The concepts developed in this standard
include the following:
· Virginia is rich in a wide variety of natural resources including forests,
arable (farmable) land, coal, sand and aggregates (rocks), wildlife and
aquatic organisms, clean water and air, and beautiful scenery.
· A watershed is an area over which surface water (and the materials it
carries) flows to a single collection place. The Chesapeake Bay watershed
covers approximately half of Virginia’s land area. The other two major
watershed systems are the Gulf of Mexico
and the North Carolina Sounds.
· Virginia’s water resources include groundwater, lakes, reservoirs, rivers,
bays, and the Atlantic Ocean.
· Virginia has a great variety of plant and animal resources.
· Natural and cultivated forests are a widespread resource in Virginia.
· Virginia’s soil and land support a great variety of life, provide space
for many economic activities, and offer a variety of recreational
In order to meet this standard, the student
will need to be able to:
· compare and contrast natural and man-made resources.
· distinguish among rivers, lakes, and bays; describe characteristics of
each; and name an example of each in Virginia.
· create and interpret a model of a watershed. Evaluate the statement: “We
all live downstream.”
· identify watershed addresses.
· recognize the importance of Virginia’s mineral resources including coal,
limestone, granite, and sand and gravel.
· appraise the importance of natural and cultivated forests in Virginia.
· describe a variety of soil and land uses important in Virginia.