are mountains formed?”
»» Key points students should cite in their answers include: folded
mountains are created when Earth’s crust shifts so that one piece of
rock folds over another; fault-block mountains are created by shifting
plates where pieces of rock are broken off and shifted upward; dome
mountains are created by magma welling up below Earth’s surface;
volcanic mountains are created by volcanic eruption.

• Choose one of the Core Vocabulary words (mineral, barrier, weathering,

plate, magma, lava, extinct, elevation, erosion, or equator), and write a
sentence using the word.
To wrap up the lesson, ask several students to share their responses.

Additional Activities

Cool Facts About World Mountains (RI.4.7) 45 min

Activity Pages Materials Needed: Sufficient copies of Cool Facts About World Mountains
activity page (AP 1.1) and World Mountains Student Reader for students;
enlarged copy of AP 1.2, Major Mountain Ranges and Mountains
AP 1.1 Ask students to turn to pages 10–11 in their Readers and distribute copies
AP 1.2 of the activity page Cool Facts About World Mountains (AP 1.1) and Major
Mountain Ranges and Mountains (AP 1.2). Explain that students will examine in
greater detail today the chart and map on pages 10–11, as well as the chart on
AP 1.2, and will use AP 1.1 to record information about the particular mountain
ranges and mountains they read about in Chapter 1.
Provide a scaffolded review of how to use charts and maps by asking students
to find the following information. Begin by displaying the chart on AP 1.2 for
reference as well. Point out the abbreviation Mt. in the chart, and explain that it
is an abbreviation for the word Mount.

18 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 Note: You may want to divide students into teams and challenge them to see
which team is able to provide correct information the most rapidly.
After students respond orally, pause to allow time for them to record each
“cool fact” on AP 1.1.
• Look at the chart on page 10. What is the highest mountain in the world,
and on which continent it is located?
»» The highest mountain in the world is Mt. Everest in Asia.

• What is the highest mountain in Europe?

»» Mt. Elbrus is the highest mountain in Europe.

• What mountain range is located on the continent of Africa?

»» The Atlas Mountain range is located in Africa.

• On what continent are the Alps located?

»» The Alps are located in Europe.

• Which mountain is the highest mountain in South America?

»» Mt. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America.

• What mountain range is Mt. Aconcagua a part of?

»» It is part of the Andes Mountains.

• What is the highest mountain in the Alps?

»» Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps.

Now, display the map on the second page of AP 1.2, and ask the following
questions.
• According to the map on page 11, which continent has three major
mountains? What are the names of those mountains?
»» Europe has three major mountains: Mt. Elbrus, Mont Blanc, and
Mt. Narodnaya.

• On what continent is Mount Kilimanjaro located?

»» Kilimanjaro is located in Africa.

• What is the highest mountain on the continent of North America?

»» Denali, which was formerly known as Mt. McKinley, is the highest
mountain in North America.

Instruct students to use the remaining class time to skim and review Chapter 1,
adding more facts about the mountain ranges and mountains discussed in
Chapter 1, including how they were formed.

CHAPTER 1 | INTRODUCING MOUNTAINS 19

 Some information, such as the type of mountain or the name of a famous
peak, may not be available in this particular chapter. Students may leave those
squares of the chart blank. Students should, however, be able to identify the
location and mountain type for the Himalayas, Appalachians, and Mount
Kilimanjaro. The chart and map on pages 10 and 11 will help identify the
location and names of famous peaks for other ranges, such as the Alps and
Atlas Mountains.
Be sure students save AP 1.1 for future reference. Tell students they will add
more details to the chart as they learn more about each mountain range in
later chapters. These details may include the types of animals that live in the
mountain range, the resources that are found in the mountain range, or how
people use the mountains in the range.

20 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

CHAPTER 2

Mountain Animals
The Big Question: How do animals survive in the mountains?

Primary Focus Objectives

✓✓ Explain how some animals have adapted to mountain environments. (RI.4.2)
✓✓ Describe the different animals that live on mountains in different parts of the world. (RI.4.1)
✓✓ Understand the meaning of the following domain-specific vocabulary: surefooted, survive, hibernate,
and myth. (RI.4.4)

Core Vocabulary (Student Reader page numbers listed below)

surefooted, adj. not likely to fall (12)

Example: A person who does gymnastics needs to be surefooted.
survive, v. to stay alive (14)
Example: Some animals grow extra thick winter coats to survive the cold
weather.
Variation(s): survives, survived, surviving, survivor
hibernate, v. to go into a sleeplike state during winter and live off body fat (14)
Example: Some animals, such as bears, may hibernate during winter in caves
in mountains.
Variation(s): hibernates, hibernating, hibernated, hibernation
myth, n. an idea or story that many people believe but that is not true (17)
Example: The Ancient Greeks used a myth to explain why we have the
seasons of winter and summer.
Variation(s): myths

The Core Lesson  35 min

Introduce “Mountain Animals” 5 min

Ask students to look at several images of mountains from the text. Ask
students to name words that describe conditions on mountains. (Possible
answers: cold, windy, lots of rocks, steep slopes). Write words on the board or

CHAPTER 2 | MOUNTAIN ANIMALS 21

 chart paper, clustering words related to weather and climate (e.g., cold and
windy) together and words related to other mountain conditions (e.g., steep
and lots of rocks) together. Ask students to identify what people or animals
might need to live in conditions like these.
Draw students’ attention to the Big Question. Explain the Core Vocabulary
word survive. Tell students that they will be reading about the many kinds
of animals that live on mountains and how they have adapted to help them
survive harsh conditions.

Guided Reading Supports for “Mountain Animals” 30 min

When you or a student reads aloud, always prompt students to follow along.
By following along, students may acquire a greater understanding of the
content. Remember to provide discussion opportunities.

“An old tall tale” and “Getting Around,” Pages 12–13

Invite a volunteer to read the paragraph that begins “An old tall tale” and
Chapter 2
the first paragraph of the section “Getting Around” on page 12.
Mountain Animals
An old tall tale says that mountain
animals, such as goats, are born The Big Question
SUPPORT—If students have difficulty understanding what the text
is describing, draw a sketch on the board or on chart paper of an
with the legs on one side of their How do animals
survive in the
bodies longer than the ones on mountains?
the other side. The idea is that this
would make it easier for them to walk along steep
mountain slopes.

Getting Around
uneven-legged goat going up and then going down a mountain.
If you think about it, though, there would be one big drawback to

CORE VOCABULARY—Read aloud the last paragraph on page 12.

such an arrangement. The animal could only move in one direction!
If it turned around so that its short legs were on the downhill side,
it would tip over and tumble down the mountain!

Animals such as mountain goats and sheep have bodies that make it
easier for them to get around. For example, their hooves have sharp
edges that help them grip the steep mountainside. Mountain goats
Explain the word surefooted. Point to the image on page 13 to show
why goats have to be surefooted. Draw students’ attention to the baby
are probably the most surefooted of the mountain animals. Goats
sometimes walk out onto a narrow ledge.
Vocabulary
When the ledge ends, the goats rise up on
surefooted, adj. not

Page 12 goat, which is not falling over or down the mountain even though it is
their back legs, turn around, and walk back. likely to fall

12

standing only on its back legs.

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap02.indd 12 8/31/16 10:10 AM

After you read the text, ask the following questions:

LITERAL—How do goats’ bodies make it easier for them to move around
the mountain slopes?
»» Goats have sharp hooves that can grip the steep slopes of the
mountains.

Page 13 Mountain goats have little trouble moving around some of the world’s highest places.
13

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap02.indd 13 8/31/16 10:10 AM

22 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 “Surviving the Cold, ” Pages 14–15

Scaffold understanding as follows:

Cool Facts About Mountain Animals
• The Rocky Mountains in western North America are home to

CORE VOCABULARY—Review the meaning of the Core Vocabulary term

67 different species of mammals, including wolverines, and 270
different species of birds, including the three-toed woodpecker.

