Midwest Region of the U.S.: Today
🚜 What is the Midwest like today, and why does it matter? This vibrant video takes Grade 4 students on a modern-day journey through the Midwest Region of the United States. With a focus on farming innovations, famous cities, and the people who shaped its culture, students will discover how the Midwest has evolved while still holding onto its deep agricultural and industrial roots.
🏙️ Midwest Region Today for Kids: From Motown to Modern Farming
The video highlights cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Minneapolis, explaining their role in transportation, music, industry, and technology. Students will learn about the legacy of leaders like Henry Ford and Oprah Winfrey, and how these Midwesterners helped define innovation and media in America. The segment on Detroit’s role in Motown and auto manufacturing adds a rich cultural layer to the lesson.
🌾 This Midwest Region today for kids video also explores how the farmland of the Great Plains is still a central part of life. With scenes of advanced farming equipment and crops that feed the nation, students see how traditional practices meet modern technology. The narrative ties together geography, economy, and civic pride with real-world examples that feel relatable and current.
🏆 Perfect for Grade 4 U.S. geography and civics units, this resource brings together landmarks, economy, history, and culture in a way that helps students connect past and present. It’s an inspiring tool to show how the Midwest continues to grow, lead, and contribute to American life — all while helping young learners see themselves in the story.
Companion video to Midwest Region: Early Beginnings.
Video Length: 21:05 minutes.
Worksheets
Quiz
Midwest Region – City Spotlight
Midwest Region of the U.S. – Video Breakdown
Who’s Who in the Midwest
Say It
Draw A Scene – Midwest Region
Universal Resources
National Standards
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Topics Covered In This Video
The Midwest in the 21st Century
Cities of the Midwest:
Chicago
Indianapolis
Columbus
Detroit
Cincinnati
Des Moines
Fargo
Grand Rapids
Kansas City
Milwaukee
Omaha
Cleveland
Minneapolis
Wichita
St. Louis
Landmarks of the Midwest:
Chimney Rock
Badlands National Park
Cave of the Mounds
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Gateway Arch
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Mackinac Bridge
Mall of America
The Enchanted Highway
Famous Midwesterners
Classroom Ideas
Landforms and Bodies of Water
Print out or look at a map of the Midwest.
Identify landforms and bodies of water in the Midwest Region.
Cloze Practice
A cloze piece has full sentences used in the virtual field trip with blanks where students can write in the information that is missing. This task requires close listening to the trip in order to complete it.
Art and Social Studies
Draw a scene from the video you just watched.
Create Quizzes
Students create a quiz based on the information presented for their peers. This can be used as a review for a test, or Jigsaw class activity where students are responsible for teaching other students assigned topics.
Visual Learning
Offer videos to struggling learners as another form of creating knowledge and accessing information.
Classroom Ideas for ALL Videos
Dozens and dozens of ideas that you can use in your classroom along with our videos!
Related Videos
Grade 4 - Midwest Region of the US: Early Beginnings
Grade 4 - Northeast Region of the US
Grade 4 - Southeast Region of the US
Grade 3 - The Geography of Our Communities
Video Subscriptions
When you only need one video- Unlimited viewing of 1 video
- Post-trip quiz + resources for 1 video
- Access to Closed Captioned version of 1 video
- Lowest-cost option
Teacher + Class Subscription
Teacher + Students- Unlimited access to the entire video lesson library
- All quizzes + learning resources
- Access for 1 teacher + all students
- Access to all Spanish videos + resources
- Access to all Closed Captioned videos
- Best value option for one teacher
School-wide Site License
All teachers + All students- Unlimited access to the entire video lesson library
- All quizzes + learning resources
- Access for all teachers and all students
- Access to all Spanish videos + resources
- Access to all Closed Captioned videos
- Best for school administrators supporting their teachers & students
- Up to 500 students – $450/year
- 500-1,000 students – $600/year
- 1,000+ students – $1,000/year
