Washington State History

Dr. Mills

 

Geography Native American Coastal Cultures Native American Plateau Cultures Explorations and Claims Fur Traders and Missionaries Oregon Country Treaties and Wars
The Road to Statehood Beginning of the 20th Century The Modern Period Resources and Industries Government History of Clark County Tourism

Geography

Natural Environment & Geography

What special qualities define the Pacific Northwest? What makes the Pacific Northwesterners' sense of place distinct from the Californians', the southerners', or the New Englanders'? One simple and obvious answer is the environment, the region's spectacular natural setting -- the stunning juxtaposition of mountains and water that characterizes its coastline and the Columbia River gorge; the vastness of its interior, a land of sagebrush plains and empty spaces. Residents occasionally refer to the region as "God's Country," and the opening stanza of "America the Beautiful" could well be describing its mountain peaks and amber waves of grain.

Quotation From: Chapter One: "A Sense of Place" The Pacific Northwest by Carlos A. Schwantes

Cascades Volcano Observatory HOME PAGE
The Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) strives to serve the public interest by helping people to live knowledgeably and safely with volcanoes and other natural hazards including earthquakes, landslides, and debris flows, in the western United States and elsewhere in the world. Our goal is to provide accurate and timely information pertinent to the assessment, warning, and mitigation of natural hazards.
Color Landform Atlas of the United States
Each state link brings up a menu of links to maps and other online information about the state. Links are included for web pages from the Virtual Tourist, City Net, and YaHoo. Currently two maps are available for each state (except Alaska and Hawaii): 1) A topographic map optimized to show the landforms. The same color shading is used across the country. 2) A map showing counties in a state. The background topography has been somewhat suppressed to allow the county boundaries to show well.
Washington's Environmental Health 1995
 
Climate Crisis Home Page (Greenpeace)
Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organisation which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force the solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future.
El Nino
This theme page demonstrates how El Nino related data from distributed research institutes may be accessed through a common interface using the World Wide Web protocols and the Internet.
NOAA West Region
The National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration West Network Project has established a high-speed, fiber-optic network connecting NOAA West member organizations to each other via Internet protocols.

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Ancient Forests of the Pacific Northwest: Fact Sheet
UW Department of Atmospheric Sciences Home Page

Washington Place Names Origins

Native American Coastal Cultures

Native American Plateau Cultures

Exploration and Claims

 

Fur Traders and Missionaries

 

Oregon Country (under development)

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Treaties and Wars

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The Road to Statehood (under development)

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Beginning of the 20th Century (under development)

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The Modern Period

Information on Washington Cities

Tour of Kitsap County by City

 

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Resources and Industries

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Government

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History of Clark County

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Tourism

Student Assignments

Unit #1 - Beginnings in the State of Washington

Student will be able to:

1.Work cooperatively with peers.

2. Place the following on a map of Washington:

A. Cities, States, Mountains, Bodies of Water: Vancouver Island Pasco Mt. St. Helens Richland Strait of Juan de Fuca Kennewick Canada Mt. Adams Spokane Idaho Pacific Ocean Oregon Mt. Baker Grays Harbor Snake River Willapa Bay Walla Walla Neah Bay Yakima Columbia River Olympia Glacier Peak Mt. Rainier Moses Lake Portland Coeur d'Alene San Juan Islands Winthrop Wenatchee Seattle Astoria Bellingham Chehalis Coupeville Enumclaw Tacoma

B. The 8 Regions of Washington using a key.

C. Highways :82, 84, 395, 90, 5, 101, 395, .

3. Communicate on the Internet with students in another city in Washington state.

A. Explain the geological forces that have shaped the land of Washington State, give examples in our state. Include the following terms: lava, El Nino, geology, geologists, plate tectonic theory, glaciers, folding, volcanic action, dry falls, Channeled Scablands.

B. Analyze the following about Marmes man, Manis mastodon, and dead Native Americans in Washington state: Their environment, food, housing, transportation, and their traditions. Included the following terms: Ozette Dig, artifacts, archaaeology, pithouse, land bridge theory, longhouses, potlatch, Spirits, Shaman, and coyotte.

C. Make one of the following: All of the below will be presented with explanations orally to the class. These may be done in groups of not more than 1-3.

DUE: ________

1. A visual display of one of the eight regions. Include appropriate geographical features. Add models of objects--or actual objects--that are present in theregion. Include anything else of interest in that region.

or

2. A documentary about a region in Washington, or local area in the Tri Cities. Present this on video tape,picture book, or etc.

or

3. A real or pretend trip of 200 miles or more in Washington State, showing the your traveled path and interesting items on the way in a book form, HyperStudio, or HTML.

Assessment Methods

Formal Assessment

Informal Assessment

 

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Dennis W. Mills, Ph.D.

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