• The Himalayas are home to 300 different identified species of

survive. Explain that in this section, students will read how different animals
mammals, including the red panda, 977 identified species of birds,
including the Himalayan Griffon Vulture, 105 identified species of
amphibians, and 269 identified species of fish.

• Between 2009 and 2014, scientists discovered more than two hundred

stay alive during cold mountain winters.

new species of plants and animals living in the eastern Himalayas. One
new discovery is of a blue “walking” snakehead fish. These fish can
breathe air and can survive on land for short periods of time.

Surviving the Cold Vocabulary

Mountains can get very cold, especially in

winter. Mountain animals need a way to
survive the cold weather. Animals can deal
survive, v. to stay
alive

hibernate, v. to go
Read aloud the first paragraph of “Surviving the Cold” and the numbered
list on page 14.
into a sleeplike state
with that problem in four ways: during winter and
live off body fat
1. They can move down the
mountain to where it is warmer and there is more shelter.

2. They can grow heavy coats to keep them warm.

3. They can find shelter underground or under the snow.

4. They can hibernate.

SUPPORT—Point out the images that illustrate each method of survival.
Page 14
Most large mountain animals spend the winter lower down the
mountain. In the Rockies, elk and bighorn sheep move farther Use the image of the sleeping bear to explain the Core Vocabulary word
hibernate. Tell students that the word hibernate comes from the Latin
14

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap02.indd 14 8/31/16 10:10 AM

word hibernatus, meaning to pass the winter. Animals that hibernate store
enough food in their bodies to last for several months, and all their body
down. There, they find shelter
from the cold and wind
among trees and bushes.

processes slow down. In some animals, the heart beats only one or two
Mountain goats, on the other
hand, stay high up. They
have two layers of fur to keep

times a minute. Hibernation is not sleep. It is a state of extreme inactivity

them warm. One is a soft,
This photo of a yellow-bellied marmot was
woolly undercoat. The other taken in San Juan National Forest in Colorado.
Marmots survive the winter by hibernating.
layer is a longer, shaggy outer

that looks very much like sleep. Some animals hibernate when the weather
coat. In the spring and summer, they shed large parts of these
coverings. They end up looking rather untidy.

The meadow vole also stays high up in the mountains. A vole is a

is very cold, but they venture out on warmer days.

small animal similar to a mouse. The vole digs tunnels under the
snow. It lives underground during the winter. The snow keeps the
wind and cold away.

Some animals, such as ground squirrels, survive by hibernating.

They spend the summer and fall eating lots of food. The food
is stored as fat in their bodies. In the late fall, they go into their
holes and sleep. Slowly their bodies cool off until they are the
same temperatures as the hole, about 45°F (7°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Have students read the rest of the section “Surviving the Cold” on pages 14–15
with a partner. Encourage students to refer back to the images on page 14 as
Their heartbeats and breathing slow down. Their bodies need less
energy and can live off their stored body fat.

A Gallery of Animals

Many different animals live in the mountains. The mountain lion

is the largest wild cat in North America. The mountain lion is
needed to help them understand what they are reading.
Page 15
also known as the puma, panther, cougar, or catamount. Once

LITERAL—What are the four ways that animals survive the cold weather?
15

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap02.indd 15 8/31/16 10:10 AM

»» Animals move lower on the mountain where it is warmer and they

have more shelter, they grow thicker coats of fur, they find shelter
underground or under the snow, or they hibernate.

“A Gallery of Animals,” Pages 15–17

the mountain lion roamed

Scaffold understanding as follows:
all over North America. As
more and more people

CORE VOCABULARY—Before students read the section, introduce the

moved into the lowlands
and built towns and cities,
the mountain lion was

Core Vocabulary term myth. Explain that most mountain animals are real
driven away. Unable to
survive in the lowlands, the
lions were forced to mostly This mountain lion, or puma, is found in certain
parts of the Rocky Mountains. This photo was
live in the mountains.

but that there are some that are myths. In this section, students will read
taken in Utah.

Guanacos (/gwah*nah*koez/) live in the Andes of South America.

Guanacos are related to llamas (/lah*muz/). Guanacos are very shy.

about real animals and one mythical beast.

As they graze, one member of the herd stands guard on higher
ground. If they are in danger, the guard gives a signal. The herd
then runs away.

The ibex has lived in the

Alps for a long time. Its

Invite volunteers to read the section aloud.

image appears in cave
drawings made thousands
of years ago. Its horns can
grow as long as three feet
(0.9 meters). Its horns are
so long, it can scratch an
The mountain-dwelling ibex sports some of
itch on its rump with the tip the most magnificent horns of any animal. This
photo was taken in the Alps, a mountain range
of a horn! in Europe.

Page 1616

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap02.indd 16 8/31/16 10:10 AM

CHAPTER 2 | MOUNTAIN ANIMALS 23

 Mountain animals come in many sizes and shapes. The tiny wolf
spider lives in the mountains of North America. The much bigger
After students have read the text, ask the following questions:
giant panda makes its home in the mountains of China. Many

LITERAL—Why do mountain lions now live mostly in the mountains?

birds, such as eagles and condors, fly through the air above
mountains all around the world.

Some mountain animals are probably

Vocabulary
myth. Local people in the Himalayas tell
myth, n. an idea
stories of a huge apelike creature called or story that many

»» The movement and settlement of people in the lowlands pushed the

the Yeti (/yet*ee/). No one has been able to people believe but
that is not true
prove that the Yeti is real.

lions into the mountains.

LITERAL—What are three other animals that live in mountains?

The Yeti is a creature of myth. This is what people say it looks like. »» Possible answers include guanacos, ibex, wolf spiders, giant pandas,
eagles, and condors.
Page 17 17

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap02.indd 17 8/31/16 10:10 AM

INFERENTIAL—Why is the yeti considered a myth?

»» No one has been able to prove that it really exists.
Activity Page Tell students to take out AP 1.1 and to add more detail on AP 1.1 under
the “Interesting Facts” column about the different animals that live on
particular mountain ranges. Encourage students to review the entire
chapter, including the Cool Facts box, as well as all images and captions.
AP 1.1
Be sure to save time for the Check for Understanding.

Check for Understanding  10 min

Ask students to:
• Write a short answer to the Big Question, “How do animals survive in the
mountains?”
»» Key points students should cite in their answers include: Animals move
lower on the mountain where it is warmer and they have more shelter,
they grow thicker coats of fur, they find shelter underground or under
the snow, or they hibernate.

• Choose one of the Core Vocabulary words (surefooted, survive, hibernate, or

myth), and write a sentence using the word.
To wrap up the lesson, ask several students to share their responses.

24 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

CHAPTER 3

Mountains as Barriers
The Big Question: How have mountains acted as barriers?

Primary Focus Objectives

✓✓ Understand how mountains act as barriers and how people have found ways around these
barriers. (RI.4.2)
✓✓ Understand the physical and social effects of living on a mountain. (RI.4.2)
✓✓ Understand the meaning of the following domain-specific vocabulary: pass, tunnel, gap, wagon train,
and plateau. (RI.4.4)

Core Vocabulary (Student Reader page numbers listed below)

pass, n. a place in the mountains that is lower than the surrounding peaks and
that people use as a path through the mountains (18)
Example: Construction workers used a low-lying pass to build a road through
the mountain range.
Variation(s): passes
tunnel, n. a passage through or under a natural feature such as a mountain (21)
Example: When construction workers need for a road to cross a river or other
large body of water, they either build a bridge over the river or dig a tunnel
under it.
Variation(s): tunnels, tunnel
gap, n. a low place in the mountains, often created by a river (22)
Example: The Cumberland Gap in the Appalachian Mountains allowed
travelers to move between Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Variation(s): gaps
wagon train, n. a line of wagons traveling west in the United States in the
1800s (23)
Example: In the 1840s, wagon trains took people to rich farmland in Oregon.
Variation(s): wagon trains
plateau, n. a large area of high, flat ground (23)
Example: Farming is easier on mountain plateaus than on mountain slopes.
Variation(s): plateaus

CHAPTER 3 | MOUNTAINS AS BARRIERS 25

The Core Lesson  35 min

Introduce “Mountains as Barriers” 5 min

Have students look back at the images of Denali (pages 2–3) and Mount Everest
(page 8) in Chapter 1. Review the definition of the Core Vocabulary word
barrier. Ask students to point out details in the images that serve as barriers.
(Students might note the steepness of the mountains and the snow that covers
them.)
Draw students’ attention to the Big Question. Tell students that they will be
reading about the ways people have dealt with the challenges of traveling
across mountains.

