Southwest Region: Today

🌄 What does the Southwest look like today — and why is it such a vital part of the United States? In this exciting Grade 4 social studies video, students take a journey across the modern Southwest Region of the United States today. From bustling cities to stunning landscapes, the lesson uncovers how natural resources, economic innovation, and cultural celebrations continue to shape the region.

🌆 Modern Southwest Region of the United States

Students will explore booming cities like Houston, Phoenix, Austin, and Albuquerque — places where technology, energy, and creativity intersect. They’ll learn how oil, gas, and tech industries power local economies and connect to global trade. The video also introduces students to major transportation systems, including highways, ports, and air hubs that keep goods and people on the move.

🌮 This Southwest Region of the United States today video also highlights the region’s rich cultural diversity — from rodeos and food festivals to celebrations rooted in Hispanic and Native American heritage. Students will recognize iconic landmarks like the Alamo, the Grand Canyon, and the Space Center in Houston. They’ll also discover how music, art, and tradition come together in everyday life.

🏆 Perfect for Grade 4 regional geography or civics units, this video brings together economics, geography, and culture in a classroom-ready resource that teachers can trust. It’s an ideal way to introduce how the Southwest connects its past to its present — with lessons that inspire curiosity, cultural appreciation, and civic understanding.

Companion video to Southwest Region: Early Beginnings.

Video Length: 32:55 minutes.

Worksheets

Quiz

City Spotlight

Southwest Region – Video Breakdown

Say It!

Draw A Scene – Southwest Region

Universal Resources

National Standards

Topics Covered

Where is the Southwest?

States and Subregions

Landforms

Plains, Rivers, Tributaries, Great Lakes

Natural Resources

History

Climate

Economy

Classroom Ideas

Landforms and Bodies of Water

Print out or look at a map of the Region.

Idendify landforms and bodies of water in the Southwest.

 

Cloze Practice

A cloze piece has full sentences used in the video lesson with blanks where students can write in the information that is missing. This task requires close listening in order to complete it.

 

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.

 

Art and Social Studies

Draw a scene from the video you just watched.

 

Classroom Ideas for ALL Videos

Dozens and dozens of ideas that you can use in your classroom along with our videos!

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southwest region of the united states today