Environment

Essential Concepts

Colorado’s mountains and rivers play an important role in understanding Colorado’s historical geography. In these three activities, students learn the definition of the Continental Divide and predict its location.  The second activity focuses on how the mountains affect the distribution of precipitation in Colorado.  Finally, students define the state's five life zones and identify which plants and animals survive in each zone.

Click on Physical Geography Conceptual Overview  (in MS Word Format) discussion of standards, geography concepts, answer key, and suggestions for guiding students through the Worksheet questions.

Student Worksheets

Worksheet PG-1  (in MS Word format) The Continental Divide

Worksheet PG-2  (in MS Word format) Precipitation Patterns

Worksheet PG-3  (in MS Word format) Life Zones

Internet Mapping Activities

 

Please note that you should DISABLE any POP-UP Blockers

before using the Internet mapping activities.

Activities PG-1, PG-2, and PG-3  The Continental Divide, Precipitation Patterns, and Life Zones

Water Resource Development

Essential Concepts

Surface-water irrigation was essential to early farms on the Eastern Plains and Western Valleys. Later, major water diversion structures moved water from the wetter west to the drier and more populous east. This unit looks at water resources in Colorado and how Coloradoans have kept the eastern half of Colorado supplied with water.

Click on "Water Resources" Conceptual Overview (in MS Word format) for more information.

Worksheet W-1  (MS Word format) Water Resources in Colo.

Worksheet W-2  (in MS Word format) Moving the Water

Activity W-1  Water Resources in Colorado

Activity W-2  Moving the Water