Guided Reading Supports for “Mountains as Barriers” 30 min

When you or a student reads aloud, always prompt students to follow along.
By following along, students may acquire a greater understanding of the
content. Remember to provide discussion opportunities.

“What spoils my sleep” and “San Martín Crosses the Andes,” Pages 18–20

Scaffold understanding as follows:

Chapter 3
Mountains as Barriers
CORE VOCABULARY—Read aloud the opening quotation and the
“What spoils my sleep is not the
strength of the enemy, but that The Big Question
first paragraph of the section “San Martín Crosses the Andes” on
page 18. Explain the Core Vocabulary word pass, using the painting on
immense mountain barrier.” How have mountains
acted as barriers?
José de San Martín

San Martín Crosses the Andes

In the early 1800s, colonies in South America began seeking

pages 18–19 to illustrate the term. Note that the pass that San Martín
used was much lower than the surrounding mountains.
independence from Spain. One of the leaders in the fight for
independence was José de San Martín (/hoe*zae/de/san*mar*teen/)
of Argentina. After Argentina became independent, he decided to
help defeat the Spaniards in Chile and Peru.
Vocabulary He had one major problem. San Martín and his
pass, n. a place in

Read aloud the last two paragraphs in the section, on page 20.
army were in Argentina, on the eastern side of
the mountains that
is lower than the the Andes. San Martín had to cross the Andes
surrounding peaks
to get to Chile. San Martín chose to cross the
and that people use
as a path through Andes using a pass that was nearly fifteen
the mountains
thousand feet (4,572 meters) high.

Page 1818
SUPPORT—Direct students’ attention to the Cool Facts box on the
G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap03.indd 18 8/31/16 10:11 AM

bottom of page 20. Invite volunteers to each read a bullet in the box.
To help students understand how long 5,500 miles is, compare the
length or width of your state to the length of the Andes. You could also
compare the width of the United States (2,680 miles, or 4,313 km) or the
driving distance between Los Angeles and New York City (approximately
2,800 miles, or 4,506 km, along Interstate 80) to the length of the Andes.

In this painting, artist Augusto Ballerini imagines San Martín and his army

Page 19
crossing the Andes.

19

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26 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 The Andes are difficult to climb. They are steep and rugged.
Even the passes are high. At such elevations, it is cold and windy.
After reading the text, ask the following question:
The air has less oxygen. People who aren’t used to being so

LITERAL—Why is it difficult for humans and other animals to cross

high up can become confused and sick. Some even die in the
thinner air.

San Martín and his army set out early in 1817. They had five

the Andes?
thousand soldiers, 10,600 mules, 1,600 horses, and seven hundred
head of cattle. They also had to get all their supplies, including
heavy cannons, over the mountains. The soldiers were lucky—most
of them survived. The animals were not so lucky. Only 4,300 mules
and five hundred horses made it to Chile, and none of the cattle

»» The mountains in the Andes have steep slopes. Because the passes are
were left. The struggle paid off, though. The Spaniards in Chile were
caught by surprise and were quickly defeated. San Martín also won
the battle in Peru. By crossing the Andes, San Martín and his soldiers

at high elevations, it is very cold and windy. Because the air has less
helped Chile and Peru gain independence.

Getting Over or Through Mountains

oxygen, it can be hard to breathe.

Mountains cause difficulties for all travelers, not just for armies.
Still, people have managed to find ways to cross mountains.

Cool Facts About the Andes

• The Andes are the longest mountain range in the world. They stretch
5,500 miles (about 8,900 km) through seven countries along the west
coast of South America.

• José de San Martín crossed the Andes at Los Patos Pass. At fifteen
thousand feet (4,572 meters), Los Patos is higher than the tallest
mountain in North America’s Rockies.

Page 2020

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap03.indd 20 8/31/16 10:11 AM

“Getting Over or Through Mountains” and “Mountain Passes,”

Pages 20–23

Invite a volunteer to read the section “Getting Over or Through

Mountains” on pages 20–21.
CORE VOCABULARY—Review the Core Vocabulary term tunnel, using the
This road uses S-curves to climb the steep mountainside.
image on page 22 to illustrate the word’s meaning.
Sometimes people build roads that go in S-curves back and forth
across the mountainside. That way, cars or trucks don’t face such
a steep climb all at once. Even so, traveling these mountain roads
is tricky.
Read aloud the section “Mountain Passes and Gaps” on pages 22–23.
Sometimes you can’t go around or over a
Vocabulary

CORE VOCABULARY—Review the Core Vocabulary terms gap and wagon

mountain. But, you can try going through it.
tunnel, n. a passage
How? By using a tunnel. People have dug through or under a
tunnels for thousands of years. However, natural feature such
as a mountain
new machines were invented in the 1800s,
which allowed people to dig tunnels through mountains. The
first mountain tunnel was a railroad tunnel built through the Alps
between France and Italy. This tunnel took more than fourteen
train. Help students understand the difference between a pass and a gap.
Page 21
years to complete. Today a tunnel for cars, buses, and trucks runs
beside the railroad tunnel. Both are low places in the mountains, but a pass is higher, whereas a gap is
usually lower and created by a river.
21

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap03.indd 21 8/31/16 10:11 AM

SUPPORT—Draw students’ attention to the bar graph on page 23. Help

students see that although some passes are very high, they are still lower
than the peak elevations in their mountain ranges.
After the reading the text, ask the following questions:
This mountain road in Italy uses a tunnel to pass through the mountain.

LITERAL—What are ways people have used to travel across or through

Mountain Passes and Gaps

When people need to cross mountains, Vocabulary

they look for the lowest places to cross. gap, n. a low place in

mountains?
These are called passes and gaps. In the the mountains, often
created by a river
late 1700s, Daniel Boone helped create a
road through the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Virginia, using
the Cumberland Gap to cross these mountains. Settlers in the
United States followed this road to new homes in Kentucky.

Farther north, engineers and laborers used the Mohawk River Gap
in a clever way to pass through the Appalachian Mountains. In the
early 1800s, engineers and laborers built the Erie Canal across
»» People have built and used S-curve roads, and tunnels.
New York. The canal dramatically cut the amount of time needed

Page 22to travel from east to west across the state.

INFERENCE—Why do people use gaps and passes to travel across

22

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap03.indd 22 8/31/16 10:11 AM

mountains?
»» People use gaps and passes because they are not as high as the rest of
the mountain range.

CHAPTER 3 | MOUNTAINS AS BARRIERS 27

 “Mountains and People,” Pages 23–25

25,000
Heights of Mountain Chains, Gaps, and Passes

Gap/Pass
22,841 ft
Scaffold understanding as follows:
(6,962 m)
20,000 Mountain Range
Feet Above Sea Level

CORE VOCABULARY—Read aloud the first two paragraphs of the

14,439 ft 15,000 ft
15,000
(4,401 m) (4,572 m)

10,000
6,683 ft 7,500 ft
(2,037 m) (2,286 m)
5,000

section on page 23. Review the meaning of the Core Vocabulary term
1,600 ft
0 (488 m)
Cumberland Gap, South Pass, Los Patos Pass,
Appalachian Mountains Rocky Mountains Andes Mountains
This graph shows the heights of different mountain chains, gaps, and passes.

plateau. Explain to students that the word plateau comes from a French
Notice that South Pass is higher than the tallest mountain in the Appalachians.
Even a pass can be pretty high up!

In settling what eventually became the western United States,

wagon trains needed to cross the Rockies to reach the Pacific
Coast. They used passes including the
South Pass of Wyoming.
Vocabulary
wagon train, n.
a line of wagons
word plat that means flat. Make sure students understand that a plateau is
different from other mountain terrain because mountain terrain is usually
Mountains and People traveling west in the
United States in the
Long ago, people began to settle and 1800s

create villages. Most people chose to plateau, n. a large

steep. A plateau, by contrast, is flat. Consider drawing on the board or

settle in valleys and on plains. But some area of high, flat
ground
people chose to settle in the mountains.
Some settled on the mountainsides, others on plateaus in the

chart paper to illustrate the difference.

mountains. A plateau is a flat area of high ground. Sometimes
plateaus stand on their own. Sometimes they are part of a
mountain range.

So, why did people settle in these high places? Maybe they went
there to escape enemies. Maybe the beauty of the mountains

Page 23 attracted them.

23
Ask students to read the rest of the section on pages 24–25 quietly to
themselves.
G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap03.indd 23 8/31/16 10:11 AM

After reading the text, ask the following questions:

People who live in the mountains often are separated from other
people. For example, the Basques (/basks/) settled thousands
of years ago in the Pyrenees (/pihr*uh*neez/), which are the
mountains separating Spain and France. The mountains cut the
Basques off from other people. Over time, their language became

LITERAL—Who are the Basques? How have mountains helped to shape

quite different from Spanish and French.

People living in the Andes Mountains live at very high elevations.

So do the people living in the Himalayas. When people from
lower elevations travel high up into the mountains, they tire
easily. They find themselves short of breath and get headaches.
Yet the people who live high up in the mountains don’t have
their culture?
these problems. Why? Because they have lived at high elevations
for hundreds of years. Their bodies have adapted to their
mountain environment.
»» The Basques are a people who settled in the Pyrenees Mountains
between Spain and France. The mountains cut them off from other
people, allowing the Basques to develop a language very different
from Spanish and French.
Page 24
A Basque shepherd tends to his flock of sheep high in the Pyrenees.

LITERAL—What are the effects of higher elevations on people who are

24

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap03.indd 24 8/31/16 10:11 AM

not accustomed to them?

Mountains have had both positive and negative effects on

»» They tire easily, have difficulty breathing, and get headaches.

history. Mountains have prevented the spread of new ideas.
They have made it difficult for people to communicate with
each other. However, mountains have also offered protection
and contributed to the creation of unique cultures. Perhaps
now when you see mountains off in the distance, or drive over
or through them, you will think about how they have helped to

LITERAL—How have people adapted to living at higher elevations?

shape our world.

»» Their bodies have adapted to the thinner air so they don’t get short of
breath or get headaches.

INFERENTIAL—Why have some groups of people who lived on

mountains developed their own ways of life and have little to do with
Page 25 25
other people?
G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap03.indd 25 8/31/16 10:11 AM

»» People who live on mountains do not usually have many visitors, nor is
it easy for them to travel and meet new people. This means that there
are fewer opportunities to learn about other people’s ideas or ways of
life and incorporate these ideas into their own culture.
Activity Page Tell students to take out AP 1.1 and to add more detail about the different
mountain ranges mentioned in this chapter. Encourage students to review
the entire chapter, including the Cool Facts box, as well as all images and
captions.
AP 1.1
Be sure to save time for the Check for Understanding.

28 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 Check for Understanding  10 min
Ask students to:
• Write a short answer to the Big Question, “How have mountains acted as
barriers?”
»» Key points students should cite in their answers include: making travel
difficult, preventing invasions, and isolating cultures from one another.

• Choose one of the Core Vocabulary words (pass, gap, wagon train, or
plateau), and write a sentence using the word.
To wrap up the lesson, ask several students to share their responses.

CHAPTER 3 | MOUNTAINS AS BARRIERS 29

CHAPTER 4

Making the Most

of Mountains
The Big Question: How do people benefit from mountains?

Primary Focus Objectives

✓✓ Understand how mountains affect rainfall. (RI.4.3)
✓✓ Identify the natural resources provided by mountains. (RI.4.2)
✓✓ Understand the types of farming available to people who live on mountains. (RI.4.2)
✓✓ Explain the roles that mountains play in recreation for people. (RI.4.2)
✓✓ Understand the meaning of the following domain-specific vocabulary: crystal, generator, dam,
hydroelectric plant, industry, yak, terrace, and peak. (RI.4.4)

Core Vocabulary (Student Reader page numbers listed below)

crystal, n. a colorless or lightly colored hard mineral (26)

Example: Salt crystals are ground into the table salt we use in our kitchens.
Variation(s): crystals
generator, n. a machine that makes electricity (29)
Example: After losing electrical power during the snowstorm, we were able
to use a generator so the house lights still worked.
Variation(s): generators
dam, n. a wall used to stop the flow of water (29)
Example: The Conawingo Dam in Maryland blocks the Susquehanna River.
Variation(s): dams
hydroelectric plant, n. a place that uses the force of moving water to power
generators that make electricity (30)
Example: Hydroelectric plants near rivers can provide electricity to thousands
of homes.
Variation(s): hydroelectric plants

30 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 industry, n. a group of businesses that use machinery and factories to make
a product (31)
Example: The automobile industry produces cars and trucks and other
vehicles.
Variation(s): industries
yak, n. an animal similar to an ox that lives in Asia (31)
Example: People in the Himalayas raise yaks for milk.
Variation(s): yaks
terrace, v. to build level surfaces on a mountainside (31)
Example: Farmers grow crops on steep mountain slopes by terracing
the land.
Variation(s): terracing, terraced, terrace (n.)
peak, n. the highest point on a mountain (33)
Example: The peak of a mountain is often covered with snow.
Variation(s): peaks

The Core Lesson  35 min

Introduce “Making the Most of Mountains” 5 min

Note: This chapter is longer than the previous chapters of this unit, so we
recommend that you allocate two instructional days to adequately read and
discuss it. You may choose to have students read and discuss pages 26–31 and
add details to AP 1.1 on one day, finishing pages 32–35 on the second day,
as well as adding more details to AP 1.1. Or you may want to read the entire
chapter on the first day and then add detail to AP 1.1 on the second day, as well
as reviewing the entire unit.
Draw students’ attention to the Big Question. Ask students to define the word
benefit (to affect positively). Invite volunteers to share examples of how people
have benefitted from mountains based on what they have already read.
(Possible answers: mountains provided protection against enemies and helped
create new cultures.) Tell students that in this chapter they will read about other
ways that mountains are important to people.

Guided Reading Supports for “Making the Most of Mountains” 30 min

When you or a student reads aloud, always prompt students to follow along.
By following along, students may acquire a greater understanding of the
content. Remember to provide discussion opportunities.

CHAPTER 4 | MAKING THE MOST OF MOUNTAINS 31

 “In the 1700s a man named Jonathan Carver” and “Mountains and
Moisture,” Pages 26–28

Scaffold understanding as follows:

Chapter 4 CORE VOCABULARY—Invite a volunteer to read aloud the
Making the Most
of Mountains paragraph that begins “In the 1700s a man named Jonathan
In the 1700s a man named
Jonathan Carver explored the
Mississippi River. On his travels,
The Big Question
How do people
Carver.” Define the word crystal for students. Ask students to brainstorm
what else those crystals might be, besides diamonds.
benefit from
Native Americans told Carver about mountains?
the Shining
Vocabulary Mountains to the west, which were
crystal, n. a colorless covered with large crystals. Carver
or lightly colored hard thought that these crystals were

Invite volunteers to take turns reading the section “Mountains and

mineral
diamonds.

Mountains and Moisture

In fact, the crystals that the Native Americans described to Carver

weren’t diamonds; they were crystals of snow that melted in the
spring and fed the rivers and lakes of western America.
Moisture” on pages 26–28.
Most people would be disappointed if they went looking for

SUPPORT—Draw students’ attention to the image on page 28. Have

diamonds and found water. However, in the dry West, water is very
important. The people of Denver, Colorado, know that very well.

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G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap04.indd 26 8/31/16 10:08 AM

students trace the path of moisture as it approaches a mountain, rises,
and falls as precipitation. Explain to students that the air that reaches
Denver is particularly dry since it passes over two mountain ranges, the
Sierra Nevada and the Rockies.
After students have finished reading, ask the following question:
LITERAL—Why are the lands east of the Rocky Mountains drier than the
lands west of the mountains?
»» Moist winds coming off the ocean are cooled as they rise up the
mountains. Since cool air holds less moisture than warmer air does, the
Page 27 Denver lies on the eastern side of the Rockies.
27 moisture falls as rain or snow on the western side. By the time the wind
crosses over the mountains to the east, it has lost most of its moisture.
G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap04.indd 27 8/31/16 10:08 AM

Their city is located at the foot of the eastern side of the Rocky
Mountains. Denver receives only about fourteen inches of rain a
year. The people of Denver need much more water than that to
survive. Luckily, the western side of the Rocky Mountains receives
more rain than the eastern side. The solution was to tunnel
through the Rockies to get more water.

Why is the western side of the Rocky Mountains wetter than the
eastern side? Because the winds that blow in from the Pacific
Ocean carry a great deal of moisture. When the winds reach the
western side of the Rockies, they are forced to rise to cross the
mountains. As the air rises, it grows cooler. Cool air can’t hold as
much moisture as warm air can. Therefore, much of the moisture
falls as rain or snow on the western side of the Rockies. By the
time the winds get over the mountains, they have lost most of
their moisture.

Cloud forms as rising air

cools and condenses

Dry air sinks

and warms
Warm, moist
air rises

Wind

Mountains can block the flow of moisture.

Page 2828

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap04.indd 28 8/31/16 10:08 AM

32 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 “Mountains and Power,” Pages 29–30

Mountains and Power Scaffold understanding as follows:

Mountain streams
are valuable not only
as sources of water
but also as sources of
power. As streams and
CORE VOCABULARY—Read aloud the first paragraph of “Mountains
rivers travel downhill,
they sometimes form
waterfalls. The currents of
and Power” on page 29. Define the word generator. Explain that there are
many different ways to power generators. Some generators are powered
the waterfalls can be used
to make power. Hundreds
of years ago, people used

by burning fuel such as coal or natural gas. Others are powered by wind,
the force of the falling
water to turn waterwheels.
The waterwheels powered

water, or solar power.

machinery. Some
machinery ground grain
or wove cloth. Today, A large hydroelectric plant at the base of Hoover
Dam on the Nevada/Arizona border.
water gives power to huge
Dry air sinks
and warms generators that make electricity.

CORE VOCABULARY—Read aloud the second paragraph of

Vocabulary
Today, when there is no waterfall, people
generator, n. a
sometimes build a dam to hold back the machine that makes
water in a river. When the water behind electricity

“Mountains and Power” on pages 29–30. Review the meaning of dam

the dam is released, it flows downstream dam, n. a wall used
to stop the flow of
rapidly. It has as much or more force
water
than water going over a waterfall. This

Page 29 29
and hydroelectric plant. Point out the prefix hydro–in hydroelectric plant,
and explain that it means water. So hydroelectric refers to electricity that
G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap04.indd 29 8/31/16 10:08 AM

comes from water.

Note: Students who completed the Core Knowledge program in Grade 3
may remember the word dam from their study of world rivers.
When you have finished reading, ask the following question:
LITERAL—How do hydroelectric plants work?
»» Running water turns generators. The generators make electricity.

INFERENTIAL—Based on the text in this chapter, why might people

build dams?
»» Dams allow water to be held back. When it is released, its force turns
generators, which create electricity.

“Minerals,” Pages 30–31

running water turns huge generators in

hydroelectric plants that make electricity.
Vocabulary
Scaffold understanding as follows:
hydroelectric plant,
Mountains make this possible. n. a place that uses

CORE VOCABULARY—Review the definition of mineral from Chapter 1

the force of moving
water to power
Minerals generators that
make electricity
It’s easy to make fun of Jonathan Carver for

with students; ask students to refer to the glossary to locate the definition
thinking that the crystals on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains
were diamonds. But in a sense he wasn’t as far off as you might
think. No one has ever found diamonds in the Rocky Mountains,

for mineral. Explain that mountains are rich in minerals. In this section, they
but the Rockies are bursting with other valuable minerals.

Gold was discovered in the Rockies near Pikes Peak in 1858.

People rushed to the area to get their share of the riches. Mining

will read about some of the minerals found in mountains. Introduce the
camps and towns sprang up overnight. Very few people became
rich from the gold. Very little gold is left today, at least near the
surface. But people discovered other minerals during the gold

Core Vocabulary term industry as a group of businesses that use machinery

rush—silver, lead, copper, zinc, and more.

Other mountain ranges around the world also contain minerals.

The Ural Mountains in Russia are rich in zinc, silver, platinum, and

Cool Facts About Making the Most Out of Mountains

• Ten percent of the world’s population lives in mountains.
and factories to make products. Explain that some minerals are important
•

•
Coal is still an important resource. Today, approximately 40 percent of
the world’s electricity is generated by coal.

The U.S. state of California depends on the snowpack on the Sierra

for industry.
Nevada mountains for water. Since 2001, the mountains have received
less-than-normal amounts of snow. This has created an extreme

Page 30 Have students read the section “Minerals” to themselves.

drought in the state.

30

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap04.indd 30 8/31/16 10:08 AM

When students have finished reading, draw students’ attention to the

Cool Facts box on the bottom of page 30. Read the list of facts aloud.
SUPPORT—Explain that a drought is a situation without enough water.
Tell students that even though California does get rain, it is not enough to
restore the snowpack in the mountains or provide for Californians’ daily

CHAPTER 4 | MAKING THE MOST OF MOUNTAINS 33

 needs. Therefore, people who live in California are subject to restrictions,
or limits, on their water usage.
Ask the following questions:
LITERAL—What mountain ranges were described as being rich in
minerals?
»» The Rocky, Ural, Alleghany, and Appalachian Mountains all are rich in
different kinds of minerals.

INFERENTIAL—On what continents are the Rocky, Ural, Alleghany, and

Appalachian Mountains located?
»» The Rocky, Alleghany, and Appalachian Mountains are all located in
North America. The Ural Mountains in Russia are part of the boundary
between Europe and Asia.

LITERAL—How have people benefited from the coal in American

mountains?
»» The coal in American mountains such as the Appalachians and
Alleghenies helped American industry grow.

“Farming,” Page 31

nickel. Miners dig these minerals out of the mountains and send
them to nearby factories. Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains
Scaffold understanding as follows:
are full of coal, as are the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania,

CORE VOCABULARY—Read aloud the two paragraphs in the section

Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Coal from the
Allegheny and Appalachian Mountains helped American industry
to grow in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

“Farming” on page 31. Explain the vocabulary terms yak and terrace
Farming

Some people make a living farming in the mountains. Often,

they raise animals. People in the Andes raise llamas and alpacas
(/al*pak*uz/), and people in the Himalayas raise yaks. Some
farmers in the Alps herd goats on the high pastures during the
summer. As you have discovered, these animals are all surefooted.
when they are encountered. Draw students’ attention to the image of
They are used to traveling up and down hillsides in search of
plants to eat.

Farming is somewhat easier on the flat top of a plateau, but it is

terracing on page 32. Point out the walls that formed the terraces.
hard to grow crops on steep mountainsides.
Vocabulary

SUPPORT—Use images of llamas, alpacas, and yaks to support student

For hundreds of years, the people of
the Andes and the Himalayas have used industry, n. a
business that
terracing to create fields. In southeastern manufactures a
product or provides
Asia, terracing is used on a large scale to

understanding of the first paragraph in the section. Such images should be

a service
grow rice. Terracing turns mountain slopes
yak, n. an animal
into giant staircases, with lots of flat surfaces similar to an ox that
for growing crops. Farmers build stone walls lives in Asia
on the mountainsides. They then fill the area
behind the walls with dirt. This creates a
series of steplike flat fields.
terrace, v. to build
level surfaces on a
mountainside
easily accessible through a basic Internet search.
Page 31 31

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap04.indd 31 8/31/16 10:08 AM

After reading the text, ask the following questions:

LITERAL—Why are llamas, alpacas, and yaks suited to life in the
mountains?
»» They are surefooted and used to traveling up and down
mountainsides for food.

INFERENTIAL—Why would farming be easier on a plateau instead of a

mountainside?
»» Plateaus are flat. It is easier to move and plant on a flat surface than on
a steep surface.

34 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 EVALUATIVE—Why do people build terraces on mountainsides?
»» People build terraces to create flat areas on which they can grow
crops. While farming on flat surfaces such as fields or plateaus is easier,
these options are not always available.

NOTE: Stop reading here if you have decided to divide reading the
chapters into two parts, and have students complete Activity Page 1.1.
Activity Page Tell students to take out AP 1.1 and to add more detail on AP 1.1 under
the “Interesting Facts” column about the different animals that live on
particular mountain ranges. Encourage students to review the entire
chapter, including the Cool Facts box, as well as all images and captions.
AP 1.1
If you are reading the entire chapter in one day, complete the Check for
Understanding and AP 1.1 on the second day.

“Recreation,” Pages 32–33

Ask students to quietly read this section to themselves.

After students have finished reading, ask the following question:
LITERAL—How do we know that skiing has been important to people for
Steplike terraces make it easier to farm on a mountainside. These terraces were built on
a mountain in India. a very long time?
Recreation

»» Archaeologists have found skis from thousands of years ago.

Today mountains also attract lots of tourists. These tourists
come to enjoy mountain sports like sledding, snowboarding,
and skiing.

Norwegian soldiers used skis in 1200. People have held skiing

Skiing developed long ago in the mountains of Europe and Asia.
People used skiing to travel when snow covered the ground.
Archaeologists have found skis that they believe were made

competitions since the 1800s.

almost nine thousand years ago! These ancient skis were carved
out of bones or wood.

No one knows when skis were first used in warfare. We know

that in 1200, Norwegian soldiers traveled on skis to spy on their
Swedish enemies.

Page 3232

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap04.indd 32 8/31/16 10:08 AM

“Mountain Climbing,” Pages 33–35

Scaffold understanding as follows:

Invite a volunteer to read the first two paragraphs of the section
“Mountain Climbing” on page 33.
Downhill skiing is a favorite mountain sport in many parts of the world.

Over the years skiing became a popular sport. Skiing competitions

CORE VOCABULARY—Review the Core Vocabulary word peak. Direct
began in the 1800s. It was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1924.
Skiing is still a popular mountain sport today. students to a picture of a mountain, such as the image of Mount Everest
on page 8 or Denali on pages 2–3. Ask students to point to the peak of the
Mountain Climbing

People who are looking for other challenging pastimes can try
mountain climbing. Some people enjoy hiking in the mountains.
Others like the challenge of trying to climb the tallest mountains
in the world.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of all is Vocabulary

mountain in the image.
climbing to the peak of the world’s tallest peak, n. the highest
point on a mountain

Read aloud the rest of the section on page 35.

mountain, Mount Everest. The temperatures
are freezing. The winds are very strong. Snowstorms come up

Page 33 unexpectedly. The air is thin and has little oxygen.

33

After reading the text, ask the following questions:

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap04.indd 33 8/31/16 10:09 AM

LITERAL—Who were the first people to reach the peak of Mount Everest?
»» Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

CHAPTER 4 | MAKING THE MOST OF MOUNTAINS 35

 LITERAL—What challenges do mountain climbers face when they try to
reach the peak of Mount Everest?
»» They face freezing temperatures, strong winds, thin air, and
unexpected snowstorms.

INFERENTIAL—Why might someone want to endure difficult conditions

to climb to a mountain peak?
»» Answers may vary. Students may cite that some people enjoy
Page 34
Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first two people to reach the top of
Mount Everest.
34 challenges. Students may say that it would be an honor to be the first
person to climb a mountain. Accept all reasonable answers.
G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap04.indd 34 8/31/16 10:09 AM

Over many years, many people tried to climb the mountain but
failed. Then, in 1953, a New Zealander named Sir Edmund Hillary
and a Nepalese named Tenzing Norgay managed to reach the top
of the mountain. Later, Hillary explained what it was like to try to
NOTE: Stop here if you are reading the entire chapter in one day. Complete the
sleep in a tent on the mountainside.

He described the wind as it screeched across the ridge, causing

the most awful noise. He described how cramped the tent was,
Check for Understanding and AP 1.1 on the second day.
and how he and his fellow adventurer, Norgay, struggled to rest,

If this is the second day of instruction, complete the Check for Understanding,
hunched up in sleeping bags, unable to stretch out, in freezing
conditions. Hillary explained that time seemed to move slowly
then, as he and Norgay anxiously awaited the light of day.

and ask students to add details from the second half of the chapter to AP 1.1.
Since Hillary and Norgay reached Everest’s peak in 1953, thousands
of others have followed. Some climbers have made it to the top
and back. Many others have not. More than two hundred people
have frozen to death or were overwhelmed by avalanches while
trying to reach the peak.

Why do so many people risk their lives trying to climb Mount

Everest and other tall mountains? Partly it is because human
beings like to challenge themselves, but it may also be because
human beings are fascinated by mountains.

Page 35 35

G4_U2_World Mountains_SR_Chap04.indd 35 8/31/16 10:09 AM

Check for Understanding  10 min

Ask students to:
• Write a short answer to the Big Question, “How do people benefit from
mountains?”
»» Key points students should cite in their answers include: mountains as
the source of many rivers; using the downhill flow of water to generate
electricity; digging valuable minerals out of the mountains; farming
and raising animals; participating in recreational activities such as
skiing and mountain climbing.

• Choose one of the Core Vocabulary words (crystal, generator, dam,

hydroelectric plant, industry, yak, terrace, or peak), and write a sentence using
the word.
To wrap up the lesson, ask several students to share their responses.

36 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

Additional Activities

World Mountains Domain Vocabulary (RI.4.4, L.4.6) 45 min

Activity Page Materials Needed: Sufficient copies of the World Mountains Domain
Vocabulary activity page (AP 4.1)
Distribute AP 4.1, World Mountains Domain Vocabulary, and direct students
AP 4.1 to use the vocabulary terms they have learned in their reading about World
Mountains to solve each riddle.
This activity page may also be distributed for homework.

CHAPTER 4 | MAKING THE MOST OF MOUNTAINS 37

UNIT 2

Teacher Resources
Unit Assessment: World Mountains 39

Performance Task: World Mountains 43

• Performance Task Scoring Rubric 44

• Performance Task Activity: World Mountains 45

• World Mountains Performance Task Notes Table 47

Activity Pages
• Cool Facts About World Mountains (AP 1.1) 48
• Major Mountain Ranges and Mountains of the World (AP 1.2) 51
• World Mountains Domain Vocabulary (AP 4.1) 53

Answer Key: World Mountains—Unit Assessment and Activity Pages 55

38 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

Unit Assessment: World Mountains

Circle the letter of the best answer.

1. Which is not a way mountains are formed?

a) shifting plate
b) volcanic action
c) extinctions
d) magma movement deep in the earth

2. Which is the highest mountain in Africa?

a) Mount Kilimanjaro
b) Mount Everest
c) Mount Elbrus
d) Mount Aconcagua

3. An extinct volcano is
a) not likely to erupt.
b) likely to erupt.
c) flat.
d) steep.

4. Two mountain ranges located in North America are

a) the Himalayan and the Ural Mountains.
b) the Sierra Nevada and the Atlas Mountains.
c) the Rocky and the Appalachian Mountains.
d) the Alps and the Caucasus Mountains.

5. Which elevation would be the coldest place on a mountain?

a) 10,000 feet
b) 5,000 feet
c) 3,000 feet
d) 1,500 feet

6. The highest mountain in the world is

a) Mount Aconcagua.
b) Mount Kilimanjaro.
c) Mont Blanc.
d) Mount Everest.

TEACHER RESOURCES 39
7. What mountain range is located in South America?
a) Andes
b) Alps
c) Atlas
d) Himalayas

8. What is the highest mountain in North America?

a) Mount Everest
b) Denali
c) Mount Aconcagua
d) Mount Elbrus

9. Mount Aconcagua is the highest mountain in

a) Europe.
b) North America.
c) South America.
d) Asia.

10. Which is one form of adaptation that allows animals to live on mountains?
a) longer legs on one side of the body
b) large antlers
c) hoofs with sharp edges
d) thin, light hair

11. Which of the following describes a mountain pass?

a) goes over the top of a mountain
b) is a tunnel
c) is always close to sea level
d) is an easier way to cross a mountain range

12. What is a plateau?

a) a low place in the mountains, often created by a river
b) a jagged place in the mountains lower than surrounding peaks
c) a large area of high but level ground
d) none of the above

40 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

13. People living in the Andes Mountains have adapted to the effects of
a) frequent, heavy rainfall.
b) volcanic eruptions.
c) earthquakes.
d) high elevation.

14. How do mountains create challenges for people?

a) People with common interests may face communication problems.
b) Armies cannot easily invade a country surrounded by mountains.
c) Winds cannot easily carry moisture across mountains.
d) all of the above

15. Why are mountains important to people?

a) They contain minerals.
b) They provide places for recreation.
c) They are the sources of rivers that provide hydroelectric power.
d) all of the above

TEACHER RESOURCES 41
Match the following vocabulary terms with their definition. Write the correct letter on the line.

a) mineral      16. to stay alive

b) magma      17. a passage through or under a natural feature such as a

mountain

c) survive      18. a wall used to stop the flow of water

d) hibernate      19. the distance above sea level of a spot on Earth’s surface

e) elevation      20. a naturally occurring substance found in Earth’s crust

f) tunnel      21. a colorless or lightly colored hard mineral

g) generator      22. to go into a sleeplike state during winter and live off body fat

h) dam      23. a machine that makes electricity

i) crystal     24. to build level surfaces on a mountainside

j) terrace     25. melted rock from inside Earth’s crust

42 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

Performance Task: World Mountains
Teacher Directions: In this activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of world mountains
using both a map and a written assignment.
Ask students to annotate the Performance Task Activity map with the locations of the mountains and
mountain ranges studied in this unit. Then have students write a paragraph discussing the benefits and
challenges that mountains present for people.
A sample table, completed with possible notes, is provided below to serve as a reference for teachers,
should some prompting or scaffolding be needed to help students get started. Individual students are
not expected to provide a comparable finished table. The goal of the sample table is to provide enough
detail for students to complete the writing part of their assignment.

Benefits of Mountains Challenges of Mountains

• provide homes for animals, such as goats, • act as barriers

llamas, and yaks
• difficult to farm on steep mountainsides
• contain valuable minerals, such as gold,
• block the flow of moisture
copper, and zinc
• can make people sick because of thin air at
• contain coal, which is used to generate
higher elevations
electricity
• require different constructions, such as
• keep out or slow down invasions
S-curve roads, tunnels, and canals, to make
• allow unique cultures to develop travel easier

• provide recreational opportunities such as

skiing and mountain climbing

• create downhill flow of water, which can be

used to generate electricity

TEACHER RESOURCES 43
Performance Task Scoring Rubric
Note: Students should be evaluated on the basis of their completed maps and paragraphs, using
the rubric.
Students should not be evaluated on the completion of the notes table, which is intended to be a
support for students as they first think about their paragraphs.

Above Average Map is labeled with 85% accuracy, i.e., eleven of the thirteen mountains
correctly labeled. Paragraph is accurate, detailed, and persuasive. The writing is
clearly articulated and focused and demonstrates strong understanding of the
benefits and challenges of mountains. A few minor errors may be present.

Average Map is labeled with 80% accuracy, i.e., ten of thirteen mountains correctly
labeled. Paragraph is mostly accurate and somewhat detailed. The writing is
focused and demonstrates a solid understanding of the benefits and challenges
of mountains. Some minor errors may be present.

Adequate Map is labeled with 80% accuracy, i.e., ten of thirteen mountains correctly
labeled. Paragraph is mostly accurate but lacks detail. The writing
demonstrates a basic understanding of the benefits and challenges of
mountains. The writing may also exhibit issues with organization, focus, and/or
control of standard English grammar.

Inadequate Map is incomplete or inaccurate, i.e., nine or fewer of the thirteen mountains
are correctly labeled. Paragraph demonstrates a minimal understanding of the
benefits and challenges of mountains. The writing may exhibit major issues
with organization, focus, and/or control of standard English grammar.

44 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

Performance Task Activity: World Mountains
On the map that follows, mark the location of the following mountains and mountain ranges with the
appropriate letter. In some places, you will use two labels on the same line: one for a mountain, one for
a mountain range.
A. Mount Everest H. Appalachian Mountains
B. Mount Aconcagua I. Andes Mountains
C. Denali J. Alps
D. Mount Kilimanjaro K. Himalayas
E. Mount Elbrus L. Urals
F. Mont Blanc M. Atlas
G. Rocky Mountains

Below, write a paragraph explaining how mountains help and challenge people. If you need more
space, you may use your own paper. Use the table that follows the map to take notes and organize your
information. You may refer to the chapters in World Mountains.

TEACHER RESOURCES 45
46
Performance Task Activity: World Mountains

ARCTIC OCEAN ARCTIC OCEAN

NORTH ATLANTIC EUROPE

AMERICA OCEAN ASIA

PACIFIC
OCEAN

AFRICA
PACIFIC
OCEAN SOUTH
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA/
Performance Task Activity: World Mountains

OCEANA
ATLANTIC INDIAN
N OCEAN OCEAN
W E

ANTARCTICA

GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

 World Mountains Performance Task Notes Table
Use the table to help organize your thoughts as you refer to World Mountains. You do not need to
complete the entire table to write your paragraph, but you should try to have two or three specific
examples in each column.

Benefits of Mountains Challenges of Mountains

TEACHER RESOURCES 47
Name Date

Activity Page 1.1 Use with Chapter 1

Cool Facts About World Mountains

Mountain
Mountain Name or Type of
Range Famous Peak Location Mountain Interesting Facts

Alaska Denali

Alps

Andes

Appalachians

48 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

Name Date

Activity Page 1.1 (continued) Use with Chapter 1

Mountain
Mountain Name or Type of
Range Famous Peak Location Mountain Interesting Facts

Atlas

Caucasus

Himalayas Mount Everest

Rockies (Rocky
Mountains)

TEACHER RESOURCES 49
Name Date

Activity Page 1.1 (continued) Use with Chapter 1

Mountain
Mountain Name or Type of
Range Famous Peak Location Mountain Interesting Facts

Ural
Mountains

(None) Mount
Kilimanjaro

50 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

Name Date

Activity Page 1.2 Use with Chapter 1

Major Mountain Ranges and Mountains of the World

Major
Mountain Range or Elevation (in Elevation (in Highest
Name System Location feet) meters) in (the):

Mt. Everest Himalayas Asia (Nepal/ 29,028 8,848 World

Tibet)

Mt. Aconcagua Andes South 22,835 6,960 Western

America Hemisphere
(Argentina)

Denali Alaska North 20,320 6,193 North

America America
(United
States)

Mt. Kilimanjaro none Africa 19,340 5,895 Africa

(Tanzania)

Mt. Elbrus Caucasus Europe 18,481 5,633 Europe

(Russia)

Mont Blanc Alps Europe 15,771 4,807 Alps

(France/Italy)

Mt. Jebel Atlas Africa 13,671 4,167 North Africa

Toubkal (Morocco)

Mt. Narodnaya Urals Eurasia 6,214 1,894 Russian Urals

(Russia/
Kazakhstan)

TEACHER RESOURCES 51
52
Name Date

Major Mountain Ranges and Mountains of the World

ARCTIC OCEAN ARCTIC OCEAN

Denali Mt. Narodnaya

NORTH EUROPE
Activity Page 1.2 (continued)

AMERICA ASIA
Mont Blanc Mt. Elbrus

ATLANTIC
Mt. Everest
OCEAN PACIFIC
Mt. Jebel Toubkal OCEAN

AFRICA
PACIFIC
SOUTH Mt. Kilimanjaro
OCEAN
AMERICA
AUSTRALIA/
Mt. Aconcagua OCEANA
ATLANTIC INDIAN
N OCEAN OCEAN
W E

ANTARCTICA
Use with Chapter 1

GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

Name Date

Activity Page 4.1 Use with Chapter 4

World Mountains Domain Vocabulary

Choose the correct word from the Word Bank to answer each riddle.

barrier generator pass

crystal hydroelectric plant peak
dam industry plate
elevation lava plateau
equator magma tunnel
erosion mineral weathering
extinct myth

     1. I am a section of Earth’s crust that is able to move.

     2. I am the line of latitude that marks the boundary between the Northern and
Southern Hemispheres.
     3. I am the highest point on a mountain.

     4. I am a volcano that no longer erupts or explodes, like Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.

     5. I am a naturally occurring substance in Earth’s crust, such as gold or copper.

     6. I make mountains smoother by breaking up Earth’s materials into smaller pieces.

     7. I create dome mountains by pushing up below Earth’s surface.

     8. I am something that blocks movement, like a mountain range.

     9. I wear down mountains by carrying away soil and rock with water, ice, or wind.

     10. I am an idea or story that many believe but that is not true, like the yeti.

     11. I am magma that reaches Earth’s surface, as when a volcano explodes.

     12. I am the distance above sea level of a spot on Earth’s surface.

     13. I am a place in the mountains that is lower than surrounding peaks. People use me
as a path through the mountains.

TEACHER RESOURCES 53
Name Date

Activity Page 4.1 (continued) Use with Chapter 4

     14. I am a passage through or under a natural feature such as mountain.

     15. I am a large area of high, flat ground. I can stand on my own or be part of a
mountain range.
     16. I am a colorless or lightly colored hard mineral.

     17. I am a wall used to stop the flow of water.

     18. I am a machine that makes electricity.

     19. I am a group of businesses that use machinery and factories to make a product.

     20. I use the force of moving water to power generators that make electricity.

54 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS

Answer Key: World Mountains
Unit Assessment
1. c 2. a 3. a 4. c 5. a 6. d 7. a 8. b 9. c 10. c 11. d
12. c 13. d 14. d 15. d 16. c 17. f 18. h 19. e 20. a
21. i 22. d 23. g 24. j 25. b
Performance Task Assessment

ARCTIC OCEAN ARCTIC OCEAN

C L
NORTH ATLANTIC EUROPE
AMERICA OCEAN ASIA
G F, J E
H
A, K
PACIFIC
M OCEAN
AFRICA
PACIFIC D
OCEAN SOUTH
AMERICA AUSTRALIA/
B, I OCEANA
ATLANTIC INDIAN
N
OCEAN OCEAN
W E
S
ANTARCTICA

Activity Pages
Cool Facts About World Mountains (AP 1.1) (pages 48–50)

Mountain
Mountain Name or Type of
Range Famous Peak Location Mountain Interesting Facts

Alaska Denali North America

(United States)

Alps Mont Blanc Europe (France/ home to the ibex; site of

Italy) first mountain tunnel

Andes Mt. Aconcagua South America home to guanacos,

(Argentina) llamas, and alpacas;
crossed by San Martín’s
army; use of terrace
farming

TEACHER RESOURCES 55
 Mountain
Mountain Name or Type of
Range Famous Peak Location Mountain Interesting Facts

Appalachians North America folded formed more than

(United States) 200 million years ago;
Cumberland Gap road;
rich in coal

Atlas Mt. Jebel Africa (Morocco)

Toubkal

Caucasus Mt. Elbrus Europe (Russia)

Himalayas Mount Everest Asia (Nepal/ folded Highest mountain in

Tibet) world; home to hundreds
of different species; use of
terrace farming

Rockies North America formed about a million

(Rocky (United States) years ago; block flow
Mountains) of moisture to Denver;
silver, lead, copper, zinc,
gold mines

Ural Mt. Narodnaya Eurasia (Russia/ rich in zinc, silver,

Mountains Kazakhstan) platinum, nickel

(None) Mount Africa (Tanzania) volcanic snow-covered all year even

Kilimanjaro though near the equator

World Mountains Domain Vocabulary (AP 4.1) (page 53)

1. plate 11. lava
2. equator 12. elevation
3. peak 13. pass
4. extinct 14. tunnel
5. mineral 15. plateau
6. weathering 16. crystal
7. magma 17. dam
8. barrier 18. generator
9. erosion 19. industry
10. myth 20. hydroelectric plant
56 GRADE 4 | UNIT 2 | WORLD MOUNTAINS
 CKHG ™
Core Knowledge HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY™

Series Editor-In-Chief
E.D. Hirsch, Jr.
Subject Matter Expert FLPA/SuperStock: 35
Charles F. “Fritz” Gritzner Himalayas: 16
Illustrated London News Ltd/Mar/Pantheon/SuperStock: 36
Illustration and Photo Credits
Johnson Space Center/NASA: 16
“Argentine General Jose de San Martin crossing Andes with his army, 1817 by
Augusto Ballerini (1857-97)/Museo Historico Nacional del Cabildo de la Ciudad JTB Photo/SuperStock: Cover D
de Buenos Aires y de la Revolucion de Mayo, Buenos Aires, Argentina/De Agostini Minden Pictures/SuperStock: 23
Picture Library/G. Dagli Orti/Bridgeman Images”: 26 Nordic Photos/SuperStock: i, iii, 17
Age fotostock/SuperStock: 28 Richard Cummins/SuperStock: 33
Art Wolfe Stock/Cultura Limited/SuperStock: 16 Robertharding/SuperStock: 16, 23
AviKatz: 16 Steven Kazlowski/SuperStock: 15
Bruce & Jan Lichtenberger/SuperStock: Cover B, 22 The Yeti, illustration from ‘Monsters and Mythic Beasts’, 1975 © by Gino D’Achille/
Christian Kober/Robertharding/SuperStock: Cover A 23 Private Collection/Bridgeman Images: 24
Cultura Limited/SuperStock: 27, 35 USA, South Dakota, Black Hills, Custer State Park, herd of bison grazing in valley,
Cusp/SuperStock: 32 front view/Dorling Kindersley/UIG/Bridgeman Images: 16
Don White/SuperStock: 16 Westend61/SuperStock: Cover C, 27

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CORE KNOWLEDGE CURRICULUM SERIES™
Series Editor-in-Chief
E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

CKHG ™
Core Knowledge HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY ™

World Mountains
Core Knowledge Sequence History and Geography 4

What is the Core Knowledge Sequence?

The Core Knowledge Sequence is a detailed guide to specific content
and skills to be taught in grades K-8 in language arts, history,
geography, mathematics, science, and the fine arts. In the domains
of world and American history and geography, the Core Knowledge
Sequence outlines topics that build chronologically or thematically
grade by grade.

For which grade levels is this book intended?

In general, the content and presentation are appropriate for
readers from the upper elementary grades through middle
school. For teachers and schools following the Core Knowledge
Sequence, this book is intended for Grade 4 [or 5] and is part of a
series of Core Knowledge HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY units of study.

For a complete listing of resources in the

Core Knowledge HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY™ series,
visit [Link].
CORE KNOWLEDGE CURRICULUM SERIES™
Series Editor-in-Chief
E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

CKHG ™
Core Knowledge HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY™

A comprehensive program in world and

American history and geography, integrating topics in
civics and the arts, exploring civilizations, cultures, and
concepts specified in the Core Knowledge Sequence
(content and skill guidelines for grades K-8).

Core Knowledge HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY

units at this level include:

Using Maps
World Mountains
Medieval Europe
Medieval Islamic Empires
Early/Medieval African Kingdoms
Dynasties of China
The American Revolution
The United States Constitution
Early Presidents
American Reformers
ISBN: 978-1-68380-048-4

[Link]